Skip to content
Real Estate Intelligence
COLUMN

3 Benefits of Rental Housing for Telework: How to Choose the Right Home for Remote Work

This article explains the features of rental housing suited to telework and three main benefits: higher productivity, lower living costs, and a better residential environment. It also outlines what to look for when choosing a home for long-term remote work.

Last updated: About 1 min read

The spread of telework has significantly expanded housing options. When daily commuting is no longer necessary, moving to suburban or regional areas also becomes a realistic option. This article explains the features of rental housing designed for telework and three benefits you can gain by relocating.

What kind of properties are telework-friendly rental homes?

Telework-friendly rental housing refers to homes with an environment that makes working from home easier. The main features are as follows.

  • A dedicated workspace for work
  • Sufficient storage space to organize documents
  • High sound insulation and a quiet environment suitable for web meetings
  • Access to high-speed internet (fiber-optic line and Wi-Fi available)
  • Located in a quiet residential neighborhood with little noise

What are the three benefits of living in telework-friendly rental housing?

Benefit 1: Work productivity improves

Living in a home equipped for telework improves concentration and work productivity. If you have a highly sound-insulated room, sufficient storage, and a stable internet environment, you can achieve work efficiency at home that matches or even exceeds the office.

Benefit 2: You can significantly reduce living costs

If commuting into central Tokyo is no longer necessary, relocating to an area with a lower cost of living becomes possible. According to the 2018 Regional Consumer Price Index, Tokyo stood at 104.4, and housing costs in particular were 33% above the national average, showing how exceptionally high urban living costs are. Moving to suburban or regional areas can substantially reduce housing expenses.

Benefit 3: You can move to a more comfortable living environment

Once commuting distance is no longer a constraint, you can freely choose a location that matches your lifestyle, such as a quiet residential area, an area close to schools and daycare centers, or a nature-rich setting. This can also improve your private life, including better balance between childcare and work and a more fulfilling environment for your hobbies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. How should I look for a telework-friendly rental property?

It is easier to find one by searching with keywords such as "workspace included," "fiber-optic internet available," or "soundproof room." During a viewing, make sure to check the internet environment, storage capacity, and sound insulation in person.

Q. Are there risks in moving to the suburbs for telework?

The main risk is a heavier commuting burden if you suddenly need to go into the office. Before choosing an area to relocate to, confirm whether your work is fully remote or requires commuting several times a week.

Q. How much higher is the rent for telework-ready rentals compared with standard rentals?

In many cases, the rent is about 10,000 to 20,000 yen higher because of the dedicated workspace and better facilities, but the rent savings from moving from central Tokyo to the suburbs often exceed that amount.

Daisuke Inazawa, President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc.

Author

President & CEOINA&Associates Inc.

President & CEO of INA&Associates Inc. Leads real estate brokerage, rental leasing, and property management across Greater Tokyo and the Kansai region. Specialises in income-property investment strategy and advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

Daisuke Inazawa is the President and CEO of INA&Associates Inc., a Japanese real estate firm headquartered in Osaka with a Tokyo branch. He leads the company's three core businesses — real estate sales brokerage, rental leasing, and property management — across the Greater Tokyo Area and the Kansai region.

His areas of expertise include investment strategy for income-generating real estate, profitability optimisation of rental operations, real estate advisory for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) and institutional investors, and cross-border real estate investment. He provides data-driven, long-horizon advisory to investors in Japan and overseas.

Under the management philosophy "a company's most important asset is its people," he positions INA&Associates as a "people-investment company" and is committed to sustainable corporate-value creation through talent development. He also writes and speaks publicly on leadership and organisational culture in times of change.

He has passed eleven Japanese professional qualification examinations: Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken), Certified Real Estate Consulting Master, Licensed Condominium Manager, Licensed Building Management Supervisor, Certified Rental Housing Management Professional, Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (administrative scrivener), Certified Personal Information Protection Officer, Class-A Fire Prevention Manager, Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist, Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer, and Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor.

  • Licensed Real Estate Broker (Takken)
  • Certified Real Estate Consulting Master
  • Licensed Condominium Manager
  • Licensed Building Management Supervisor
  • Certified Rental Housing Management Professional
  • Gyōseishoshi Lawyer (Administrative Scrivener)
  • Certified Personal Information Protection Officer
  • Class-A Fire Prevention Manager
  • Certified Auctioned Real Estate Specialist
  • Certified Condominium Maintenance Engineer
  • Licensed Moneylending Operations Supervisor