29 stories
This is an article that explains the mortgage loan for purchasing a house in Japan where you or your relatives live. With Japanese home loans, the applicable interest rate is calculated by subtracting the amount of reduction according to th
This is an article that explains the mortgage loan for purchasing a house in Japan where you or your relatives live. With Japanese home loans, the applicable interest rate is calculated by subtracting the amount of reduction according to th
An era has arrived in which 40% of income goes to rent just to live "normally" in Tokyo. This article explains why a monthly rent of 170,000 yen has become standard even for households earning 8 million yen a year, along with the structural drivers behind the shortage of new supply and rising rents.
As major repair costs continue to rise, the reality is spreading that older condominiums in rural areas are falling into a state where repairs are no longer feasible. This article explains the reality of a 30% increase in construction costs and the choices individual owners now face.
The cost of major repairs is harder to read than it used to be due to rising material and labor costs. What is important for rental owners is not just to lower construction costs. This is to reduce the risk of future rework by keeping the n
How bundling water into the kyoekihi common service fee works: flat-rate versus metered settlement, how the rate is set, what happens with heavy usage, consumption tax and accounting, contract clauses, and arrears or leak risk.
## Property Management Service Quality Cannot Be Measured by “Pleasant Communication” Alone
## What You Really Need to Manage in Statutory Apartment Building Inspections
In order to increase occupancy rates in rental management, it is not enough to simply post an advertisement after a vacant room becomes available. Notice of leaving, restoring the property to its original condition, recruiting conditions, p
Rental bathtub replacement cost in Japan should not be judged by the tub price alone. Owners and managers need to separate landlord responsibility from tenant responsibility, understand the bathroom structure, check the substrate and waterp
Genjō-kaifuku (原状回復) is Japan's distinct framework for restoring a rental unit after move-out, and it has no direct US or UK equivalent. This guide explains the line between ordinary wear and tenant liability, the useful-life depreciation tables that reduce a tenant's bill as a unit ages, and the practical workflow from move-in photos through the move-out inspection and settlement statement, grounded in MLIT guidelines and Article 621 of Japan's Civil Code.
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
Deciding whether to retrofit auto-lock entry in a rental property is an investment that can easily fail if it is judged only by whether it “improves security.” In practice, owners need to consider the building’s age, number of units, tenant
## Elevator Management Is Not Just About Whether Inspections Were Done
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
In apartment management, not only indoor troubles but also parking lot troubles often occur. The incidents range from unauthorized parking, incorrectly designated parking spaces, collisions with vehicles, over-parking, vehicle break-ins, an
Range hoods are the most frequently used kitchen equipment in rental housing, and are used to remove oil smoke, moisture, and odors every day. Even if it appears to be working, if the exhaust capacity is reduced or if there are abnormal noi
What to do when a water heater breaks down in a rental unit: typical lifespan, when to replace rather than repair, and a clear explanation of cost responsibility for landlords and tenants.
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
## Consumer Center Complaints Begin Not at Move-Out, but at Move-In
The air conditioner in your rental property doesn't work, makes strange noises, or leaks water. In such cases, the first question to ask is, "Who will pay for the repair/replacement costs?"
A property management expert explains Japan's Civil Code reform on security deposits (shikikin) and restoration obligations (genjo-kaifuku) for landlords. This guide separates the often-confused Article 621 (restoration duty) and Article 622-2 (security deposit), with practical checklists for leases, special clauses, move-in documentation, and move-out settlement statements.
What the rent increase/decrease claim under Article 32 covers. The conditions for a valid claim, ordinary vs fixed-term leases, and the path from notice to mediation.
When renewing your rental housing contract, you may be notified of a rent increase by the management company or landlord. This is not uncommon during times when prices, property taxes, and surrounding market prices are rising, but this does
In Japan-specific real-estate practice, “relocation” often means renting out your own home while you are away for a domestic transfer or overseas assignment, so the property does not sit vacant. It can help offset fixed ownership costs thro
We explain the difference between genjō-kaifuku (原状回復), genjō-fukki (原状復帰), and the common mis-written 現状回復 — from a working property-management perspective in Japan. Learn why 現状回復 is a documented misuse, and which term belongs in move-out settlements, tenant explanations, and repair estimates, organized through reference tables and ready-to-use sample phrasing. Includes the legal grounding in Article 621 of Japan's Civil Code and the MLIT restoration guidelines — essential context for any overseas owner or investor managing a Japanese rental property.
In Japan’s rental market, `shikikin` (敷金, security deposit), `shokyakukin` (償却金, non-refundable amortized deposit), `shikibiki` (敷引き, fixed non-refundable deduction), and `hoshokin` (保証金, guarantee deposit) may sound similar, but they diffe
In Japan-specific residential leasing, **shikikin** (敷金) is money a tenant deposits with the landlord under a lease agreement. It is applied to unpaid rent or damage caused intentionally or negligently by the tenant.
The first number to check when managing an apartment is the yield. However, if you make a purchase decision solely based on the yield displayed in the advertisement, you may end up with less money left than expected. This is because most ad