Korean Job Discussion Forums

[taobenli]

A question for those who have rented your own apartments (rather than living in school-provided housing):

We've been living in our place for almost two years- our lease ends in February. We went through a real estate agent and only met the landlady when signing the lease- since then we've only had phone contact with her when the boiler broke, and she paid to replace it. I got a call for her recently saying someone wants to move in right when we move out- so that should make it easier to get our deposit (10 million won) back faster.

I heard from a Korea friend that one should take the lease to the local government office (jumin center) and get a stamp, which makes it more likely to get your deposit money back and get it back quickly. She said you can do this anytime before your lease is up. Obviously I need to do it soon since I haven't done it yet. What is this called in Korean?

[pkang0202]

I've moved 3 times in Korea, and I've never had to do that.

You move out in the morning, new person moves in in the afternoon. Same day. The new tenant gives the landlord their deposit, and the landlord just turns around and gives it to you.

That's the usual method.

If I were you, I'd stick around the apartment when the new people are moving in and ask for your deposit. Its unlikely the landlord will NOT give you your deposit back, while the people who just paid their deposit is standing right there within earshot.

[highstreet]

Why don't you ask the Korean friend who told you...

[blackinque]

[Yaya]

[chrisblank]

I've always registered my lease with the gu office. The second place i ever lived in it saved me as the apartment owner went bankrupt and disappeared. I then was able to live in the place for free until it sold and I got my key money back. That stamp from the gu office ensures that as tenant you get paid first before other creditors.