ＮＰＯ法人（特定非営利活動法人）へやピタあんしん賃貸ネットワーク
〒060-0032
札幌市中央区北２条東１丁目
２－１０北２条ビル２Ｆ
お問合せ：
TEL 011-218-6467
FAX 011-271-6467
業務時間：10:00～19:00
・Flow When Renting Housing
●This website provides information on rental housing that accepts foreigners.Try using this website.
http://www.heyapita.com/npo/
2 Visit a real estate agent
●If you do not speak Japanese well, bring someone who does speak Japanese well with you when you visit a real estate agent.
3 Your housing requirements
●Be sure to state your housing requirements clearly, such as the closest train station, rent, size, and furnishings and equipment.
4 Things you will be asked by a real estate agent
●Generally, a real estate agent will ask you about the following.
Your name, occupation, co-occupants (number of people), income, Japanese language capability, if you have a guarantor, personal identification, the reason you are looking for housing, etc.
5 viewing the housing
●If you find housing that matches your requirements, go and look at it.
You can view housing free of charge.
If you look at housing and do not like it, you can tell the real estate agent it does not interest you.
●Sometimes the housing floor layout will differ from that actual housing, so be sure to check things carefully when you view the housing.
●In addition to the housing, also check the surrounding environment and the convenience.
Ask where are the train stations and bus stops, supermarkets and convenience stores, post office, banks, hospitals, parks, etc.
6 Applying to rent the housing
●If you like housing, apply to rent it.
The real estate agent and landlord will conduct a tenancy examination and if you pass the examination, you can form a rental agreement and move in.
●Generally, a guarantor is required to form a rental agreement.
If you do not have a guarantor, you may be able to use a rent liability guarantee service, such as a rent liability guarantee company.Ask the real estate agent about this.
7 Important points explanation
●Before signing the rental agreement, have the real estate agent explain the important rental agreement points to you.If there is something you do not understand, then ask questions until you understand it well.
8 Rental ageement
●When you rent housing, you will form a rental agreement.
The rental agreement is a document that specifies the promises between the landlord and the renter. Read the terms of the rental agreement, have them explained to you, and sign the agreement only after you understand the terms well.Signing the rental agreement means that you understand its terms and promise to observe them.
●Before signing the rental agreement, check the following items when receiving the important points explanation, etc.
・Whether the rental agreement is a regular rental agreement or a lease agreement.
・Ask about the amount of the security deposit, key money, etc., required at contract signing, and the amount of the Shikibiki(non-refundable restoration fee) if any.
・For a regular rental agreement, ask if there is an agreement renewal fee, and if there is, how much it is.
・Can the housing be redecorated and is co-occupancy by anyone other than the tenants prohibited?
・What are the original condition restoration conditions?
Check on the cost of original condition restoration at the time of vacating to prevent trouble from arising.
Item |
Description |
Documents required when making a rental agreement |
Certificate of Registered Items in the Foreign Resident Registry, passport, proof of earnings, student registration certificate, etc. Guarantor’s proof of earnings and seal registration certificate. |
Payments required when making a rental agreement |
Security deposit, key money, agency fee, damage insurance premium, rent, common service fee, etc. These vary by region, but as a rule of thumb an amount is equivalent to 3 to 4 months rent. Generally, payment is made in cash or by bank transfer. |
1 Receiving the key
●You will be given the key to the housing after the rental agreement is signed.
This key must be returned to the landlord at the end of the contract period, so be careful not to lose it.
●When receiving the key, if possible, have the real estate agent accompany you to check the condition of the housing and it is a good idea to create a checklist.
Drawing a simple floor layout and marking the damaged or dirty areas and attaching dated photographs are useful in avoiding trouble in the future.
Also be sure to check
that all furnishings and equipment operate properly.
●You must not make copies of keys without permission.
You must obtain permission from the landlord first.
2 Applying for electricity, gas, and water
●To apply for electricity, write your name, address, and usage start date on the postcard attached to the breaker and mail it in.
●For gas, contact a gas company ahead of time and request that the gas be turned on before the move-in date.
You must be present when the gas is turned on.
●For water, contact the section in charge of waterworks at your local government office and follow the procedure for having the water turned on.
Write your name, address, and usage start date on the provided postcard and mail it in.
3 Greeting the neighbors
●In Japan, it is the custom when one moves into a new location to go around the neighbors and people living on the floors above and below you to introduce yourself. Give your name and a simple self-introduction.
●It is convenient to be acquainted with each other.
Take care on a daily basis to great people when you meet them.
4 Neighborhood association/residents' association
●In Japan, there is usually a residents’organization called either the "neighborhood association" (chonaikai) or "residents’ association" (jichikai).
●The chonaikai or jichikai passes around circulars (a message clipboard with information from the city hall, healthcare center, and other organizations that is circulated in order among the association members), conducts anti-crime activities and disaster preparedness drills, and holds festivals and other events where neighbors can get together.
●The chonaikai or jichikai activities are funded by the membership fees paid by the residents.
1 Difference between an apa-to and a manshon
●An apa-to is a multi-family dwelling that generally is low-raise building or wooden or light steel frame construction.
These are also called haitsu or ko-po.
●A manshon is generally a multi-family dwelling of reinforced concrete construction.
2 Reading floor layouts
●In Japan, floor layouts are expressed using such terms as "2LDK."
●The "L" stands for living room, the "D" for dining room, and the "K" for kitchen. "DK" means one room jointly serves as the dining room and kitchen. "LDK" means one room jointly serves as the living room, dining room, and kitchen.
●If there is a number, such as "1" or "2" in front, such as "1DK" or "2LDK," it shows the number of independent rooms.
For example, "2LDK" means there are 2 independent rooms in addition to the LDK.
3 Room size units (Jo,Tsubo)
●The units used to show the size of a residence include "Jo" and "Tsubo," which are unique to Japan, in addition to square meters (㎡).
●"Jo"(帖) is the size of one tatami mat and is approximately 180 cm x 90 cm (there are some tatami mats that are smaller than this).
This unit is used to show the size of a room.
It is also written as (畳).
●"Tsubo" (坪) is used to express the size of land.
1 tsubo is approximately 3.3㎡.
4 Difference between Japanese-style(和室) and Western-style(洋室) room
●(和室) is a Japanese-style room with tatami mats on the floor.
●(洋室) is a room with flooring or carpet on the floor.
5 Bathrooms in Japan
●Generally, bathrooms in Japan have a separate washing area from the bathtub.
●The bathtub is only used to hold hot water and washing of the hair or body is done outside of the bathtub in the washing area.
First rinse off all of the shampoo and soap before soaking in the bathtub.
●If more than one person will take a bath, the hot water in the bathtub is not drained and can be used for the next person.
6 Japanese-style toilets
●When using a Japanese-style toilet, squat facing the doomed part.
7 Wearing shoes in the house is prohibited
●Japanese houses have a step up from the entrance to the hall or room.
Shoes are removed in the entrance before entering the rest of the house. In Japan, people sit directly on the floor or on a cushion placed on the floor.
So be sure to remove your shoes in the entrance.
You must not enter the rest of the house with your shoes on.
8 Bicycle parking space
●Line up your bicycle in an orderly fashion in the designated area, such as a bicycle parking space.
When there are rules, such as affixing a special sticker to the bicycle, these rules must be followed.
For automobiles, a parking space must be acquired (there is often a charge for parking spaces).
You must not park in even empty spaces in a parking area unless you have been given the right to park there (rented the space, etc).
This is an agent that serves as the landlord’s agent for renting housing and that buys and sells real estate.
This is a person who pays unpaid rent or unpaid repair costs after you vacate rental housing when you do not/cannot make the payment yourself.
A guarantor is required when applying to rent rental housing.
Guarantors must have an income that exceeds a certain level.
This is money that is paid to the real estate agent when reserving a rental agreement. Check if the application fee is returned if a rental agreement is not formed.
When a real estate agent is acting as the agent for rental housing, the real estate agent will explain the important points of the rental agreement to the renter (potential renter) before the rental agreement is signed and an important points explanation sheet will be given to the renter.
The important points regarding the state of equipment, handling of the security deposit, etc., will be explained, so listen carefully and ask questions when you do not understand something.
The security deposit is deposited with the landlord at the time the rental agreement is signed as a safeguard against non-payment of rent or repairs required when the rental housing is vacated.
As a guideline this is usually about the equivalent of 2 months rent.
Any remaining security deposit after settle of expenses at the time the rental housing is vacated is returned to you.
In some areas the security deposit is called guarantee money.
The guarantee money is often the equivalent of 6 months rent.
This is money that is paid to the landlord at the rental agreement signing.
Key money is often required in the Kanto Region and is usually 1 or 2 months rent.
Key money is not returned.
Recently there is some rental housing that does not require key money to rent.
This is money that is paid as a fee to the real estate agent and is set within 1 month rent.
You don't have to pay this fee to us "Heyapita".
It is common at rental agreement signing to acquire damage insurance coverage to protect against fire or water damage caused by the tenant.
This is the charge for renting the housing, and generally the rent for the current month is due at the end of the previous month.
If you move into or out of housing after the first day of the month, the rent for that month in principle will be prorated.
This is money that covers the cost of electricity used or cleaning fees, etc., for spaces used in common by the tenants, such as stairways and hallways.
In Japan, you pay a common service fee (or management fee) that is separate from the rent. This is generally paid for the current month together with the rent at the end of the previous month.
If there will be co-occupants in the rental housing, this must be stated to the landlord when the rental agreement is being formed.
If this is not stated and you allow co-occupants without permission, you could be evicted from the housing.
A rent liability guarantee company is a company that guarantees to pay the rent to the landlord in the event that you do not pay the rent.
To use such a company, you must pay a set guarantee fee (this is often 35% to 50% of one
month’s rent paid in advance as the guarantee fee for 2 years).
However, this is not insurance. The guarantee company will bill you for the rent that it paid for you.
A regular rental agreement is the type of rental agreement generally used in Japan.
The landlord cannot refuse to renew the agreement at the end of the agreement period without due cause.
In other words, the contract is automatically renewed even if there is no renewal agreement.
A lease agreement is a rental agreement that covers a specified contract period and ends at the end of the contract period without being renewed.
A new contract can be made by agreement between the landlord and renter.
The non-refundable restoration fee is a contract method that sets in advance the amount of the portion of the security deposit or guarantee money that will not be returned when the housing is vacated.
This is often required in the Tokai Region, Kansai Region, and Kyushu.
This is money paid to the landlord by the renter when the rental agreement is renewed to continue the agreement and is specified in a special term in the rental agreement.
The contract period is normally 2 years.
You must pay the expense incurred to restore the rental housing to its original conditions when it has been damaged or dirtied willfully, negligently, or carelessly by you.
This is called the original condition restoration fee and is subtracted from the security deposit when the housing is vacated.
Take care to keep the housing clean and in good repair.
To terminate the rental agreement before the end of the agreement period, you must inform the landlord or real estate agent of your intent to terminate by applying in advance (the advance period requirement is stated in the rental agreement and is usually 1 or 2 months).
