Key money & renewal fees: Just say no!

[Taro Toporific]

Cheaper future for Tokyo tenants?e of Tokyo. The Asahi Shimbun (IHT/Asahi) February 26, 2004
The days could be numbered for highly detested key money and renewal fees.
Great news for Tokyo's tenants: The metropolitan government says it's time landlords stopped charging nonrefundable key money and for real estate agents to insist on contract renewal fees. Officials say the practices do not match the "international'' image.... The housing bureau submitted a proposed ordinance to the Tokyo metropolitan assembly on Wednesday.
It includes guidelines about the handling of deposit money, a portion of which is often used for damage and repairs once a tenant moves out.

[Caustic Saint]

Sweet! Now, if they can just get it passed and in practice by the end of the year....

[kamome]

Cheaper future for Tokyo tenants?e of Tokyo. The Asahi Shimbun (IHT/Asahi) February 26, 2004
The days could be numbered for highly detested key money and renewal fees.
Great news for Tokyo's tenants: The metropolitan government says it's time landlords stopped charging nonrefundable key money and for real estate agents to insist on contract renewal fees. Officials say the practices do not match the "international'' image.... The housing bureau submitted a proposed ordinance to the Tokyo metropolitan assembly on Wednesday.
It includes guidelines about the handling of deposit money, a portion of which is often used for damage and repairs once a tenant moves out.

This is truly a wonderful development, and long, LONG overdue. Why they didn't decide to pass such an ordinance 20 years ago is beyond me. I would be thousands of dollars richer if it weren't for these archaic and unfair practices.

[Steve Bildermann]

This type of 'action' has been proposed on and off since at least the mid sixties and in fact there are already several 'fair rent practice' laws on the books.

However I think we all agree that in Japan that which is written down as 'the law' very often has little bearing on what actually happens in real life.

Even more so when the 'customer' is a FG.

[AssKissinger]

It won't change because the JPN lack the courage to change anything that's already established to be the way things are... 'shoganai' I guess they love it in the ass...

[Taro Toporific]

It won't change because the JPN ... I guess they love it in the ass...

Well, I'm moving back to downtown Tokyo somewhere around Shinagawa by the end of the year and I'm putting my pitbull-in-minskirt, Mrs. Taro, on attack mode for this. Damn, her stilletto heels are gonna ream some real estate agent a few new assholes.

[Caustic Saint]

Well, I'm moving back to downtown Tokyo somewhere around Shinagawa by the end of the year

What's prompting the move? Or is it another "super secret FG plan?"

[Taro Toporific]

Well, I'm moving back to downtown Tokyo somewhere around Shinagawa by the end of the year

What's prompting the move? Or is it another "super secret FG plan?"

The new Chinatown to Shibuya subway is completed now with the special Taro's station with virtual reality VAAM+!

[ramchop]

It includes guidelines about the handling of deposit money, a portion of which is often used for damage and repairs once a tenant moves out.

Where can I find a copy of these guidelines?

Today's little inspection did not go well. Just how much damage can a 3 yr old do? Possibly over 100,000yen. I never expected to see this money again, but to pay extra?

"Bollocks to that"?.... errr, furture professional ties with the guarantor means I really don't want to drop him in the shit.

What's the monthly maintenance fee meant to cover? Anything more than the elevator electricity? (450,000yen total during my 18 month stay)


The damage:

- 1 cupboard door has a rip in the paper front. This means all four cupboard doors will need to be replaced, to avoid a pattern mismatch

- Pen on the kitchen floor (the turquoise from 99yen shop is resistant to all the most powerful cleaning agents). Small dent in the lino, gouged to the size of a penny. New floor to be laid.

- Pen on the living room walls. New wall paper or a paint job.

- Pen on a tatami mat. Replace.


The lesson.
Teach your kids how to type. Writing is dangerous.

[Taro Toporific]

[The damage:
- 1 cupboard door has a rip in the paper front....

-Small dent in the lino.

Guidelines or not, you're screwed. This so-called "damages" is the fault of the landlord.

Why are cupboard doors made of paper? Because they are cheapshits.

Why is there a dent in the lino? Because ALL Japanese lino is substandard garbage made natto and Gov. Blinky snot.

[Caustic Saint]

The lesson.
Teach your kids how to type. Writing is dangerous.

Alternative lesson:

Don't have kids.

[ramchop]

The lesson.
Teach your kids how to type. Writing is dangerous.

Alternative lesson:

Don't have kids.

Possibly a more intelligent alternative than typing. Computers are expensive things....

[ramchop]

Alternative lesson:

Don't have kids.

Wrong! Never discount the influence of the Kawaii factor in Japanese society. Landlady was practically begging Mr Fix-it man for discounts on the extensive lino work (and is paying for a remodelling of the bathroom herself).

God bless cheapo materials.

I'm getting nearly half my deposit back!!!

[kotatsuneko]

no key money in hokkaido ^^

good local govt housing dept if any nonsense too..

there is the siberian winter and dangerous drivers tho... plus the annoying russians. cant wait to get back!