Vocabulary You Need When Renting a Home in Japan

Some vocabulary you need when renting a home in Japan
Those who have just arrived in Japan or are renting for the first time and whose Japanese isn't yet solid can refer to this post.

For those renting in Japan for the first time or newly arrived with limited Japanese, house hunting in Japan involves many unfamiliar terms that can be confusing.

賃料（ちんりょう）: amounts related to rent

– 家賃（やちん）：Monthly rent.

– 下限（かげん）： minimum rent

– 上限（じょうげん）： maximum rent

– 管理費（かんりひ）/共益費（きょうえきひ）：Fee for maintaining common areas. In apartment buildings you usually pay an extra fee for management, cleaning…

– 保険（ほけん）：when renting in Japan you must take out insurance on the apartment in case of natural disasters.

– 礼金（れいきん）：key money paid to the landlord (a thank-you payment). Usually 1 month's rent.

– 敷金（しききん）/保証金（ほしょうきん）：deposit. If the tenant doesn't pay rent, it is deducted from this deposit. Or after the tenant moves out, cleaning and repair costs for any damage are deducted.

Total deposit – cleaning and repair costs = the remainder returned to the tenant.

Usually about 1 month's rent.

– 仲介手数料（ちゅうかいてすうりょう）： fee paid to the agency that introduced the property.

In Japan, when renting or buying, the tenant or buyer doesn't deal directly with the owner but goes through a real estate agency.

① 位置（いち）：location of the apartment

– １階の物件(いっかいのぶっけん)：ground-floor unit

– ２階以上（にかいいじょう）：2nd floor or above

– 最上階（さいじょうかい）：top-floor unit

– 角部屋（かどべや）: corner room on the floor

– 南向き（みなみむき）: south-facing, the most popular orientation because of good sunlight, clothes dry easily, warm in winter… South-facing homes are usually more expensive than others.

② キッチン：kitchen area

– ガスコンロ対応（ガスコンロたいおう）: gas stove

– IHコンロ: induction cooker

– コンロ２口以上（コンロふたくちいじょう）: stove with 2 or more burners

– オール電化（オールでんか）: stove, heating… all run on electricity (no gas appliances)

– システムキッチン: a set including stove and sink, fairly spacious and modern-looking

③ バス・トイレ: Bathroom, toilet

– バス・トイレ別: bathroom and toilet are separate

– 温水洗争便座（おんすいせんじょうべんざ）/ウォシュレット: washlet (bidet toilet seat)

– 溶室乾燥機（よくしつかんそうき）：bathroom ventilation dryer

追い焚き風呂（おいだきふろ）: reheating system that warms the bath water again when it cools

④ テレビ・通信（TV, communications）

– インターネット接続可（インターネットせつぞくか）：internet connection available.

– BSアンテナ（Broadcasting Satellites ）: BS satellite TV

– CSアンテナ（Communication Satellites ）: another kind of satellite TV, called CS.

– ケーブルテレビ （Cable television ）： cable TV

– インターネット無料 (インターネットむりょう)： free internet

⑤ 室内設備（しつないせつび）：indoor facilities

– 室内洗濯機置き場（しつないせんたくきおきば）: washing machine space inside the unit.

– 洗面所独立（せんめんじょどくりつ）: separate washbasin area

– フローリング: wooden flooring

– メゾネット(maisonnette): usually an apartment with a large loft (like a 2nd floor)

– ロフト: loft

– 防音室（ぼうおんしつ）: soundproofed room

– 家具付（かぐつき）: furnished room

⑥ 冷暖房（れいだんぼう）: heating and cooling

– エアコン付き（エアコンつき）: air conditioner included

– 床暖房（ゆかだんぼう）: underfloor heating

– ガス暖房（ガスだんぼう）: gas heater

– 灯油暖房（とうゆだんぼう）: kerosene heater

⑦ セキュリティ: security system

– オートロック: auto-lock, usually used in apartment buildings

– 管理人有り（かんりにんあり）: caretaker on site

– TVモニター付きインターホン: intercom with TV monitor showing visitors when they ring the bell.

– 防犯カメラ（ぼうはんカメラ）: security camera.

⑧ 建物設備（たてものせつび）: building facilities

– 駐車場有り（ちゅうしゃじょうあり）: car parking available

– エレベーター: lift

– バルコニー付き: with balcony

– 都市ガス（としガス）: city gas (usually cheaper than other kinds of gas)

See also:
Japanese Vocabulary for the Kitchen and Living Room
100 Basic Japanese Words