Some people wonder if single mothers can rent a rental property or what to do if they are rejected during the tenant screening.
In this article, we will teach you the things that single mothers need to know when renting, tenancy screening, and the public systems that they can use. We will also share the kinds of properties that are easy for single mothers to rent, so please use this guide to your advantage!
Village House has over 100,000 properties all over Japan, with rents starting at 20,000 yen. Additionally, deposits, key money, fees, and renewal fees are all free. If you are a single mother looking for a rental property, please check out our website.
Even single mothers can rent if they have an income
Even if you are a single mother, you can rent a rental property if the following conditions are met:
- You (contractor) have an income
- You have a joint guarantor
During the tenant screening, they will mainly check to see if the tenant can keep paying rent. Screening items include income, occupation, place of employment, and the number of years of continuous employment.
Also, a joint guarantor is one of the important items on the checklist. In the unlikely event that the tenant is unable to pay the rent, they will check to see if your joint guarantor can pay the rent instead and if they have an income.
However, if you have young children, it may be difficult to pass the inspection because they may cause noise problems with neighbors, such as crying at night or loud footsteps from running around.
However,it’s important to inform the landlord or management company that you have young children. It is possible that if they are aware of your circumstances before renting the property, there is a higher chance they will have an understanding of the behaviors of young children.
Documents required for tenant screening and joint guarantor
Documents required for screening
- ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
- Child’s insurance card
- Income Certificate (Withholding tax slip)
- Seal（Registered seal, Bank seal, etc.）
- Copy of bank passbook
The real estate company will prepare the application form, so please fill out the necessary information and submit it. Please note that a guarantor’s documents are also required for the application.
Required documents for a joint guarantor
- ID (driver’s license, passport, etc.)
- Registered seal
- Seal registration certificate (within 3 months)
- Copy of guarantor’s residence card (within 3 months)
If your joint guarantor lives far away, please have them prepare their documents in advance.
What apartments for rent are available for single mothers?
Here are six rental property features that are easy for single mothers to rent.
Choose a property with a rent of 60,000 yen or less
Look for a property with a rent of 60,000 yen or less. Single mothers are required to pay less than 60,000 yen in rent as a condition for receiving municipal housing allowances and rent subsidies. So, it would be better to look for a property that qualifies for the public system.
Furthermore, according to the “Survey of Single Mothers’ Housing Conditions” conducted by At Home Co., Ltd., a real estate information service, which surveyed 618 single mothers aged 20 to 59 across Japan, the average rent was 52,000 yen. In the Tokyo metro area, it was 70,000 yen.
Generally speaking, paying rent at 1/3 of your income is desirable. In other words, if the rent is 60,000 yen, the standard income should be 180,000 yen or more.
DK (dining kitchen) floor plan
DK floor plans, popular in the 1980s, are older and tend to have relatively lower rents. Additionally, many Japanese-style rooms have tatami mats, which help reduce the sound of children’s footsteps. If you have one child, we recommend “1DK”; if you have two children, “2DK” is recommended. Depending on the conditions, you may be able to find a property with a rent of around 50,000 to 60,000 yen, even in the city center.
Corner apartment or first-floor
Corner apartments or rooms on the first floor usually have less risk of getting into trouble with neighbors, even if you have young children, and it may be easier to pass the tenancy screening process. It is especially great if you are on the first floor, as children running around will not bother any residents below.
Flexibility on the age of the building and the distance to the nearest station
If you consider the age of the building and the distance to the nearest station, it will be easier to find a cheap property that meets your needs. The rent will be 3,000 to 5,000 yen cheaper for each additional 5-minute walk from the nearest station.
Areas with many family households
Areas with many families have a good environment for raising children, and it is easy to find rental properties suitable for families. However, in areas with few families, there are many rental properties for singles, so screening tends to be stricter.
Choose up to 2 or 3 conditions
When looking for a rental property, keep two or three conditions in mind.
City gas is cheaper than propane gas, so you can save money. Also, if you want to take a bath with your child, the bath and toilet must be separate.
Suppose you do not have an air conditioner. In that case, you will need to purchase and install an air conditioner at full price, which will require an additional fee. Therefore, choosing city gas, separate bath and toilet, and air conditioning is best.
Estimated costs required when signing a rental contract
| Items | Sum of Money |
| Security deposit | 1 month’s rent |
| Key money | 1 month’s rent |
| One month’s rent in advance | 1 month’s rent |
| Daily rent rate | Varies depending on move-in date |
| Brokerage fee | 1 month’s rent + Sales tax (VAT) |
| Guarantor Company usage fee | 0.5 to 1 month’s rent |
| Fire insurance | 10,000～20,000 yen |
| Key exchange fee | 10,000～20,000 yen |
| Total | 4.5～5 months’ rent |
The average initial cost is 4.5 to 5 months’ rent. In addition, there may be other expenses such as house cleaning fees, pest control, and 24-hour support, so it is a good idea to have an extra 50,000 yen to spare.
The initial cost may be lower depending on the following conditions. Even if you can’t get all of them, even just having two of these conditions can save you about two months of rent!
Conditions for lower initial costs
- No deposit required
- No key money required
- No brokerage fee required
- Not using a guarantor company
- Free rent included
Take advantage of the public support system for single mothers
When renting housing, single mothers have the following support systems. Make sure you have a good understanding of them so you can use them wisely and reduce your burden as much as possible.
Municipal housing allowance and rent subsidy system
Public programs available to single mothers include municipal housing allowances and rent subsidies. However, there are some requirements to receive a housing allowance or rent subsidy.
- A single-parent household or a single-parent household living with children under 18 years of age
- Have Japanese nationality or permanent resident status in Japan
- The address on your residence certificate is in the city, ward, town, or village where you will be using the system.
- Live in private rental property
- Not a welfare household
- Rent is less than 60,000 yen
- The previous year’s income did not meet a certain amount
Whether you can receive a housing allowance or rent assistance depends on the requirements. Also, depending on your city, ward, town, or village, there may not be a public system, so check with a city helpdesk agent beforehand.
Preferential treatment system for public housing
Public housing, such as prefectural and municipal housing, is also built for welfare purposes. For this reason, many local governments have established preferential treatment systems for single mothers.
When looking for a rental property, it is a good idea to find out if there are any preferential treatment programs for public housing. However, prefectural and municipal housing with a preferential treatment system may be older or have poor transportation access. Public housing is recommended for those who want to reduce the rent burden, even if the environment is inconvenient.
If you are a single mother and are unsure whether you can rent a property, please contact Village House, which has over 1,000 properties across Japan. In addition, there are no deposits, key money, fees, or renewal fees, so you can save on initial costs.
*Depending on the contract details and screening results, a security deposit and a joint guarantor may be required.
Related articles:
- A Foreigner’s Guide to Clearing the Tenant Screening Process
- Life After Divorce: Moving Out and Moving On
- Living Alone As A Woman – Top 5 Things To Pay Attention To When Choosing An Apartment
- How Can Women Living Alone Stay Safe? Introducing Tips for Choosing a Property and Security Measures!
- Moving as a Single Mother
Hello, I’m Machiko Doi, a freelance writer who writes about housing and living in Japan.
I live in an 80-year-old house that I inherited from my grandparents along with my two shelter cats and daughter.
We live a relaxed life while repairing the house.
I like to cook vegetables from the garden and fresh fish caught by my father, and enjoy them with cold beer on a hot day or hot sake on a cold day.