The renting situation for non-Japanese has been improved

Schools start in April in Japan. Students who graduated in March start working from April and the fiscal year of most Japanese companies is between April and March. Employees who are transferred start working from April. Subsequently, March is the month of movement. This is the best month to find a room.

Generally speaking, Japanese landlords have been hesitant to rent rooms to non-Japanese. Common reasons given are that it would take time to solve a dispute if the rent is not paid and non-Japanese might make the room dirty because of cultural differences. For their troubles, landlords accept a deposit, which is however regarded as a custom and a guarantee should an accident occur. Landlords are looking for those who will keep the room clean and pay the rent as agreed. Therefore, non-Japanese have often not been welcomed.

However, Japan is now faced with a declining birthrate and while many new rooms are being offered, vacant rooms, especially old ones, are on the increase. Because of this, the situation for non-Japanese has improved. Some landlords do not accept the key money, (a non-refundable token of thanks which is difficult for many non-Japanese to understand) and real estate agencies specializing in non-Japanese clients have appeared. If you want to use these agencies, it is not difficult to find one. Nevertheless, many landlords still require a Japanese guarantor.

Many non-Japanese do not understand the housing situation in Japan and look for a room as they would in their own country. For instance, some people who do not sign a contract after visiting many rooms may not be welcomed by agencies and will not be taken care of. So please be careful.

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