Job Discussion Forums

[mintxleaf]

There's some unhappy news about Leopalace fees which is now on their Japanese website:

Starting July 1, 2009 Leopalace will no longer have what they call a "system fee" (deposit of first month's rent, I assume) and instead they are requiring Key Money and Security Deposit. The amounts depend on what size room you're borrowing, etc. They say it's to make things easier (?), but I'm not sure if that means new residents are going to have to pay more than we would have before...

Also another bummer is they are no longer going to be doing the "sumikae" system where you could move freely to other Leopalace flats. Now it seems like if you do want to change your apartment to another Leopalace location there are going to be fees associated with the move.

For anyone interested, the website is here (It's all in Japanese):
http://www.leopalace21.com/osirase/information.html

**Also, any tips about how to find / choose your first living space in Japan would be greatly appreciated. Please write them on this forum!

[robertokun]

These changes took effect before July 1st, they've just made it official in writing now. I can't stand LP. Thier apartment design is horrendous. My employer stuck me with a six month agreement on an overpriced aparmtent though, so I'm out of luck. I had to pay big fees (including key money) up front and was told I'd have to pay big moving fees if I wanted to change places (both before July 1st.) Won't even be worth moving out after six months, since I'll be moving to another city at the end of this contract. Just a few tidbits: You pay a cleaning fee to move in and again when you move out, AC/heat on a three hour timer, electric burners that automatically turn off after 15 min, (in many places) a lofted bed box thing that takes up a third of your cramped room. Stay away!

UR housing is your friend. http://housing.ur-net.go.jp/ It takes a lot more effort up front, though.

If you have the option, message boards in your city are your best friend.

[cvmurrieta]

[Glenski]

[seklarwia]

Depends which payment system you are using. There is one where you pay the whole term up front, but we are on the Chinai (sp?) system where you pay monthly, but we had to pay two months upfront to cover the period until our first pay cheque.

No key money like regular rentals often have, but there is a cleaning fee, system fee and a small fee for key exchange.

[robertokun]

Yeah, I'm on a six month pay as you go plan with the option to move out without penalty after the six months (although I'm sure they'll come up with plenty of charges somehow.) Had to pay a month and a half's rent up front, plus nearly a month's rent in key money, and a bunch of other fees.

[robertokun]

Also, UR will rent to anyone, although you are probably going to need someone to help you with the process unless you can read, write, and speak Japanese fluently.