About the Property
Q. How many days does it take from applying to moving in?
A. At the shortest, about 1-2 weeks. If there are any mistakes in paperwork or delayed payment, it takes longer.
Q. Can you give me a rough estimate of how much the rent should be?
A. It's generally said that the rent should be no more than one-third of your monthly income. If you cook at home and rarely eat out, you can probably save twenty or thirty thousand yen toward the rent.
Q. Can I keep a medium-sized dog in a room that allows pets?
A. Most rooms that allow pets accept only small-sized dogs. However, keeping medium-sized or large-sized dogs is sometimes negotiable. Please ask.
Q. When should I start looking for a room?
A. It's best to start looking for a room a month before the target date of move-in. Please note that many people start looking in the month of February every year. The rooms in February is likely taken on the same day of viewing or the closest weekend.
Contract and Payment
Q. If the contract period for the room is 2 years, is the guarantee company's cost for the
2-year guarantee? Or do I have to pay the guarantee fee again in the second year?
A. In general, the guaranteed fee is renewed for one year, so you need to pay the guaranteed fee and continuing fee in the second year. However, if you make a 2-year contract, there is a small discount, so please select a 1-year warranty or 2-year warranty at the time of application.
Q. Do I have to pay the full rent the month when I move out?
A. It depends on the contract, so please check when signing. Usually, prorated reimbursement is not possible. Also, please note that you need to give the owner the termination notice one or two months in advance depending on the contract. If you delay in giving the notice, you will be charged for an extra month.
Q. Why am I charged for two-months' worth of rent as initial payment?
A. The monthly rent payment is generally done via an insurance company. Upon signing, you need to arrange for automatic withdrawals from your bank account, which takes about two months to setup. Because the rent must be pre-paid, you need to pay both the present and the following months' rent when moving in.
Q. Why do I have to pay the deposit and key money to rent a parking lot?
A. Sometimes the management of the parking lot is different from that of the apartment. For this reason, you are required to pay the key money or deposit separately. Please ask the resident manager directly for further details.
Q. Do I really need to get fire insurance?
A. If the lessee unfortunately encounters calamities such as fire, the individual has to cover a considerable cost. Therefore, the lessee is required to get insurance in most cases. In a lease contract, the lessee is held responsible for restoring the room to its original condition. Even if the fire is caused by someone else, the lessee has to return the room to its owner in its original state. Also, please note that the home contents insurance is not included in the property owner's fire insurance. If the lessee doesn't have a home contents insurance, and should his/her home contents be damaged by someone else's careless fire, the lessee cannot get any financial compensation. (Under Fire Liability Act, the person who caused the fire by accident is not held responsible in Japan.)
Q. What should I bring at the time of signing the contract?
A. At least, you should need the initial payment, your ID, and your seal (Hanko). You also need to bring the seal registration certificate, the certificate of residence, and if you have a co-signer, his/her affidavit and seal registration certificate. Depending on the property you move in , your withholding tax statement or proof of employment may be required.
Q. Can I get a full refund of my deposit?
A. Usually, you get back your deposit after detecting the cleaning fee when you move out. Please check when signing the contract. If you soil walls, or damage floor etc., you will be charged more.
Q. Do I need a guarantor when I apply for moving in?
A. Generally, you are requested to apply for a guarantor company. Depending on the property, you may have a private guarantor. Please ask.
Other Services
Q. Can you install an air-conditioner or a washing machine?
A. Our moving service includes installation.
Q. What should I do with the furniture that needs disassembly/assembly?
A. We can disassemble or assemble the furniture if you order our furiniture leasing service. For especially difficult tasks, however, a fee may be charged.
Q. When should I ask for moving cost estimates?
A. We start accepting reservations a few months before the move. Since we need to secure a moving truck, it is more difficult to make a reservation during busy seasons. Please consult with us as early as possible.
Q. There are so many options for internet access. I have no idea which internet service provider is the best.
A. We can introduce you to the ISP that we think is the best match for your needs. If you are too busy to research by yourself, please ask us. The consultation is free.
Q. Do I have to pay a fee to commission an interior design coordinator?
A. There is no cost if you are considering our furniture lease service. Our coordinator will visit the property, take measurements, and give you advice. The interior design includes advice for curtains, appliances, decorations, and anything you ask for.
Q. I feel hesitant about leasing the furniture. Are there any benefits of leasing them over buying them?
A. Generally, it is more cost-effective to buy them if you plan to stay for more than two years. However, leasing has many benefits. The best thing of leasing is that you can have a free consultation by interior designer who measures everything and come up with specific layout design of the room including all arrangement and set up. Therefore, you do nothing to start your new life at moving in. Other benefit is that you can try out high-end furniture without any worries and get customer service such as repair/replacements (except for damage due to the customer's mistake), while saving effort and cost for the disposal or resale of your used furniture. Please feel free to ask us. We welcome inquiries about buying furniture as well.
Others
Q. I am a non-Japanese, what kind of support is available when I go through move-in
procedures?
A. Please take a moment to look at the sample translations of contracts. At the time of signing, we offer interpreter support (fee is charged) for customers who are not confident in communicating in Japanese. We can also offer multi-lingual Daily Assistance after moving-in (fee is charged) If you need translation service for contract, we support (fee is charged) Looking forward at servicing you!
Q. Do you provide languages support other than Japanese?
A. We support Japanese, as well as English and Chinese.
Q. I haven't decided on the details of moving yet, so would you just send me the information?
A. We send updated property information to new account members and those who completed ML registration. Looking forward at servicing you!
Q. I want to hear you explain how to use your platform…
A. We are happy to help. After creating a new account, please log in from My Page, and make a request by chat.