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When searching for a house or an
apartment to rent, approaching a real estate agent for assistance
is one option. Alternatively, you can look through some
of the many housing information magazines available, or
you can ask around at your school or place of work.
Your real estate agent will give you information on the
housing available and take you to see any house or apartment
you are interested in at no direct charge to you.
To avoid any misunderstandings during your search, it is
a good idea to bring along someone who can interpret for
you (in case you think your Japanese is not sufficient).
<Counseling
on Accommodation>
English, Chinese, Korean are available
Osaka Municipal Housing Information Center 6-4-20
Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka
TEL(06)6242-1177 FAX 6354-8601
Weekdays/Saturdays 10:00-19:00(closed on Tue,
day after holidays, and end and beginning of
the year)
Sundays/Public Holidays 10:00-17:00
*Foreign Languages are available until 17:00
for all days. |
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Once you have found suitable accommodation,
you can enter into a rental contract. But before you sign
or affix your seal to the contract, carefully confirm how
the following items are specified, especially the shiki-kin
(refundable deposit) and rei-kin (Key money), which are
a Japanese practice that you may not be familiar with; Temporany
Booking Fee (Azukarikin, or Moshikomi Shokokin)
You might pay some money to real estate agency to make a
temporary booking of the accommodation you like before making
a formal contract. This money is to be used for deposit
in later procedures.
•Guarantor (hosho-nin)
When the contracting party is not able to assume liability
for reparation, a guarantor must be appointed. In most cases
it is best to appoint a Japanese as guarantor.
•Initial Deposit (tetsuke-kin)
Tetsukekin is the money to be paid as the proof of completion
of a contract. It will be part of Guarantee Money.
•Key Money/Gift Money
(rei-kin)
This money is paid to the landlord as a token of gratitude
and is not refunded when you move out.
•Refundable Deposit
(shiki-kin)
This is money left with the landlord as security for your rental payments.
As a rule, it is paid back to you when you move out. However, if
you do not pay the rent or if you damage the property, this money will
be appropriated to cover the amount of the repair cost owed. The
remainder will be returned to you. It is common practice in the Kansai
area to put the Key Money (reikin) and Refundable in the Kansai area to
put the Key Money (reikin) and Refundable Deposit (shikikin) together and
refer to it as Guarantee Money (hoshokin). It is also a common practice
that when the tenant moves out, the repair fee of any damage in the house
will be deducted by the tenant, which is called "Shikibiki (or Kaiyaku-biki).
"
•Realtor's Fee (chukai-ryo)
This is the commission paid to the real estate agent. In
principle, the tenant and landload pay respectively one
half of the sum of money equivalent to one-month's rent.
However, at time of contract, if both parties to the agreement
are of the same mind; the proportion paid by each party
may be changed.
•Period of Lease
A normal lease period is two years. The rent may be raised
upon renewal of the contract. In addition to the above payments,
you may be required to bear expenses needed to restore the
accommodation to its original state when you move out. |
This includes monthly rent and maintenance fees to be paid.
•Rental Fee
You must pay the monthly in advance by the last day of the
previous month.
•Maintenance Fees
These are included to cover the maintenance of communal
facilities at condominiums. They are sometimes included
in the rent. |
When you wish to terminate the lease, you must give advance
notice (normally one to two months) to the landlord in accordance
with the provisions of the contract. If you move out without
giving notice, or if you give notice just before moving,
you might be charged extra rent. |
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