Job Discussion Forums

Eleckid · Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Aichi, Japan

Hi,

I haven't posted any questions here for a long time. Well I'll be going back to Canada soon, and I'll move out from my boss' apt, which I've lived there for 1.5 yr.

When I moved in, I had to pay 1-2 months fee for damage deposit, incase there was any damage.

I've kept the place neat, and didn't even put anything up on the wall! But tonight my boss said that after I move out, they'd like to hire some cleaning ppl to clean my apt, and eventhough I didn't make any damage, they'd like me to pay 10,000yen for the cleaning service. The thing is, a teacher who used to work at my school (who lives upstairs) didn't have to pay anything, she got her full deposit back.

So does the deposit count for cleaning the apt fee? Am I really supposed to pay for those (they haven't checked my apt, they just said that they wanna clean it after I leave)? Or are they trying to trick me into paying it for them?

Please help! I don't wanna get tricked (already got tricked by her so many times, cuz she's so cheap). Good thing I'm leaving....

Thanks a lot!

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

Living with the boss...?!

You already wrote that you paid 1-2 months' fee for a damage deposit. Well, which is it? One or two? Did you sign any sort of contract/lease, and if so, what does it say?

Personally, it sounds to me like the boss just wants some free cleaning done at your expense.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

If you are getting all of your deposit back except for only 10,000 yen, consider yourself very lucky.

Revenant · Mod Team Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 1109

Agreed, 10,000 yen only being taken from your deposit is freakin' lucky here.

I suggest counting yourself very fortunate.

Speed · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 152 Location: Shikoku Land

Jesus,

I didn't get any of my deposit back and they charged me even more money on top of that! And I left the place spotless with absolutely no damage.

To parrot the above posters - consider yourself lucky and don't worry about it.

Eleckid · Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Aichi, Japan

Thank you, guys, that made me feel more relieved. Tonight I found out from my boss that the reason why she wanted to charge me was cuz the previous teacher who used to live above my apt (I'm not living with my boss, btw, just that the apt is owned by her husband) left the place real dirty, eventhough she got a full refund of her deposit. My boss' husband was pissed after cleaning up her apt, so now for mine, he wants me to pay for it.

Oh well, if you guys think that's reasonable, then I'll go with it~

Thanks a lot again!

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

It's only 'reasonable' in that it is a 'reasonable' amount to be ripped off.

If you leave your apartment clean and in no need of a professional cleaning service you should not have to pay for one

Why should you pay 10 000 because another foreigner once left a dirty apartment behind her?

Clean your aparto and invite the boss (and/or her husband) around to show it to them. If they still think that it needs professional cleaning then offer to pay (or to CLEAN IT YOURSELF).

Agreed that being ripped off 10 000 Yen is 'reasonable' compared to many apartment deposit non-returning/cleaning fee scams and that your landlord has genuine concerns but it should be your choice as to whethe to give of your time (and clean it yourself) or of your money

On the other hand I wouldn't sweat over the 10 000 yen if it was that or the mother and father of all arguments about getting my deposit returned.

Eleckid · Joined: 03 Jun 2004 Posts: 102 Location: Aichi, Japan

You are right. I'm gonna clean up my apt (after packing up), then I'll show my boss' & her husband. Then let them decide if it needs any professional cleaning.

Thanks for your advice! Very Happy

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

No problems! That will be 5000 Yen please!