Finding Accommodation
If you havenft already found suitable accommodation for your stay then this is sure to be your first lesson in the importance of shopping around. In Japan the landlord holds all the cards.
The tenantfs rights are few and far between. When looking for rental accommodation here are the things that need your consideration. Donft be too shocked by the figures you are about to hear, read on and see that there are other alternatives. But first of all I will guide you through the traditional Japanese way of renting an apartment.
How to read an advertisement for an apartment
From the old days land size is written in tatami mats. The counter for tatami mats is ejouf. The conversion roughly is 170cms by 87cms.
Initial Set Up And Fees
The Tenancy Agreement-The term for most agreements is two years. You may have to pay a fee if the contract is prematurely terminated. A guarantor, your seal, your alien card, proof of employment and your bank account details will be required. The initial payment is usually expected to be paid out in cash. In addition the owner may stipulate that you purchase a fire insurance policy.
Key Money-this is what we refer to as a bond however it is not 100% refundable. As an example my apartmentfs key money was 400,000 yen and the portion that will be refunded is 150,000 yen, provided of course the property is left in good condition.
The Real-Estate Agentfs Fee-Usually a fee of up to one monthfs rent is charged as a fee for finding you the apartment. This is required to be paid when the signing of the contract takes place.
Rent-You can expect to pay from about 40,000 yen onwards for a one room apartment. A fixed fee for care taking may also be charged. There is no seam on how much accommodation will cost. The rent is generally determined by size, amount of rooms, locality, and age of the premises. Usually the apartments come unfurnished however some do come with extras like an air-conditioner, or a washing machine. These extras, and also whether pets are allowed or not will be indicated on the advertisement.
Living expenses-Such as power, gas, and water are generally charged on a user pays basis your bill will be sent monthly by the company concerned.
The above is based on my own experiences of renting. But as mentioned earlier there are less expensive alternatives. Due to the growing numbers of foreigners wanting to work in Japan some bright people have realized that there was a demand for a new type of rental service that would better suit foreigners. A lot of these businesses are indeed owned & operated by expatriates. These businesses can be found in your local foreigners` magazine. In the Kansai area we have a monthly magazine called the Kansai Time Out which can be purchased at major book stores* for 300 yen, or alternatively with an annual subscription it will be delivered to your door, and also a free weekly magazine called the Kansai Flea Market which can be found at similar stores.
These rental agencies work more like the ones we have at home. They usually expect NO key money, but instead they may ask for the last months rent in advance and another one months rent as a refundable deposit. The advertised accommodations are usually smaller apartments suitable for single people or a couple and also rooms in a foreigners` guest house. They may also have bigger or deluxe housing on their listings.
Although I have not personally dealt with these businesses I believe they are doing a great service for the foreign community. Just think of the advantages; no key money, less fees, no hassles with language difficulties. Also the rooms advertised are almost exclusively located close to the main train stations, a lot within walking distance and are sometimes fully furnished.
What to look for when looking for an apartment.
location
Think of the commuting time from the apartment to your intended work place. But also donft live right next to the station unless you want to enjoy frequent mini tremors. If you are contemplating riding a bicycle from your home to the station be aware that bicycle parks cost around \150/day and illegal parking can result in confiscation and ultimately a fine. Hence within walking distance of a station is highly recommended.
What Floor?
Most of you will probably find yourselves chosing to live in an apartment building. If so, you may not know but in Japan apartment buildings with 5 floors or less do not have to have an elevator. (I found out when I chose to live on the top floor of a 5 storied apartment). It is not too much of an inconvenience if you are a fit person, but lugging groceries or shifting large rubbish bags can be energy-draining.
Also the top few floors of an apartment building, on older premises at least, get very stifling hot over the warmer months; July, August, September. One of my biggest regrets about choosing my apartment is the heat.
However there are some benefits of living up, or near, the top of an apartment building. For example not so many door to door sales people come to annoy you, and you may have a spectacular view of the summer fire works displays. Another thing that most people forget to mention is that fewer cockroaches and mosquitoes will invade your living quarters.
Choosing to live on the lower floors has itfs advantages, but you may get more visitors and remember to go and take a look at the prospective apartment in the day time to make sure enough natural light gets in. Ifm sure it could be quite depressing living in a dark dungeon for any amount of time.
