Hi jlifers,
Moved out from my Tokyo apartment after 2 years (just before renewal), and got slapped with 250,000 JPY fee (one month worth of security deposit). Wear and tear, and one lost key aside, I am trying to contest three items I was charged:
1. generic cleaning fees (1000 JPY x sq m), as I have cleaned thoroughly with help of professionals during move out
2. disposal fee (lol?) 10,000 JPY – no details provided on what this is
3. tower parking management/maintenance fee – conveniently priced at security deposit amount – 30,000 JPY
Going back and forth with the realtors, trying to use the [Tokyo metropolitan guidelines (PDF)](https://www.juutakuseisaku.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/juutaku_seisaku/tintai/pdf/310-6-jyuutaku_eng.pdf) (page 14 for cleaning responsibilities) as a resource of reference, but realtors won’t budge.
Is it worth contesting this, using goverment consulation services, or pay up and shut up? Fishing for similar anecdotes from other jlifers…
2 comments
I’d tell them to go pound sand. Why did you pay for cleaning during move out? Cleaning fees are unfortunately quite normal, so you’re now essentially going to pay again for cleaning.
I’d even contest that 1 month security deposit.
Ask for itemized receipts of where each yen is going. The last place I rented from before buying a house tried this. So I told them before I give them money, I want an itemized receipt with a breakdown of why.
But I can’t comment about the parking thing, I live in a small city so parking was provided as part of rent.
Anyway at the end of the day, the fees went from 180,000 to 35,000 to replace some flooring my kids jacked up.