How to Rent Apartments in Japan - Ep 2. Gaijin Troubles 日本での賃貸のマナー

This is the second video in a series on renting apartments in Japan. Many thanks to Sachiko-sensei for teaching us!
http://www.youtube.com/landhousing
http://www.facebook.com/landhousing
http://www.landhousing.co.jp/english/

Gaijin Troubles - Guarantors and Manners

The main reasons that landlords often say they won't rent to foreigners is either that they don't have a guarantor in Japan, or that they have experience of foreign tenants (or believe the reputation of foreigners) not following certain important rules for renting apartments. Examples of these "rules", referred to in Japanese as "manners" include:
- Failing to properly separate garbage as required under local government rules
- Having noisy house parties
- Wearing shoes inside the apartment
- Damaging the walls and wallpaper with nails/hooks/double sided tape
- Subleasing rooms in the apartment to others without permission

While many of the above things are fine in apartments abroad, they are considered to be unacceptable in Japan. And while some people might figure they are going to leave Japan anyway and not care, it makes victims out of the next foreigners who come along and can't find accommodation because landlords decide they no longer want to allow foreigners in. Time and time again, these are given as reasons that landlords are uncomfortable with the idea of having foreign tenants. Point is, these things are important, and it is a good idea to pay proper heed, not just for your own sake, but for the sake of those who will follow you.

More vids to come!

Links:

General Rules for living in an Apartment in Japan (translation of 生活ルールマナー集)
http://worldinfo.okwave.jp/english/EokpControl?&lang=ja&tid=10297&...

Gaijin Friendly Accommodation
http://www.youtube.com/user/landhousing
http://www.landhousing.co.jp/english/
http://www.gaijinpot.com/apartments/
http://metropolis.co.jp/classifieds/biz.asp?action=home&pid=20
http://www.tokyocityapartments.net
http://www.tokyoapartment.com/
http://www.oakhouse.jp/eng/

Gaijin Houses
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2032.html
http://www.sakura-house.com/
http://gaijinhousejapan.com/
http://www.geocities.com/gaijin_house/

Search for a NORMAL Apartment (in Japanese)
http://www.chintai.net/

Government Housing (no key money, and foreigners can apply - in Japanese)
http://sumai.ur-net.go.jp/Sumai/10/Index.html
http://www.ur-net.go.jp/

Basics for renting an apartment in Japan
http://www.transborders.co.jp/realestate/english/basics/

Some case studies of foreigners looking for apartments in Tokyo
http://www.transborders.co.jp/realestate/english/lifeinjapan/

English blog on renting in Tokyo
http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/29/big-in-japan-how-to-rent-an-apartment-in-tokyo

A guide with the basics, but conveniently leaves out the biggest
barrier - that most places will not rent to foreigners
http://www.tokyoessentials.com/apartments.html

外国人はゴミの分別ができないと思われているが、実際はどうか？
http://ameblo.jp/transborders/entry-10137152207.html

生活ルールマナー集
http://worldinfo.okwave.jp/japanese/EokpControl?&site=defalut&lang=en...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• apartments
• leasing
• deposit
• guarantor
• foreigners
• gaijin
• Tokyo
• landhousing
• 賃貸
• 礼金
• 敷金
• 仲介手数料
• マナー
• ゴミ分別
• 保証人
• 外国人

[blondeno1girl]

You guys are really missing the point. I've lived here for 20 years, have permanent residency, speak fluent Japanese, have a Japanese hoshonin, and I STILL had trouble finding an apartment. They reject you simply on the basis that you are a foreigner. Your video does nothing to address the issue that many Japanese landlords are racist, pure and simple.

[Hikosaemon]

@blondeno1girl That's not true at all - Ep 3 we spend a whole episode talking in Japanese about how Sachiko confronts and persuades landlords to change their attitudes toward accepting foreign tenants. Fact remains however that landlords that won't consider foreign tenants is a fact of life here that foreigners looking for apartments need to deal with. This is intended as constructive advice for new arrivals of what can be done.

[Hikosaemon]

@blondeno1girl As a 20 year resident, I don't have to tell you what your options are in terms of fighting back against such landlords that won't consider foreign tenants, Debito's site is there with all the advice that you could want.

In the end of the day, what it comes down to is the lack of a human rights law in Japan - there is a bill being drafted in the Diet that is a hot topic for rightists opposed to it, but that promises to give better means to those who suffer this issue.

[TolokyoRAW]

Wow...she seemed to say really strongly that subletting is illegal. O.o

I approached my landlord and asked if I could do it - he said, "sure, I trust you to take care of whoever comes in". But I'd already developed a really good relationship with my landlord, so I guess it was different.

There's a word of advice for everyone: be friendly with your landlord.

I used to have house parties, and he'd always bring up homemade food or drinks for everyone.

[Hikosaemon]

@TolokyoRAW Not illegal - just emphatic that doing it behind your landlord's back is grounds for termination and eviction, and that it is a concern that many landlords express about allowing foreign tenants in. Whether subleases are permitted is of course up to the contract and understanding between the tenant and landlord - where your landlord is a person and you get on well, of course that's an ideal situation. The key however is not to presume you can do it without permission.

[TolokyoRAW]

It would be great to interview one of those guarantor companies about their process...I've been told you don't need a monthly fee - just a 1-time, upfront fee. And I've never heard that you need a guarantor even if you pay for a guarantor company..was surprised when she said that.

[Hikosaemon]

@TolokyoRAW They're all slightly different, but I looked at using a guarantor company a few years ago, and the two companies I checked were for a small monthly fee.

The key is that in most cases, the companies themselves don't become guarantors - they introduce you to old fellers who volunteer to sign as guarantor and use the monthly payments as income, but this is why it is important to really check out the company you are using. The service is primarily for Japanese without guarantors.

[Hikosaemon]

@akitokimemo Everyone's experience is different, but I think the simple answer to that is "no". Renting apartments is the most difficult thing for foreigners in Japan, but for most foreigners, especially from rich countries, life in Japan varies from being semi-invisible with a free VIP pass / diplomatic immunity wherever you go, to being a virtual movie star in small towns. You don't blend much, but 99% of discrimination tends to be positive.

[TheOneTitan]

Keep it coming, this is really original, not to mention I find her somewhat cute =)

[RENEDU2]

damn hiyodoris 

[ajebism]

Not all 'hoshounin daikou' (保証人代行) guarantor companies are dodgy. I've used this type of company plenty of times and never had any problems - and you don't need a guarantor sign up to this service either.

Hoshounin daikou companies generally charge half a month's rent as an initial fee for the service, and will then take your monthly rent out of your bank account automatically. If you don't have enough on the bank on the 27th then they will send you a convenience store payment postcard.

[HomleandSecurity]

It's such a hassle to get an apartment in Japan! I think it's better if foreigners just stay home.

[omgharajuku]

Thanks for the video! I have a question, though.

I will be studying abroad for a year in Tokyo, and I signed up with the University to help me find an apartment. A woman from the school sent me a brochure, while another person emailed me volunteering to help with the apartment search, and she sent me a bunch of pages about apartments. If I go with the apartments the woman sent me (which are cheaper) will she charge me one month's worth of rent like in the video?

[tekzunited]

party party "D