When you come to Japan, you will need to look for a room to stay. How would you do so？

＜How to find a room＞
①Ask the administrative office of the school you are entering to introduce a room for you.
②Look for a room at a realtor.
(※Realtor is an agency that make arrangements for an apartment room.)

＜Realtor>
・There are billboards on the streets near the train station with words like 「OO不動産 (realtor)」or 「XXホーム (home)」.
・Vacancy notices with room photographs or rent information are pastedon the glass door or on windows of the realtor.
・If you find a room that fits your needs, enter the realtor.
・After you enter the realtor, tell an agent your wishes, ask him/her to guide you to the actual room for viewing.
・If you checked the room by yourself and don’t like it, be sure to decline from signing a contract. (Guidance and viewing are free.)
・If you want to spend a day or two thinking about it, tell that to the realtor.
・If you have seen the room and like it, sign the contract.
※Usually, an apartment room don’t come with furnitures.
Many kitchen do come with a sink but don’t come with an gas stove. You need to buy gas stove, refrigerator, lighting equipments, curtains, futon, tableware, etc.

・When signing a contract, you will need a joint Japanese guarantor. This is not special to foreigner but required for all leases (including Japanese).
※When you look for a room at a realtor, you should your sponsor in Japan or a Japanese speaker with you.
※Most period of contract is for 2 years. Please read the contract carefully.
※You cannot live with a family member or a friend, or lend it to a third-party without the permission of the landlard. If you want to live with someone, you must tell that to the realtor firsthand.
※The contract you sign is legally binding. Be sure to read the content very cafefully before you sign it. If you have any question, please ask the teacher in charge at the school.

★Monthly expenses★
・Rent: 1-month room charge. Usually, the following month’s rent is paid in advance by the end of the prior month.
・Common service fee (administrative fee): 1-month fee required to maintain the stairway, hallway, common lavatory, etc., and to pay for the common area’s electricity, water, clean-up bills.

★Payment required at the time of contract★
・Security deposit (approx. 1-2 months of rent to be deposited to the landlord. When you leave the room and after the landlord clean up the place and make repairement if necessary, the remaining amount will be returned to you)
・Key money (one-time payment made to the landlord)
・Commission (fee paid to the realtor. Ordinarily, it’s 1-month of rent)
※A total of 4-5 months of rent is required at the time of contract.