How to Rent an Apartment in Japan
Renting Apartment in Japan. Are you planning to apply for an apartment in Japan? Renting an apartment in Japan does not need to be complicated, especially for foreigners! There are two-types of apartment lease, SHORT TERM (monthly-lease) and LONG TERM (2-year lease mostly). You need to first determine what kind of apartment you will be renting.
****LONG-TERM (2-year)****
(1) Choose your apartment
In order to be able to sign a contract, you need to first decide which apartment you would like to move into. You can either search it directly in our database, or ask us to find one for you.
In order not to waste your time, it is important to ask your agent to make sure the property you are applying to can accept your application based on your Japanese level.
(2) Book the apartment
Find the apartment you like already? then you can first book it! Note that "booking" means that you will submit a request to the property owner or management company to move into the apartment. Owner or management company of the apartment will then do a background check to decide whether or not you can move into the apartment. Some information that you need to provide during this procedure:
DETAIL- Your personal information: It is highly advised to prepare these documents before hand:
- Passport
- COE (in case of overseas application)
- Zairyu Card (在留カード、Zairyu Card)
- Insurance card (保険書, Hokensho)
- Student ID (if you are student)
- Current address in Japan (in case of application in Japan)
- Workplace address in Japan
- Japanese cellphone no.
- Japanese bank account
- Annual income: (can be scholarship/part-time/ personal saving)
- Emergency contact in Japan: does not need to be Japanese, can also be foreign national, but need to be able to communicate in Japanese good enough. (note: some owner/management company may require you to provide Japanese national).
- Full name
- Date of birth
- HOME address
- Cellphone no.
- Relationship (Parents/ relatives/ etc)
- Emergency contact in your country: one of your family member that can be contacted in case of emergency.
- Full name
- Date of birth
- HOME address
- Cellphone no.
- Relationship (Parents/ relatives/ etc)
(3) Background check
In Japan, it is common for property owners or management company to do background check or shinsa (審査) to decide whether or not you can move into the apartment they own. Not all owner/management companies can accept foreigners, even those who say they accept foreigner may require you to speak Japanese to certain level.
So in order not to waste your time, it is important to ask your agent to make sure the property you are applying to can accept your application based on your Japanese level.
Some main factors are:
- Your criminal record
- Your financial status
- Your Japanese skills
This process usually takes around 1 week or even less to complete, depending on the owner or management company who owns the property. Check out this post to learn more about screening process.
(4) Sign contract
Your request has been approved? congratulation! Now you can formally sign contract with the owner or management company in charge of the property! It is highly advised to first review the content of the contract before hand to avoid unexpected fee. Most contracts are in Japanese and sometimes too much to read. But here are some common things that you need to pay attention to:
- Deposit (shikikin, 敷金): Some properties might demand 1-month deposit for you to be able to enter the room. This deposit is mostly refundable. You need to know the term and condition on how you can get your deposit back.
- Key Money (reikin, 礼金): Some properties might demand 1-month non-refundable key money. This key money incurs usually if you have a pet. You need to confirm with agent if key money is needed or not.
- Guarantor fee (hoshouryou, 保証料): This fee is paid to guarantor company, and in Japan, renting a long-term apartment requires you to have guarantor company. Usually the cost is around 50% to 100% of the monthly rent. This fee depends on the screening result, but it is possible to confirm before you apply.
- Insurance fee (hokenryou, 保険料): This fee is paid to insurance company, and in Japan, renting a long-term apartment requires you to have insurance. It costs around 18,000 yen – 20,000 yen for 2-year contract. You can confirm with agent the insurance fee beforehand.
- Contract fee (keiyakuryou, 契約料): This fee is paid for administration process. It costs around 22,000 yen ~ 33,000 yen. You can confirm with agent the fee beforehand.
- Agency fee (chuukaitesuuryou, 仲介手数料): This fee is paid to the agent. It costs around 1 month rent. Beststay does not charge agency fee.
- Key change fee (shirinda- koukan, シリンダー交換): This fee is for changing the lock of the door. This fee can be charged either on the first month you move in or when you move out. You need to check in the contract when do you need to pay for the cleaning fee.
- Heater change fee (danbo koukan, 暖房交換): This fee is for replacing the heater/ air-conditioner in the room. This fee can be charged either on the first month you move in or when you move out. You need to check in the contract when do you need to pay for the cleaning fee.
- Disinfection fee (mizumawari shoudoku, 水回り消毒): This fee is for cleaning the wet area of the room, like toilet, shower etc. This fee can be charged either on the first month you move in or when you move out. You need to check in the contract when do you need to pay for the cleaning fee.
- Cleaning fee (seisoryou, 清掃料): This cleaning fee can be charged either on the first month you move in or when you move out. You need to check in the contract when do you need to pay for the cleaning fee.
- Penalty／違約金 (iyakukin): In case you need to move out before the rent period written in the contract, you need to pay a penalty (1-2 months worth of rent). It is highly advised to know the date in which you can move out without penalty and how much you need to pay in case of contract breach.
There are many other different types of Japanese apartment contract terminologies. You can check them here.
(5) Pay rent
Finally sign a contract? great! now it is time to pay the rent. For the first month payment, usually property agents may help handling the first payment. But for the next month, you need to pay to the owner or management company directly. Most common method is by using ATM payment, in which you transfer money directly. For convenience, it is highly advised to setup an automated payment or jidoubarai (自動払い) in the bank you have your account in.
(6) Key handover
Well, no need for further explanation. Enjoy your new room, and do not lose your key.
*Note that you also need to report your new residence to your local ward office (kuyakusho, 区役所)、you will then get a new address written on your zairyu card (在留カード). It is highly advised to report your new address to your school or workplace as well.
****SHORT-TERM (monthly-lease)****
(1) Choose your short-term apartment
In order to be able to sign a contract, you need to first decide which apartment you would like to move into. You can either search it directly in our database, or ask us to find one for you.
(2) Book the apartment
Find the apartment you like already? then you can first book it! For short-term apartment, the procedure would be straight forward and less complicated. You will be sent an official invoice and then if you agree with the final price, you can proceed to payment.
Here are some documents you need to apply for SHORT-term apartment:
- Your personal information: It is highly advised to prepare these documents before hand:
- Passport/Residence Card
- Cellphone no. (overseas or Japanese)
- Emergency contact in your country: one of your family member or friends that can be contacted in case of emergency.
- Full name
- Date of birth
- HOME address
- Cellphone no.
- Relationship (Parents/ relatives/ etc)
(3) Pay rent upfront
After agreeing to the price in the invoice, you will be then asked to pay the rent upfront. In some cases, 50% down payment can be done to secure the booking. It depends on the management company, but in many cases, payment upfront is needed.
(4) Sign contract
Usually payment and contract signing will be done altogether. Electronic signature can be done to make the process smooth.
(5) Key handover
Well, no need for further explanation. Enjoy your new room, and do not lose your key. Usually a day before your move-in date, you will be sent a guideline on how to enter the premise, like passcode or mailbox combination.
