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In Japan, a vanished tenant triggers a court-run eviction process landlords cannot shortcut — no self-help, no changed locks. Using primary Japanese government data, this guide gives the 12 warning signs, damages by rent band, an average 9.1 months to full vacant possession, and average enforcement costs of ¥507,000 (approx. USD 3,380), with the source of every figure shown line by line.
A complete Japan guide to disaster preparedness in a newly built condominium: the difference between taishin, seishin, and menshin structures, upper-floor long-period ground motion and risks like elevator stoppage and water outage, in-home evacuation stockpiling amounts, and what to do before and after moving in, all built on primary sources so you can actually decide.
A guide for landlords on the unique challenges and opportunities of renting to elderly tenants in Japan: managing risks, legal considerations, and tapping into a growing market.
Rent reduction guidelines in Japan are practical reference materials used when part of a rental unit cannot be used because equipment has failed. They help organize a reasonable benchmark for reducing rent. They are not, however, an automat
An explanation of Japan's Housing Safety Net program, how it works, and a practical guide for apartment owners on leveraging it as a strategy to reduce long-term vacancies.
A thorough guide to drafting a will for the smooth inheritance of real estate in Japan: the different types of wills, legal requirements, and essential points to avoid common mistakes.
Can a company be registered at a rental apartment? This article explains from a legal perspective the risks of unauthorized office use, the impact on landlords, and legitimate alternatives such as SOHO use and shared offices.
Understand the propane gas equipment free-loan contract common in Japanese rental properties: the mechanism, benefits, drawbacks, and how to avoid common contract disputes.
A lease can be formed verbally even without a written agreement, but the risks are significant. Explains the clauses owners should include, such as repair obligations, prohibited uses, and termination terms, and how to use the contract effectively from an owner’s perspective.
Understand the legal obligation to replace water meters every 8 years in Japan, who bears the cost, and how the replacement process works in condominiums.
## Elevator Management Is Not Just About Whether Inspections Were Done
This article explains common disputes that arise during move-out inspections for landlords, along with ways to avoid them. It also covers the basics of restoration guidelines and the standards for deciding what can and cannot be charged.
Rent increases are not something that landlords can freely decide. If the current rent becomes unreasonable due to changes in prices, tax burden, building prices, neighborhood market prices, etc., the landlord can request an increase. Howev
Chimoku is a uniquely Japanese, registry-based land classification with no equivalent in most Western property systems, yet it decides whether you can build, whether a bank will lend, and how much tax you owe. This guide walks international investors through Japan's 23 land categories, how to check your own land's chimoku, the process and cost of changing it, and its real impact on investment returns.
Does a move-out demand from the management company have to be obeyed? Just cause under the Lease Act, when relocation money applies, and how managers should handle it.
What Taito Ward's collective housing ordinance — commonly called the one-room ordinance — actually requires: minimum unit size, mandatory family-sized units, which projects it applies to, why it exists, and how it affects one-room investment.
Explains the rental contract process from property search to move-in in seven steps. Covers the difference between standard and fixed-term leases, required documents, the breakdown of initial costs, and how to use online important matter explanations.
This guide explains condominium fire inspections, including inspection types such as equipment checks and comprehensive inspections, typical cost ranges, penalties, and resident response, to help ensure compliance with fire safety law.
A practitioner's guide to Japan's shigaika chōsei kuiki (urbanization control zone): how it differs from urbanization promotion zones, the farmhouse, branch-family, and rebuild exceptions that allow a house to be built, development permit costs, and permit-free uses like solar power and parking.
A seismic isolation home, known in Japan as a **menshin jutaku** (免震住宅), is designed to make earthquake shaking less likely to transfer directly into the building. For investors and English-speaking real-estate professionals, this is a Japa
Defective properties in Japan are not assets you should buy simply because they are cheap, nor assets you should automatically avoid because they appear risky. The investment decision depends on whether you can separate the type of defect,
This article explains whether short-term rental is allowed in condominiums, the rules under the Private Lodging Business Act, restrictions in management bylaws, and the risks owners face, along with reasons many buildings adopt voluntary limits.
This article explains the eligibility requirements and advantages of a three-story wood-frame apartment building known as Mokusankyo. It highlights key points investors should know, including lower construction costs, efficient use of small sites, and flexible design.
Land in Japan classified as *sanrin* (山林, mountain forest/forest land) can look attractive because it is cheap and large, but it is risky to judge it on price and size alone. Before buying, you need to confirm whether building is possible,
An overview of Japan's Building Standards Act: the construction conditions it sets for condominiums, what constitutes an illegal structure, and how non-conforming buildings are handled.
A practical, landlord's-eye guide to what happens when a tenant in Japan refuses to move out. We cover the strict notice deadlines under Japan's Act on Land and Building Leases, the four recognized categories of legitimate grounds for eviction, how a Japanese moving-out payment (tachinokiryo) is calculated, and the realistic costs and timeline from negotiation through to court enforcement.
This guide explains how to handle security deposit disputes when the refund is withheld. It covers how costs for walls, floors, and water-related areas are divided between tenants and landlords, along with four practical negotiation methods, including using case law, attending estimates, and seeking help from public institutions.
Explains the legal risks, mortgage issues, and four key selling points for properties that exceed the floor area ratio, including noncompliant and existing nonconforming buildings. Covers the responses investors and owners should understand.
Rent increase/decrease request is a system in which the landlord or tenant requests an increase or decrease in the rent in the future when the current rent becomes inappropriate due to changes in circumstances after the contract has been si
This guide explains the differences among A, B, and C construction works in commercial properties. It covers scope, cost responsibility, contractor selection authority, and practical cautions such as comparative quotes and restoration obligations in C works.