Tokyo Spells Out Tenant/Landlord Responsibilities

[Mulboyne]

TBS: Tokyo Acts to Avoid Tenant - Landlord Troubles

Tokyo compiles a handbook defining the respective responsibilities of outgoing tenants and landlords in restoring apartments back to their original state.
The Tokyo Metropolitan government has put into effect an ordinance which, for the first time in Japan, details who ought to shoulder the cost of repairing discolored wallpapers and scratches on the floor when tenants leave rented apartments
Tokyo's ordinance, aimed at preventing disputes over rented homes, stipulates that the proprietor, in principal, is responsible for restoring an apartment unless the damage in question is the result of the tenant's carelessness.
The ordinance further specifies that an agent must explain that provision to the tenant when the apartment is rented. Agents who fail to do so are in violation of the ordinance, and their names will be made public. In addition, Tokyo has drawn up details of the financial burden which tenants and proprietors should shoulder. (reporter) "The cost of repairing a mark like this left on a tatami mat by furniture would have to be shouldered by the proprietor, while a tear made carelessly by a tenant on a sliding paper door would have to be fixed by the tenant."

[Big Booger]

Wished this applied all over Japan. I got into a semi-confrontation with my former landlord over this very issue.. Discoloured tatami should not be the responsibility of the tenant.. guess who paid for it? not me! Now the small tears in the sliding doors were paid by me because I did the damage.. but I am not paying for "wear"