◆Finding a Home

　Generally, apartment-hunting is done through real estate agencies. Contracts should not be finalized until after actually seeing the apartment. You will need a Japanese national as your guarantor when you finalize your rental contract.

 

◆Requirements When Finalizing a Rental Contract

◇Rent (Yachin)

　Monthly expense to cover the rental of the apartment.

◇Key Money (Reikin)

　When you sign the contract, this money is to be paid to the landlord. It is not refundable, and is usually equivalent to one or two months' rent.

◇Damage Deposit (Shikikin)

　This money is held as collateral by the landlord until you move out. If you fall behind in rent payments or damage the apartment, you may not receive the full amount back. The landlord will subtract the cost to repair the damage from this money. It is equivalent to one or two months' rent.

◇Real Estate Agent Fee (Chukairyo)

　This money is not returned and is usually equivalent to one month's rent.

 

◆Points to Remember While Renting

・You must not remodel the apartment, increase the number of people living in the apartment or sublease to another person.

・Be careful not to be a nuisance to your neighbors with loud noise.

・If you leave your apartment unoccupied for a long period of time due to a temporary return to your country or a vacation, be sure to notify your landlord, manager and neighbors.

・If you must move out before your contract expires, notify your landlord one month in advance. If you move out without proper notification, you may be charged one month's rent.

  

◆Multicultural Real Estate Agents

　There is a network of Multicultural Real Estate Agents that supply information and advice to foreign national residents about living in Saitama. This list is a company registered in Multicultural Real Estate Agents in Saitama Prefecture.

Town	Company	Address	Telephone	FAX	Email address
Moroyama	渡辺不動産 Watanabe Hudosan	282-1 Ichiba, Moroyama	049 (295)0657	049 (295)6354
Hidaka	高麗川不動産 Komagawa Hudosan	47-7 Kamikayama Oaza, Hidaka
Sakado	松堀不動産 Matsubori Fudosan	14-5 Hinode-cho, Sakado	049 (288)0022	049 (288)0099
	三樹ハウジング Miki Housing	10-1 Sanko-cho, Sakado	049 (282)1126	049 (282)1127	mikih@d5.dion.ne.jp
	白金商事 Shirogane Shoji	Shirogane Bldg. 1F 4-15 Yakushi-cho, Sakado	049 (288)5677	049 (288)5655
Hanno	タキタハウス Takita House	86-4 Namiyanagi, Hannno	042 (971)3331	042 (971)3332	ytakitah@maple.ocn.ne.jp

○This information is current as of May 1, 2010

○All list of Multicultural Real Estate Agents can be found on the Saitama Prefectural Government International Division website.