My BoE supervisor said that if I want to move to a new apartment, that I’ll have to get the city to contract it out again like my current one. The whole point of getting a new place is to get away from BoE control and not need to worry about passing anything on to my successor.
I guess my question is, is that legal? Can they require me to HAVE to rent through the BoE? Is it normal in Japan for your workplace to have so much control over your life outside of work?
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I don’t think they can require that. Now, if you do that, they don’t have to offer rent subsidies or offer to help you move, but I’m pretty sure they can’t forbid you from getting your own residence. Check your contract, the multi-page one found in the JET handbook in both English and Japanese to make sure.
I think your issue will be getting a Japanese guarantor for your apartment. It’s generally more difficult for foreigners to rent apartments in Japan so maybe it’s a miscommunication and they mean that you’d need them, the BOE to be your guarantor for whichever new apartment you’re getting.
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Depending on where you are there are companies / services that will be your garuantor for you… but these are obviously paid services (I can’t remember how much it was though, maybe 35k円).
You don’t have to stay in a shitty leopalace if you don’t want to!
I feel you on that.
While on JET I was married with kids.
The BOE had a key to the apartment that I contracted myself.
Then, another time, I forgot to pay a bill for something and instead of calling me or my wife, (Japanese) they contacted the BOE.
It was over the top annoying.
You absolutely do not -have- to do that. If you can find a place that will rent to you (or get a guarantor if needed), you can move into any apartment you like. Your BOE is just not required to help you with the process at all, but certainly they can’t stop you from doing so. You should talk to your PAs about it if needed, because this is kinda ridiculous.
Good luck finding your own place, really. They’re more on your side than against it, because finding a place to rent as a foreigner can be a right ballache.
This is normal and likely helpful for you
Also for general advice, I suggest distancing yourself from BoE as much as possible outside of work related matters. It sucks because sometimes navigating things in Japanese can be a struggle but all bank, clerical, etc I did on my own.
If they ask about what I did over the weekend and what not it’s always I stayed home and played games or ate lunch with a friend. I’ve had gossip start from what I mentioned in the past.
If I take nenkyuu it’s always to stay home and rest because BoE has tried to stop me from traveling and what not. For example, I was planning to go to Tokyo from Friday night to Sunday evening and I asked BoE in my first year for permission, and they said no because I would be too tired for work on Monday like ???
Do you pay rent to the BOE?
Are you actually successful in finding your own rental?
The answer is no, they don’t have any control over your personal life but some BOEs will try to exert it. As many have mentioned it’s probably because they know you’ll have issues renting as a foreigner but if you want to move you can move. Essentially don’t ever let the BOE try to tell you things like “you can’t travel here” or “you can’t drive” because they are simply your employer and that is it
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