Job Discussion Forums

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

Just wondering...I just moved from Yokohama to Hong Kong and found it really easy to rent an apartment...no key money...no 'we do not rent to foreigners'....easy.

Is there still discrimination against gaijin renting places in Japan? I know when I did it back in...2000ish...I had a lot of hassle and tonnes of paperwork. Have things improved? It just struck me here in HK that its so easy.

Any experiences in the past few years anyone?

drifter13 · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 124 Location: Fujisawa

Hard to say, I got a new apartment after the nova explosion, but I rent from an Australian landlord. Some poking around though showed me that the biggest concern was key money and deposit, which a lot of foreigners starting out usually don't have. I think landlords that discriminate probably do so based on some past bad experiences. I know my last apartment was loaded with Nova people, and there was some rowdiness to say the least.

Wintermute · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 79

I can understand the worries landlords have when it comes to foreign tenants. The first Nova apartment I lived in was a cesspit because the roommates I lived with had no concept of cleanliness. My friend had to leave his apartment because the city condemned it (last I heard they chemically stripped the walls and floors). Now that Nova is finished, teachers out on their own have to really look after their apartments otherwise they won't get their deposit back.

On the other hand, when I was looking for an apartment 2 years ago through agencies like Apaman and Able, I found the key money being asked for was excessive. I don't mind paying deposit, but 300-500,000yen just so the landlord will speak to you is beyond bribery. I was lucky that I found out how to rent from the city - best apartment ever.

alexcase · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 215 Location: Seoul

94- percentage of house hunting gaijin who have been refused service by at least one estate agent, according to Metropolis magazine

From Metropolis (freebie Tokyo entertainment magazine) about 6 weeks ago I think., via my Japanexplained blog They never say where they get each number they quote from, but it tends to be well known news sources.

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

I went through Able. When I had my initial appointment. I simply told them I wouldn't pay key money.　They found me about 6 places within my price range where the landlord was willing to negotiate on this point, and I found a good place within the week.

There are enough vacant apartments in my area (Chiba prefecture) where this is possible.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Does the discrimination still exist?

Yes. (I offer as only one example a report from the Yahoo listserv ETJ LifeinJapan. Look for 2 threads.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETJ-LifeInJapan/message/1598
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ETJ-LifeInJapan/message/1629

It is widespread?

Case by case.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

We just got a new apartment, but we had a friend who was Japanese to find it for us and to speak nicely of us. The have never had a foreigner live in their apartment building (it is only about 6 apts), which is good for us because they have had no bad experiences. But they were worried about things like trash and stuff, tenants have to clean the trash place like once a month or something...BUT we have been turned down by a man out in the middle of no where who had a house for rent...he said the neighbor was mean so we couldnt move in....lol.

For this apartment we are paying a deposit (one months rent), real estate fee (one months rent) and insurance (like 15,000). Is this what you normally pay? Is it more or less?

Our experience has been super easy (we sign papers today) but it could be because we have very close connections with a Japanese family (older man and his son) that is friends with everyone and knows everyone in our town...I dont know...

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

It definitely still exists. A couple of years ago one of the real estate agents I walk past every day started to put "gaikokusekifuka" (no foreign nationals) in the list of information about each apartment they had advertised on their signboards. Not every apartment had this specification, but quite a lot of them did. That didn't last very long, they no longer include that specification.

Pakistani-Canadian friends of mine had quite a lot of trouble finding a landlord that was willing to accept them last year when they were looking for a new apartment- several landlords backed out on them at the last minute.

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

From what I have read here it does seem to be the case that a lot of discrimination exists. Whats revealing I guess is that the Japanese govt. doesnt want to prosecute any of this blatant racism...

Is is a case of:

a) Well, Japanese are not familiar with foreigners. They might feel uncomfortable around them or

b) Its racism and it shouldnt be tolerated in 2008.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Which particular axe do you want to grind?

As far as I'm concerned it comes down to basic market forces. They discriminate because they can. Give it a few years and most will be willing to take anyone to pay the rent. At the moment the percieved headaches are greater than the opportunity cost to the landlord.
It's a bit OTT to play the racism card, I mean no-ones living on the street are they? (Funny how middle-class whites seem to cry "racism" when they're merely confronted by limited choice)

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

matador · Joined: 07 Mar 2003 Posts: 281

Out of interest, what have the experiences renting in other parts of the world as a 'foreigner' been? I have rented in Hamburg, (Germany), Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong as well as Tokyo, Yokohama and Fukuoka over the past decade or so.

Shanghai was the most friction free.......Tokyo the most frustrating.

SeasonedVet · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 236 Location: Japan

A distinction can be drawn between the Real Estate Company and the Landlord. In some cases the Real Estate Company might be willing to go ahead and let you rent the apartment but they often have to call building owners to find out if they are willing to rent to foreigners. Sometimes the building owner says yes sometimes he/she says no. They say no to some Japanese people too.

The point made about Foreigners being dirty and leaving the place a mess is true But it is also true that soem Japanese people leave apartments messy too. so ...

'fraid I have to agree with Southofreality here