FINDING AN APARTMENT IN JAPAN | START UP COST AND FEES

One of the most important considerations when deciding to move in Japan is your finances. Apart from where you want to live or the amenities you want in your new apartment, you need to consider what exactly you can afford.

I'm writing this blog because the start up costs for renting an apartment can get pretty expensive with fees and deposits, which do not include the cost of buying furniture or renting a moving company. Fortunately, a lot of rental listings have a break-down of most, if not all, of the required fees so you have an idea before you even reach out with an inquiry! These fees do vary from unit to unit, but I want to give you an idea of what I paid when I decided to move into my new Japanese apartment!

BACKGROUND
My costs are based on a less than one year old apartment building in Yokohama. My building is 10 minutes from the nearest station, and I live in a non-corner, 1R unit on the first floor. To learn more about Japanese apartment layouts, please visit this site!


FIRST MONTH RENT (家賃) [56,500円]
This is self explanatory. You are first required to pay the first month's rent and any pro-rated rent. Your rent is what you will be paying monthly. Be aware that the rent can vary even within the same apartment building. Units on higher floors are more expensive. Corner units can be more expensive too due to having an extra window. Pet friendly apartment buildings, pre-furnished apartments, etc., will all drive up the cost of rent!

COMMON AREA FEE (共益費) [3,000円]
The common area maintenance fee is basically a maintenance and repair fee for the property. This fee is paid monthly to maintain the property, cover costs for building repairs, and inspections.

PARKING SPACE FEE (駐車場) [21,600円]
If you have a car, you will be required to lease a parking spot designated by your apartment building. This fee is also to be paid monthly.


SECURITY DEPOSIT (敷金) [56,500円]
This fee is usually equal to one to two month's rent and is fully to partially refundable. This will cover any damages and repairs that go beyond normal wear and tear when you move out.

KEY MONEY (礼金) [56,500円]
Key money has cultural implications here in Japan, and it is usually equal to one to two months rent. Sometimes you can negotiate higher monthly rent instead of key money, but there are definitely apartments that do not require key money at all!

BROKER FEE (介手数料) [56,500円]
Since it is not common to rent from the landlord directly, most apartment seekers will have to go through a real estate agent. The fee for this is equal to one month's rent plus tax. Some agencies do offer half or even zero agency fees, so please inquire.

GUARANTOR COMPANY FEE  (保証料) [56,500円]
Most apartments require tenants to acquire a guarantor. This is usually a Japanese relative, the company you work for, or an actual guarantor company. The guarantor is basically a co-signer and promises to pay the rent in the case that you can't. Some apartments do not require a guarantor, but if yours do, the fee is usually equal to one month's rent or less.

PEST EXTERMINATION FEE (ムシ駆除サービス) [16,200円]
This fee covers the cost of fogging your apartment so that any pests that might be present are killed and disposed of.

ANTIBACTERIAL APPLICATION FEE (抗菌施工）[12,960円]
This is an extension of the pest extermination fee and helps prevents insects, such as cockroaches, etc from entering your apartment. This fee is often optional, so just ask.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER FEE (消火剤) [10,800円]
My apartment requires us to all have fire extinguishers. Two fire extinguishers were mailed to me a few weeks after moving into the apartment.

FIRE AND EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE (火災保険) [15,000円]
Fire insurance is often required and covers damage due to fires, smoke damage, etc. Furthermore, it can also cover damage due to water overflowing from a washing machine or damaged household possessions.

CLEANING FEE (退去時清掃費) [56,160円]
Most apartments in Japan require a cleaning fee that is due at the time you move out. This fee covers the cleaning to restore the apartment to the condition it was when you moved in. This fee does not cover any damages that you may have caused, such as a broken handle or cigarette stains. These damages would come out of your security deposit.

KEY/LOCK REPLACEMENT FEE (鍵交換費用) [12,000円]
Since I moved into a brand new apartment, and was the first tenant ever in the unit, I didn't need to pay this fee. However, you will probably need to pay to change the locks if you're not the first tenant.

24/7 EMERGENCY REPAIR FEE (安心スポート）[16,200円]
This fee covers any emergencies that may arise, such as being locked out of my apartment or a water pipe bursting in the middle of the night.

LEASE RENEWAL FEE (更新料) [56,500円]
This is usually equal to one to two months rent and is paid at the end of the leasing term only if you would like to renew your lease.

• Pet fee
• Bank wire transfer fee
• basic hot water fee
• neighborhood association fee
• property manager administration fee