Job Discussion Forums

[kiracle]

Well, I've got the job and I've got the apartment and I've got my husband tagging along. We're confident he'll be able to find a part-time job teaching once we get to Japan, but for now he's coming as my dependent ( non-native speaker). So, my employer has said, you're not allowed to live with two in the apartment but they realize he'll be sleeping there pretty much every night . They also said he needs another address but no we won't check it out. It seems the school doesn't care but the landlord might and they don't want trouble with the landlord.

So, any opinions? Should we just pile in, be discreet and hope nobody cares enough to check up on us or should we start tryign to figure out a way to get him another address, at least in theory?

Thanks for any advice.

By the way, we will be in F u k uoka, apparently no gajin houses so that's not an option.

[Glenski]

Is there a clause in your rental agreement that forbids 2 people from living there? Sounds fishy to me.

Check the other threads here to find info on gaijin houses in F u k u o k a.

[Sherri]

I went apartment hunting in Tokyo when I was still single. I wanted a pretty big place and was told a couple of times that I couldn't rent a particular place because it was for "a family". I always wondered--who cares as long as I can pay the rent? Anyway, I think that some Japanese landlords have a very specific idea of how many people they want in their properties.

As for your case, I don't think anyone can tell what will happen until you get there and suss out the situation. The landlord might not care at all. He/she might not even live nearby and therefore won't notice. You may have trouble if the landlord is sharing the same building with you. On the other hand, if you build up a personal relationship with the landlord and he/she comes to like you, then you may be allowed to stay together as a couple.

I think the whole situation is tough on your "tag-along" husband. He might feel guilty causing problems before you even arrive. You might try to check out the possibility of an apartment share or sublet of some kind. Maybe once you meet the other teachers and other non-Japanese in the area they would be able to point you in the right direction.

[DMan]

This is common all over the USA too.... housing is "Zoned" as commercial, residential, etc.

This seems unfair, but when you buy a house of your own one day, and have kids, you will be thankful that there are laws against someone dropping an apartment complex in your back yard. Also, it keeps a neighbor from cramming in 15 of their college buddies in the place next door.