When renting an apartment or house in Japan, unless utilities are included in the rent, it is customary for the tenant to be responsible for managing the utilities of the property. This includes making and signing contracts, paying the bills; and either transferring or terminating their accounts upon moving out as it is standard for utility contracts to be ongoing without a specific expiry date.

Many of us are now preparing our apartments for the colder months. This winter in particular it is very important to be as efficient as possible with keeping our homes warm. Since apartments in Japan don’t hold the heat or cold very well, it can make running the air-con heating a very expensive process. Warm clothes and layers of clothing will make a big difference. It’s also worth investing …

Introduction Housewarming parties are generally informal events, usually with just family and close friends, that are customarily held soon after a person has moved into their new place. The purpose of housewarming parties is for the new tenant to show their new home to their loved ones and allow their family and friends the opportunity to present gifts that help the person furnish their new place.

Putting down a deposit for a place is usually part and parcel of renting an apartment or house. The deposit, also known as a security deposit, acts as a sort of insurance for real estate agencies and landlords in case the tenant does something unsavory like skip out on rent, inflict damage on the property beyond the normal wear and tear, or even abandon the place. However, if one …