I’m moving to Tokyo for a work opportunity next month and since the rates are much higher than in the small town I was living in so far, I figured finding a sharehouse would be a good option. After looking up I found on a website that compiles different sharehouse’s offers, and starting searching there. I found a pretty good deal (46.000 yen rent a month) near the Yamanote line and sent a message to apply for a room there.
Then I get a response from the manager telling me that the room was not available anymore and the only room they had left (out of the 80+ rooms in the building) was 61.000 yen a month. I’m a bit dubious as to why it’s 30% more expansive so I start asking why, is the room more spacious ? does it have other features ?
Turns out :
“The reason why it’s high price than others, because that is 5th floor.
It’s very normal thing for the apartment with elevator . Upper floor is high price. ”
This looks very weird to me but I don’t know a lot about the norms in Tokyo so I don’t worry much about but I don’t really feel like paying 30% more than what seemed like a good deal to me. So I ask if there is another room that will be available anytime soon. I get answered that there is another room that will be available soon for a 56.000 yens rent on the first floor. I’m confused as to why it’s still more expansive than what was advertised. Also on the mail I received the cleaning fee was 10.000 yen higher than what was advertised on the website. I check thoroughly and out of the 19 first floor offers on the website (all of them being already occupied) none of them had a rent exceeding 54.000 yens…
I’m wondering if the manager is not trying to scam me and if I should or shouldn’t rent a room there, also is renting on the first floor a good idea ? (I assume there is a lot of noise day and night in such a big sharehouse on the first floor but I might be wrong)
Would love some insights on that and recommandations, also looking for advices regarding websites/sharehouses
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Thanks for reading, sorry about the mistakes I must have made english not being my mother tongue
7 comments
Save yourself the headaches and rent a proper apartment if you are a working adult.
If this is Sakura House or Oakhouse you’re talking to then you’ll be getting either someone who has no training and has the same qualifications as an working holiday Eikawa teacher or a Japanese salaryman whose life has been sucked out of them.
Either way, it’s not a scam, at least not overtly, it’s just people following procedures that were out in place decades ago and don’t have any brain cells left to make logical decisions.
Being said, you’re already in Japan, you should have an idea about how to rent an apartment. Use that method and get a better place.
What website are you using? If it isn’t the sharehouse company’s official website then the information is likely outdated. The same goes for what is available and what isn’t. Rooms on higher floors are can be more expensive as they’re deemed safer (especially for women) and less likely to have any unwanted insect visitors. I don’t think you’re being scammed.
I tend to agree with @the_hatori. If you are secure in your job and planning on being here for at least 2 years then getting a “proper” apartment is likely the way to go. A 1DK or 1K type place in a concrete building will give you so much more independence, freedom, privacy etc.
Having said that, as for your sharehouse plan, yes I’d say the top floor of an apartment with an elevator demands a premium. Personally, I would never risk living under anyone in an apartment (and definitely not 1st floor). Just look at all the posts in here of people complaining about noise from neighbors. You will also be amongst people who are all paying the premium for the “luxury” of the top floor. Most are paying the extra knowing what they are getting.
Whatever you decide to do, my advice is not to nickel and dime yourself on your place of living. You will be spending a fair amount of time in your apartment and you want it to be as much of a shangri-la as possible. Paying the extra 15k a month to guarantee you have no noise coming from above is definitely worth it for some people.
Other comments are giving good advice. In terms of how to respond, just say “sorry that’s above my budget for the first place I’m living here, I can’t accept that”
They might respond with a better offer, if not, then find something else. No loss for you.
How about, just take it for let’s say 3 months (until you settle properly), and search a proper sharehouse or apartment afterwards? 🤔
Top floor apartments (with elevator)are more expensive because you don’t have the risk of somebody stomping around and making noise above you. Also considered safer. First floor has the risk of a noisy neighbour above you, higher chance of bugs, perhaps less safe, esp if laundry is hung out to dry, particularly for women