Hello everybody,
In September I will be moving to Japan (as an exchange student in Kyoto) and I’m currently searching for a place to stay.
I don’t want to stay in a dormitory because it’s too expensive, but everything else I don’t mind – as long as it is cheap!
As far as I have searched apartments and such, everybody’s condition was to sign in a 2-year contract.
My plan is to see after my studies in Japan so I don’t mind signing in the contract, but I first need to find a job, so that’s an unclear option, so I was wondering if you think that even though it’s like 2 years I can make it shorter?
or do you know some websites where I could find places that I can tea for one year or such?
Any help would be appreciated!
thank you in advance!
4 comments
Two years is the standard lease length in Japan. You’re not going to have much luck finding someplace with a shorter lease.
The good news is that you can break a lease with a minimal fee, or sometimes even no fee at all.
Look up on Suumo JP or Homes JP
Contract most of the time is 2 years, but you can leave anytime. Sometimes you will have to pay 1 month rent as penalty, but sometimes not. Depends.
I had the same issue but did manage to find a property owned by someone (on Gaijinpot) willing to give me a short term rental agreement, as I will only be there for one year. The price is a bit higher, but it still works out more financially sensible.
I don’t have any advice other than keep contacting people until you find one. It won’t be easy though, it took me a long time to get lucky.
That said, most 2 year rentals will allow you to cut the rental period short, but there will be a fee for cancelling early (usually one months rent).
My old apartment had 2 year contracts. When I broke the lease there was no problem