HOW TO RENT AN APARTMENT IN JAPAN // Key Real Estate Terms Explained (Part 2)

[@ripwig6682]

Very helpful

[@colourmycamera]

Thank you, glad you found it useful. :)

[@michaelday4415]

Hey I like the video. Was wondering what the cheapest place you found to rent on these websites has been?? Cheers!

[@colourmycamera]

Hello Michael! Thank you for your support. The price of each place depends on many factors like location, facilities, what the owner wants, etc. Generally, I would say the cheaper ones in the area I was looking to move to were older and further away from the train station. Also, have you heard of UR Housing? I have a video lined up explaining a bit more about them but in terms of fees, you pay less with them than you would with many privately owned apartments because they don't require things like Key Money, Renewal Fee, Agent Fee and Guarantor. Hope that helps!

[@michaelday4415]

We're thinking of moving from Okinawa to somewhere around Chiba. We pay $175 a month and are hoping to find something around that range. Do you think that is possible??

[@colourmycamera]

To be honest, I don't really know Chiba well enough to know what areas are 'better' or cheaper/more expensive. However, I just did a quick search on the websites I mentioned in my video and some around your ideal price range (assuming it's $USD175 which right now is around JPY20,000) did come up.

[@michaelday4415]

That's awesome! Thank you very much. Cheers!

[@AfyFatien]

hi ! I'm going to Japan in 3 weeks and currently looking for an apartment to stay. I just have few questions about the initial cost. if I went to search an apartment with no deposit , key money and guarantor , does that means that I don't have to pay those fees and I only pay rent , agent fees and insurance fees ? Also I heard that it's hard for a foreigner to find an apartment in Japan because of the 'Trust Issue' , did you have same problem ? # sorry if my english is weird xD I'm trying to estimate the minimal and maximum of the initial cost because it's hard for me to invest a lot of money soon after i arrive in Japan , so trying my best to find an affordable place for me to stay.

[@colourmycamera]

Hi Afy, sorry for the late response! I hope you had a smooth experience moving here. From my experience, if the website advertises the property as having no specific fees, then you won't have to pay them. However, to be safe I always double checked with the agent first for confirmation. Also, yes I have found it hard as a foreigner to obtain certain things (e.g. mobile phone, credit card, etc.) but it can be done. That's why it always helps to have your educational institute or workplace to help support you, or approach agents to see what assistance they can provide, such as guarantor or translating. I find Japanese rental more affordable overall compared to the other countries I've lived in. However, costs depend on location, size, age, construction, etc. of the property so I would recommend deciding what is most important to you. Also, there are ways to save money once you live here, some of which I'm still learning myself, such as cheaper utility options if you combine certain services, discount days/cards at certain supermarkets, buying furniture from second hand stores, etc. I hope that helps a bit!

[@olyaqwerty8962]

or I'm searching wrong or Ur housing is really expensive. Its better to pey key/deposit on normal sites

[@colourmycamera]

Depending on the location, size, age, construction, etc., the rental cost of properties will differ. During my search, I found a wide range in cost for both UR apartments and private ones. However, as I mentioned in my videos, it really comes down to a combination of factors: your financial situation, your needs and wants, property availability, etc. For some of my colleagues, they prefer UR housing because they don't need to pay guarantor fee, renewal fees, etc. and they were able to find one in a location they desired. However, for me, location was more important and as I was unable to find a UR apartment near my preferred station, I went with a privately owned apartment despite having to pay more fees than I would with UR.