Job Discussion Forums

Black_Beer_Man · Joined: 26 Mar 2013 Posts: 453 Location: Yokohama

Real Estate company people. (In my country, bankers are the worst).

Why?

1. Most of them will make bogus excuses to keep your damage deposit money (usually equivalent to one month's rent). "You scratched this. You dinged that. There's mold on the wall...blah, blah, blah" Even though any minor damage is from normal wear and tear. You in no way abused the place.

2. They're always inventing new bogus charges to hit you with. The apartment that I was just considering has

1. a disinfection fee (17,000 yen) when I move in. This is a new one that I have NEVER seen in the 8 years I have lived here.
2. and a cleaning fee (30,000 yen) when I move out. If the tenants before me and after me have to pay twice, then, that's a damn clean apartment. You should be able to eat off the floor.
Wow! Talk about double dipping! Would you call this "honest" practice?

Newbies in Japan, please be careful if you rent an apartment in Japan. Have a Japanese friend read the rental agreement before you sign it. And shop around to compare what charges you can save on.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

It's a renter's market across Kanto, with abundant empty houses and apartments. Choose 6-10 apartments in your price range, and likely a few of them will have no key money.

IME, I've always gotten my deposit back from rental agents in Kanto.

For other noobs, check out UR housing, too.

http://www.ur-net.go.jp/index.html

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

No key money means you are far from a station.
This guy lives in Osaka.
Usually there is no key money or less than in Kanto.

I live 12 minutes from a station which means key money was unavoidable.

UR is for people who have been here a long time, but should have PR or a Japanese spouse.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Any resident with a visa and resident card can rent UR, not just PR holders and married couples.

Two of my colleagues are non- Japanese single guys who lived in UR apartments in Tokyo. When I was looking for apartments a few years ago, I looked at UR buildings in Chiba and Tokyo, and the UR reps said that the apartments were available to me, non-eijuken and single. However, I settled on a house.

Here's info for anybody looking at this option -

http://www.ur-net.go.jp/index.html

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Sounds like you have been lucky.
In Kanagawa information is just in Japanese, which is why I said it is for people who have been here some time (they might be able to deal with the paperwork).
There are waiting lists and rules about pets.
I cannot even live in UR since I have two small dogs. The limit is one.

Plus sometimes the rent goes up. This can happen in Yokohama.
That is why one family I know just decided to move out.

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

There is an agency that helps place English-speaking tenants in UR housing. People can pm me if they want that contact.