I rented a new construction apartment form Sha Maison (seksui house) especially because I believed claims which you see about high sound insulation floor system “SHAIDD55.” I thought higher than normal rent and key money but I’m getting some better build. Months later upstairs doesn’t even run or anything, normal walking I can hear loudly. Also supposed to be special windows to reduce noise, i can hear people talking outside like they are inside of my place. Old construction much better at least in my experience.
I’ll be gone in a year. Rip off. Fool me once, total joke.
9 comments
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s always a crapshoot isn’t it. So far I have stayed in apartments built in 1993, 1999 and 2022 with no real differences, only the windows being better in the new one.
Sha maison is kind of the low end of Sekisui rentals. But their upper end rental stuff seem to be the same ‘quality’
Once I visited a brand new “Prime Maison” which I guess is their upper mid end. The price was decent for a 2LDK in Central Tokyo and the view was terrific. But we passed as I had the same feeling of corners being cut on materials : thin walls, cheap flooring etc.
If the building isn’t concrete, regardless of how good companies advertise, I won’t even bother looking at it. For my current concrete building when I went to view I quite literally hammered on all the walls and ceiling with my fists to check it, and asked my agent to go and stand in the elevator and yell (he was Aussie so thought it was funny) to see if I could hear him. No shame here lol. Too much noise can drive you nuts and really reduce your sleep quality and stress you out very badly – can’t take any chances no matter how good a place is advertised.
Some architect friends once said about Daiwa House: “*they’re the worst, except for Sekisui House*”.
Normal residential lease agreements can be exited after six months, with two-months’ notice (meaning notice given after four months).
What’s the building material? Is it RC or SRC?
There must be some variability then, mine is sha maison too and I only occasionally hear the upstairs kids if they’re jumping. Sound from outside only comes in through the ventilation vents and mostly just the kids yelling at the nearby park. If it weren’t for the existence of kids it’d be a completely silent place. Steel frame built less than 10 years ago.
アパート = shitty wooden building.
マンション = reinforced concrete building.
If the realtor is calling something a マンション, but it is a wooden complex, he doesn’t know shit or has no problem lying to you and you should be wary.
I live in shamaison and my place must have pretty good construction. I never hear my neighbours and one of the upstairs ones has a toddler. Never hear the next door neighbour either. It’s built in like 87 or something like that also. Although it was renovated recently
Currently staying in a 3 floor steel frame Sha Maison and haven’t heard a single thing from neighbors. Previously stayed in 2 floor steel frame daiwa house apt (not d room) and never heard anything. Maybe it depends on the options the owner picks.