Comments on: Annals of cheap: 5manika.com

By: Tyler Durden Volland

Tyler Durden Volland — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:49:20 +0000

The article states: „The COJ sees renewal fees as a bait-and-switch scheme: The landlord sets the monthly rent low in order to attract a tenant, and then makes up for it by demanding a renewal fee later.“

Which is of course nonsense, as rents do not differ and are NOT cheaper, and:

“The Supreme Court, however, found that a renewal fee is reasonable “unless it is too high in comparison with rent or rental agreement periods.””

This is simply nothing but a comment on the obvious “quality” of the legal system in Japan, which we all have lots of opportunities to watch regularly on the TV news. Remembering that Japan still is more a less a relict from feudal times helps understand many things in this country…..

As I wrote, the simply solution is to tell the landlord what to do with flat, and then search some more…. There ARE any amount of other flats out there.

By: Philip Brasor & Masako Tsubuku

Philip Brasor & Masako Tsubuku — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:49:27 +0000

Here are links to discussions about the key money and security deposit issues.

http://catforehead.wordpress.com/2011/08/18/backlash/#more-607

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fs20110802ht.html

By: Tyyler Durden Volland

Tyyler Durden Volland — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:09:19 +0000

Only fools accept the notion of “key-money” and of “non refundable security deposits”. Like so many things that are called tradition in this sometimes ridiculous country, they are nothing but outrages rip-offs.

One should simply shout at the agent or owner, really insult that crook, make him lose face in front every bystander… and then walk off and seek elsewhere. It works wonderfully.

I have done it several times and still, on the same day found a flat to rent without being cheated out of my money. If you accept something like this, you deserve to be ripped off.

IT IS POSSIBLE!!

By: Ἀντισθένης

Ἀντισθένης — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 00:33:50 +0000

Clever entrepreneur. The downward rent trend, and hopefully so for key-money, can only continue in Japan’s moribund economic and demographic situation. 50000yen for an apartment should be normal in Tokyo, given how poorly built and tiny so many are. After all, a ’1DK’ can be as small as 300 square feet and made of little more than concrete and pasteboard. Kanto needs to get away from two things that keep young renters in their parents’ homes: unreasonable key-money and unrefunded ‘security deposits’. Even those on a lower wage can put more than 50000yen into rent, but trying to save up 250000yen to put down on an apartment is a non-starter for many. Perhaps another clever entrepreneur could convince owners to take no money up-front, but tack an extra 10000yen onto each month. A small risk, but one that would pay itself off in just two years.