Move-in costs in Japan
A listing can look affordable until the first payment is itemised. Separate recurring housing costs, refundable deposits, non-refundable payments and service charges before you compare homes or agree to an application.
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Fees you may see
Common terms include shikikin (security deposit), reikin (key money), agency commission, guarantor company fee, renter's insurance, cleaning fee and lock exchange. A listing may omit some of them or describe a fee only in Japanese.
A deposit may be used for costs allowed by the contract and is not the same as key money, which is generally a non-refundable payment to the landlord. Some fees are monthly, renewal or move-out charges rather than move-in charges. Keep their timing separate so you do not compare different kinds of costs as though they were one total.
Listed fees and the first payment
Your first payment commonly includes the first month's rent and may include a prorated amount, depending on the move-in date. It can also include charges that the listing shows in a separate section. Ask the agent for an itemised estimate before signing.
For example, a listing with ¥80,000 rent, ¥5,000 management, ¥80,000 key money and ¥80,000 deposit still does not tell you the complete amount due. The first payment may also include agency commission, insurance, guarantor company charges and rent for part of the first month.
Questions to ask
- Which charges are paid once, monthly, at renewal or when you move out?
- Is the deposit refundable, and what deductions can apply?
- What is included in the first payment, including prorated rent?
Read the estimate line by line
Ask the agent to separate rent, management, deposits, key money, agency commission, insurance, guarantor charges and prorated rent. Then ask which items are refundable, recurring or payable at move-out. This turns a single intimidating total into questions you can verify.