Applying for a rental
Applying is a sequence of decisions, not just a form to submit. Prepare the documents, understand what screening can involve and make sure you know what any payment means before you hand it over.
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Documents you may need
An agent may ask for identification, proof of employment or income, a residence card, an emergency contact and details for a guarantor company. The exact list varies by property and screening company, so ask for the list early.
Ask whether documents must be current, whether copies are accepted and whether an English or Japanese translation is needed. Keep a record of what you submitted and when.
Screening questions
Screening may consider income, employment, visa or residence period and the ability to contact you. Being a foreign renter does not tell you the result in advance. Ask the agent which documents are accepted and whether an interpreter can join important explanations.
An application starts the property's screening process; it is not a substitute for reading the important matters explanation and rental contract. Ask when the application becomes binding and what happens to any payment if the application does not proceed.
A useful sequence is: request the document list, submit the application, confirm the screening result, review the important-matters explanation, then review and sign the contract. Ask who will explain each step and what you are agreeing to before you pay.
Before you apply
- Confirm the full monthly payment and all known move-in fees.
- Ask when an application becomes binding and whether any payment is refundable.
- Keep copies of every form and note who handles your application.
Questions to ask before paying
Ask what the payment is for, whether it is refundable, who holds it and what event makes it non-refundable. Also ask whether the property can be shown in writing with the same rent, fees, conditions and move-in date you discussed.