Reikin

[gaijinpunch]

What's everyone's stance on this? I've found a place I like to use as an office, and they're asking 1/1. I threw out a bid to knock off a bit off the rent and go to 1/1, but the owner is sticking to his guns. My house is quite literally 3x the cost, and I was able to talk them from 1/2 to 0/3 and it took almost zero convincing. My office I'm losing now, was paid for by a client, but even then, I got not only no reikin, but 2 months free rent. I still think it's a rip off.

Anywho, my thoughts are "the era of reikin are over" so dream the fuck on. So for me to actually pay, is a lot of pride swallowing. Anyone care to share their experiences? I think I'm going to make a bid on another place before that but apparently that mofo is a stubborn old fucker too. Not as conveniently located but bigger. Hmm....

Sorry for the blog style rant.

[matsuki]

What's everyone's stance on this? I've found a place I like to use as an office, and they're asking 1/1. I threw out a bid to knock off a bit off the rent and go to 1/1, but the owner is sticking to his guns. My house is quite literally 3x the cost, and I was able to talk them from 1/2 to 0/3 and it took almost zero convincing. My office I'm losing now, was paid for by a client, but even then, I got not only no reikin, but 2 months free rent. I still think it's a rip off.

Anywho, my thoughts are "the era of reikin are over" so dream the fuck on. So for me to actually pay, is a lot of pride swallowing. Anyone care to share their experiences? I think I'm going to make a bid on another place before that but apparently that mofo is a stubborn old fucker too. Not as conveniently located but bigger. Hmm....

Sorry for the blog style rant.

If they're being stubborn, tell them you're going to look at another place that is larger and has no reikin. Make sure they understand that reikin is a big part of your decision but don't come across as too desperate for their place. If they're hurtin' for a tenant or the place has been vacant for very long, they will probably drop the reikin requirement and call you back. If not, I would move on to the next place.

[IparryU]

If they're being stubborn, tell them you're going to look at another place that is larger and has no reikin. Make sure they understand that reikin is a big part of your decision but don't come across as too desperate for their place. If they're hurtin' for a tenant or the place has been vacant for very long, they will probably drop the reikin requirement and call you back. If not, I would move on to the next place.

exactly. If you know how many vacant rooms there are in that building, you could also point that out to them and say that more rooms will get filled if you cut the reikin out... they already know that most likely.

they have to pay 1 month rent to the agent, so the reikin is just to null that or make some profit if they want 2 months reikin...

shitty system that needs to be cut.

[Samurai_Jerk]

It also depends on the overall cost. If the rent really is an excellent bargain, one month's reikin isn't such a big deal.

Anyway, the idea that reikin is no more is BS. Most places in Tokyo still expect it.

[matsuki]

It also depends on the overall cost. If the rent really is an excellent bargain, one month's reikin isn't such a big deal.

Good point

Anyway, the idea that reikin is no more is BS. Most places in Tokyo still expect it.

It's not dead but building owners are far more likely to wave it than they were before. In other places in Japan, it's already no more.

[gaijinpunch]

Well, he just dropped the rent a cool ichiman, so he's not tempted to go any further. At least now. It's a dope pad -- don't get me wrong, but it has a catch. 4F - no elevator. So, that's working in my favor, as it doesn't bother me but will turn off many. If he doesn't rent the place within the month he's out.

The only way I could make it work is if he let me start the exact day my other place ends. I was planning on 10 days of overlap as landlords are such dicks in getting you in there as quick as possible. If that's the case I save close to a months' rent due to the differential, so it alleviates it a bit.

Still haggling w/ another place, which honestly is fairly priced... except for the reikin.

I agree though... I'm renting two places in my name now and paid 0 reikin on either. If people want to be stubborn as fuck, let them sit on their places. Economy fucking sucks. I like both of the places though.

I didn't know the owners paid a month to the agent -- I thought just the tenant did.

It also depends on the overall cost. If the rent really is an excellent bargain, one month's reikin isn't such a big deal.

Indeed -- but it's not. Well, it's not a bad price, but not a great one. It is still outside of the budget I set aside. I could scrimp but don't want to. I asked for a 3% cut and got the "muzukashii" thing. I figured he'd budge on either of the two. I could see it going either way, really. Most people aren't going to like the no elevator thing. Other than that it's great... he's just limiting himself to people that are somewhat fit. Too expensive for college students or young seishain, and too much work for someone that's out of shape.

Anyway, the idea that reikin is no more is BS. Most places in Tokyo still expect it.

I would say they still want it, but don't necessarily expect it. Just b/c they list it doesn't mean they expect it. My family was the first tenant in our current place, and we just made it clear we weren't paying Reikin. This is also a more gaijin-friendly place, so we had that going for us.

[GomiGirl]

You are assuming the all landlords are motivated by the money - not so.

Some of them are quite happy to let a place be vacant then to rent it for less than their preferred terms. To you and I this seems to be not smart financially, but to some people, the manner in which their business is conducted is more important than the outcome.
TIJ

That and the amount of money that many landlords have stashed away far exceeds any need for immediate new income. People say that there is very little class culture in Japan and that most people can be labelled middle class. Then there is a HUGE jump to those who have family property - wealth that you and I can only dream about. These people do NOT live in the real world.

So basically, you cannot appeal to the financial sense of these people for leverage in negotiations if it is not important to them. You have to be prepared to walk away if you don't get the terms you want and are not willing to pay what they are charging. It will be of little importance to some landlords if you rent the place or not.

[gaijinpunch]

I'm quite aware of this behavior (and have experienced) but I have seen this it less and less now that the economy has gotten shittier and shittier. 2003-ish, I saw it a lot. Now? Not so much. Again, that's just personal experience. I have no statistics to back it up. For the place that won't 86 the reikin, the agent told me he just dropped the price and wants someone in immediately. I would see that as motivated by money and nothing else.

But yeah, sound advice. I'm not new to any of it, but I at least pretend that Japan is becoming more and more normal and rent revenue is becoming more and more important. But, we'll see. I might actually apply for it... just not going to seem too eager.

If neither place ditches the reikin, then I have a tough decision. Also have to see if they'll rent to a whitey or not. A whole other can of worms I have to look forward to AFTER this bullshit.

[gaijinpunch]

Looks like place 2 is a bit more flexible... need to decide by tomorrow whether to pull the trigger or not. Probably will... I think the first person sticking to his guns was the universe telling me I shouldn't live there.

[Sa_Race]

"Eh no reikin cool !"

That was me when looking for a flat last year. Then I understood no reikin actually means we charge you an equal amount as handling fees.

[matsuki]

That was me when looking for a flat last year. Then I understood no reikin actually means we charge you an equal amount as handling fees.

The owner or the shop you used to find your place?

Many rental places charge you both...plus deposit, plus insurance, etc.

[Sa_Race]

- Mandatory insurance, check. Although my employer agreed to act as a guarantor they refused.
- Deposit, I can't remember paying one.
- One month rent as 'fees' of some kind.

I felt raped, but reading you now I may have been lucky?

[matsuki]

- Mandatory insurance, check. Although my employer agreed to act as a guarantor they refused.
- Deposit, I can't remember paying one.
- One month rent as 'fees' of some kind.

I felt raped, but reading you now I may have been lucky?

It can always be worse haha. Who is "they" though? Did you deal directly with the owner or one of those apartment shops?

[Sa_Race]

A Chintai agency.

[matsuki]

A Chintai agency.

That's fairly normal. You'd pay that with or without reikin.

[gaijinpunch]

chuukairyou. You ain't getting out of that. Ever.