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How-toHow to rent in Meguro without a Japanese guarantor
You can rent without a Japanese guarantor. Most apartments now use a rent guarantee company instead, and you pay it a fee in place of finding a guarantor.
What a guarantee company does
A rent guarantee company pays the landlord if a tenant falls behind on rent, then collects it from the tenant. More than 80% of rental listings in the Tokyo area require one (Ieagent). The usual fee is about 50% of one month's rent at the start, then around ¥10,000 a year. Depending on the company, the first payment ranges from 30% to 100% of a month's rent (Correc).
Five steps to your keys
- Prepare documents: residence card, passport, a certificate of employment or job offer, proof of income, and a Japanese phone number.
- Pick an agency used to foreign tenants: an agent who can explain the screening in English saves days. See how to choose one.
- Apply: submit an application for the room you like. You will usually need an emergency contact.
- Guarantee company screening: takes a few days to a week. They may call your employer to confirm you work there.
- Sign and move in: pay the move-in costs and get your keys. Register your address at the ward office within 14 days.
Move-in costs
| Item | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Deposit and key money | Depends on the room (0 to 1–2 months each) |
| Agency fee | 0.5–1 month's rent + tax |
| First month's rent | 1 month (plus a prorated part) |
| Fire insurance | About ¥15,000–20,000 for 2 years |
| Lock change | About ¥15,000–25,000 |
| Guarantee fee | Often 0.5–1 month's rent for the first year |
Source: CREX. In total, expect four to six months' rent. For a ¥160,000 room in Meguro, that is roughly ¥650,000 to ¥960,000 before you move in.
Tips for passing the screening
- Keep rent at or below one third of your monthly income.
- A short time left on your residence period counts against you. Mention it if you plan to renew.
- Start with listings that say no key money or no guarantor needed.
- UR public housing needs no guarantor, key money, agency fee or renewal fee. You need a residence card with at least one year on it, and a monthly income that meets UR's rules (for rent of ¥62,500–¥249,999, at least ¥250,000 a month). If your income is too low, you can prepay a year's rent or show savings of 100 times the rent (Migaku, UR).
Everything starts with registering your address. Until you do, you can't get a bank account, a phone contract or health insurance. It...
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