So I currently live in Akasaka, and my rent is around 26万円 (yes I know it’s expensive for tokyo please don’t comment about it) and the landlord wants to make it 41万円 starting in december. ( I only have a 6 month contract). What is the reason for this? Do you think there is room for negotiation? I really like the place but if they really wanna raise the rent that high I’ll probably find somewhere else.
29 comments
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41? How large is this place? Even 26 is expensive (but not absurdly so) for Tokyo, but 41 sounds ridiculous.
Maybe your landlord wants you out so they can sell the unit?
I think it depends on the contract? I’ve seen clauses that say they can’t raise the rent without your consent.
He’s trying to get you out… maybe needs to flip it
I misread Akasaka as Arkansas.
Like what others are saying, my guess is they want you out. It may or may not be personal.
Most likely the first step in trying to get you out so they can flip the unit (or the whole building).
If you say no, they’re gonna probably take another route, but it’ll cost them, which is why they’re starting with raising the rent, so that you leave “on your own accord”.
If you said yes to the price hike, probably the new lease would be at max 1 year with no right to renew.
I’d get out if it were me.
Its hard to kick out a tenant in japan so they are just trying to get you to leave. I’d personally contact them and ask them this directly, and offer to move out soon, but on condition that you dont have to pay rent for the next 3 months or however long it’ll take, or more likely that they cover all of your moving costs and maybe the first month of rent at a new place. They will likely oblige this
Having a 6 month contract means you’re probably on a fixed-term lease (定期借家) and not the regular rental contract that actually has protections for the renter. You’re probably shit out of luck when it comes to negotiations, so better use this time to find another place.
> I only have a 6 month contract
This is the key. What kind of contract do you have? Some are a fixed term where you have to leave at the end unless you get a new contract. Others are not. If you are on the former type then you best start looking for somewhere new ASAP.
That rent is like American prices. Then he’s doubling it? Sounds like he just wants you out.
Edit: Why’d this get downvoted? I haven’t said anything offensive and I’m correct.
That high a raise is unheard of in Japan for normal apartment contracts.
Sounds like you’re in an Airbnb or on a special fixed term contract that ends after six months with no renewal provisions. You would both need to agree on terms to make a new contract. My advice is just to leave, you can’t fight it.
As we all know tourists will be coming back to Japan soon. The landlord is probably aiming for that market, which explains the high rent target for December onwards
First, carefully double check that your rent will really go up to 41万円 per month, or is this 41万円 amount only for December because it includes some one-time fees for contract renewal.
E.g., maybe your rent is only going up to 27万円, but for renewal there’s 1 month “key money”, 1/2 month for the guarantor renewal, etc., and you end up for 41万円 for December only. If so hopefully it’s for a longer period contract (e.g., 2 years).
For a 40 square meter 1LDK, 26万 is already pretty outrageous (unless you are at the top floor of a luxury apartment tower.) It sounds like your landlord either wants to force you to leave, or they are trying to take further advantage of you.
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Isn’t it a renewal fee for 0.5 month of monthly rental fee?
Are you sure this is not the cost of renewing your contract? (rent*2 and one time payment)?
Might be including the renewal fee? Doubling the rent would appear to be an avaricious move, probably intending to force you to move.
(I’m in Ginza and my rent’s 4 times higher than yours OP, pricing is all relative.)
Is it the cost of renewing the contract (rent + renewal fee + shikikin) or just rent itself? If its rent only then he is trying to get you to move out. The reasons may vary; landlord is trying to sell the place / he intends to live there now / maybe he has a new tenant already lined up after December / OP has been a bad tenant / landlord does like OP , etc.
This is a tried and true technique of getting people to move out. There’s a chance he’s wanting to sell the property or completely change it, and as long as you’re there, that’s not gonna happen.
If he only has a six month contract that expires after six months, there is no need for the landlord to price him out by raising the rent. He simply doesn’t renew the contract and the tenant leaves.
41 a month is too much. 26 is on the high end for the size of the place. Sounds more like 26 for the month of December + 13 bullshit renewal fee + 2 for some random shit they throw in there. If indeed this is the case, then make sure and at least try to get air cons serviced, anything at all for the privilege of paying 13 to keep paying some else’s mortgage for them.
I just cant get over the fact you’re spending 26man a month for a 40sq 1LDK just so you can say you live in Akasaka. Like, is living in Akasaka that important? You could find a nicer house for the same amount just a few stops out on the Chuo.
No way in hell I would pay that much for such a small place. There are much nicer apartments & homes “if you’re willing to commute,” in other Tokyo areas. Unless you’re making some serious money and can afford to pay outrageous prices like, I wouldn’t think of it.
I remember when that amazing all you can eat Brazilian barbecue place on Gaien Nishidori had to fold because some asshole real estate douche purchased the building and doubled their rent overnight. It can happen, but I think it’s really rare. Of course in the States people do that all the time. I remember a huge apartment complex in California, back in the 90s when I was there, where the rent was 1200 bucks a month, the landlord simply doubled it overnight.
Sure it’s not 更新?
> yes I know it’s expensive for tokyo please don’t comment about it
OH hell no
Dude you are mental living in that place. The building next door is probably 1.5 at MOST. You’re getting completely fleeced dude. Consider it a blessing what he’s doing.
6month 定期借家 contract also sounds fishy in itself. Might this be a 事故物件that the landlord was trying to use OP as a buffer tenant so that he doesn’t need to declare it to the next poor chap who rents it?
He wants to squeeze you dry, testing to see if you are indeed a sucker who will pay his huge double rent increase!