When renting an apartment in Japan, have you ever felt concerned that you might not have a joint gurarantor or know someone with such qualifications?
Well, don’t worry! We will explain how you can rent an apartment without using a joint guarantor.
Basically, you will be asked to have a joint guarantor when applying for housing in Japan. But it is possible to apply without having a personal joint guarantor if you don’t know anyone residing in Japan.
Why is a joint guarantor is required for a lease contract?
A joint guarantor is usually required for a lease contract when applying for housing.
Under Japanese civil law, a joint guarantor is required to pay for the rent when the renter fails to pay on time. The law requires the joint guarantor to carry out all payments on behalf of renter, which he/she cannot refuse under any circumstances.
By the way, “guarantor” and “joint guarantor” are different.
The guarantor can ask the renter to pay rent when it is unpaid.
However, depending on the real estate company with which the contract is made, even though it is written as “guarantor”, it may actually mean “joint guarantor”.
If your contract doesn’t state clearly whether it involves a guarantor or joint guarantor, ask your real estate agent to check which one it is. The joint guarantor is legally responsible for reimbursement when the rent is not paid, so the screening process will be stricter than the guarantor.
A joint guarantor must be screened for approval
A joint guarantor must follow the same responsibilities as the renter under Japanese civil law. Certain requirements must be met to be approved.
The requirements may differ slightly depending on the owner and apartment. But most contracts we deal with usually require the following criteria.
- Japanese national who live in Japan
- A full time worker
Even if these requirements are met, the guarantor may be denied due to other conditions such as amount of income.
Is it possible to ask the company for a joint guarantor？
Would it be possible to ask my company for a joint guarantor if I already have a place of work in Japan, or if I’m planning to move to Japan?
A joint guarantor is usually an individual, so if you want to ask your company regarding a joint guarantor, make sure your company supports corporate contracts.
When you make a corporate contract, you often do not need an individual guarantor.
The joint guarantor’s information is required at the time of the lease contract. If you cannot find a joint guarantor in Japan, talk to your boss in advance.
What should I do if I have no joint guarantor？
So, if you cannot find a joint guarantor from your friends or colleague after coming to Japan, would it still be possible to rent an apartment?
In Japan, you can make a rental contract without a joint guarantor by contracting with a rental guarantee company.
By contracting with a guarantee company, it plays the role of a joint guarantor by paying the guarantee fee.
Do I pick the guarantee company myself?
You can’t pick the guarantee company on your own.
In many cases, housing agencies have associated guarantee companies, so you cannot specify on your own.
You will need to pay the premium amount charged by the housing agency, and there are no discounts.
How much is the guarantee company fee?
The premium varies depending on the guarantee company. So check in advance.
Here are some examples of guarantee fees for our customers.
- 2% of monthly rent
- 10 to 100% of rent in contract period
Documents necessary for the guarantee company’s examination
In order to make a contract with a guarantee company, you will need to submit following documents.
- Certificate of residence
- Japanese documents that prove your income (Employment certificate, income certificate, final tax return, or withholding slip)
- If you are a student, you will need documents showing your account deposits, or that you have wire transfers to your account periodically
- Residence Card
- Copy of Passport
Your residence card will be necessary for the rent guarantee company’s screening.
The balance between annual income and rental fee is also an important factor. If the annual rental fee exceeds 1/3 of your annual income, you may not pass the screening.
Does the rent guarantee company support foreign languages?
The guarantee company’s screening process includes verification of the applicant’s mobile phone, which is usually done in Japanese.
Recently, the number of guarantee companies with foreign language-speaking staff has been increasing, and they will contact you in English.
We understand that you will feel uneasy if your Japanese skills aren’t sufficient.
We can provide support with Japanese conversation lessons to help you with your Japanese skills to help you.
Even if you do not find a guarantor, you can make a contract if you use a rent guarantee company.
Rental contracts in Japan require a “joint guarantor” who assumes the same responsibilities as the borrower. The joint guarantor must be a Japanese, and there are certain standards such as full-time employees.
Even if you can not find a Japanese guarantor, you still can apply for a rental contract by signing with a rent guarantee company.
We can also provide various support in case of contracts with rent guarantee companies.
For details regarding support, refer to: our services
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