Job Discussion Forums

[capper]

My Japanese girlfriend and I (Canadian) are presently looking for an apartment in southcentral Tokyo. By this, I am referring to the Ebisu/Hiroo/Roppongi area. We found one apt. in particular that seems nice and convenient. We applied for it, were accepted, and now simply have a couple of days to pay the startup costs and we are in.

A few weeks ago she had also applied for a government apartment in another location in Tokyo. She was recently told that she was #1 on the waiting list for one of these govt. apartments. In other words, it looks like she is almost guaranteed one of them. She will likely get word on it in mid-March. The attraction is that these govt. apartments are brand new, very spacious (about 66 square meters), in a convenient area (although not where we intended to live), and also there is no key money. Only 3 months deposit that is mostly returnable when moving out.

Both of the above apartments I mentioned are approximately the same price. The govt. one is 3 months deposit while the other is 2 months deposit, 2 months key, and 1 month for the realtor.

Aside from the obvious choice of either better quality and larger or location (both approx. the same price), there is one issue that needs to be dealt with.

Here's the issue... Since I currently have a 3-year work visa, and I am not a permanent resident, legally I am not allowed to register my residence at this government apartment. Apparently, only permanent residents are allowed to do so.

MY QUESTION: Should we drop the idea of living in this really nice government apartment or is there a way I can stickhandle around this technicality without it being a big issue? I am presently living in the countryside on the outskirts of Tokyo and she is currently living in central Tokyo. I don't know much about permanent residency, which could be another option, but my guess is that it would take far too long to accomplish and / or would require additional ties such as marriage or guaranteed long-term employment on my behalf.

If anybody has advice or has dealt with a matter like this, I appreciate your input. Thank you.

[Brooks]

with public housing, my girlfriend said that tenants have certain duties to perform. I am not sure what they are, but she didn`t care for them and refuses to live in public housing.

With subsidized housing (which is different), you need to get married or at least engaged.

One guy I work with is American and his wife is Taiwanese. They live in public housing, and they can get their deposit back if and when they move out. I am not sure how he arranged to live there. I thought public housing was for Japanese people or for someone married to a Japanese person.

[Mike L.]

Ditch the private housing and move into the government deal.

Don't pay key money or one month's rent to the real estate agent when you don't have too!

You pay 3 months deposite to get in plus your first months rent.
I live in CO-OP housing and it's pretty good.

I have rennovated unit that's 20% cheaper than equivalent apartments in the area.

A cheap super and post office are in the complex about a 1 minute walk from my door.

I don't know what duities people talk about but mine seems to be paying rent and putting the garbbage out on the right days.

Good luck!

[Mike L.]

By the way I'm registered in my unit. Sounds like you're getting into the same "UDC" deal as I am so shouldn't be a problem.