Procedures Regarding Apartments
Table of Contents
■ Contracts
When moving into an apartment, you are required to enroll in liability insurance and have a joint guarantor.
◇ Liability Insurance
When signing a rental contract, you are required to purchase liability insurance (fire insurance).
The University of Osaka recommends enrolling in the Inbound Futai-Gakuso insurance plan. This plan complements the Gakkensai (Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research), which all students at The University of Osaka are enrolled in, to provide comprehensive coverage for international students. Inbound Futai-Gakuso serves as liability insurance and additionally covers bicycle accidents, as well as medical expenses for outpatient and inpatient care due to injury or illness (and also covers the portion not covered by national health insurance).
- Apply online in English
- Submit accident claims in English
Click here for the Inbound Futai-Gakuso
◇ Joint Guarantor – Coop-Rent Insure
In Japan, a joint guarantor is typically required when renting private housing.
The University of Osaka recommends that international students and researchers use Coop-Rent Insure (a joint guarantor proxy system) as a substitute for a joint guarantor and as a rent guarantee service.
The procedures can be completed at the real estate agency handling the rental contract or at the MY ROOM counter at the Co-op if the rental is handled through MY ROOM.
Inquiry: Global Works Corporation
Tel: 06-6476-8000 （Japanese）
Tel: 06-6733-0564（English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian）
Hours: 10:00～18：00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and the year-end/New Year holidays)
Email: info@coop-ri.com
Help Desk for Application: Real estate company that mediates your rent contract, Co-op MY ROOM (Toyonaka Main Store and Suita Store)
◇ Short-Term Renters
Canceling a one-year contract before the full year has passed may result in a penalty fee. Before signing the contract, please check with the property management company whether a penalty clause is included, or carefully review the Summary of Key Rental Terms (重要事項説明書).
■ Extension of Contract
If you wish to extend your occupancy in the same apartment, you need to check the following before the lease contract expires.
- Please notify the landlord or the management company for extension of occupancy one to two months before the contract expires.
- The offer is particularly required if you leave the University of Osaka due to graduation or completion of study.
- Please check the contract when requesting an extension. - If you are permitted in 1., you need to review the rent guarantee period and complete the procedure.
Coop-Rent Insure users will receive a renewal form by mail before their contract expires. The contract is renewed upon payment.
If you are a policyholder of “Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan,” please complete the procedure for switching to Coop-Rent Insure at the real estate company that is handling your rental contract or at the Co-op MY ROOM counter (limited to MY ROOM properties).
■ Move-Out
Note the following when moving out of your apartment.
- Be sure to check the move-out notice period (contract termination notice date) stated in your rental contract.
Notify your landlord or property management company one to two months before your move-out date. - Remove your personal belongings and clean the apartment without leaving any trash.
(Disposing of bulky waste and recyclable home appliances may incur a fee. Please refer to your city’s website.) - On the move-out day, confirm the condition of the empty apartment together with the landlord or property management company.
- After terminating your contract, return the apartment key(s).
- If fees are required to restore the apartment to its original condition, pay the billed amount.
Carefully check the details of the invoice before signing.
Note: Be sure to provide your contact information to the landlord or property management company. If you leave Japan without properly completing the move-out procedures, you may continue to be charged rent and could be billed for repair costs. Failure to pay may lead to legal action and could affect your ability to reenter Japan.
■ Relocation
１．Terminate the rental contract
You should inform your landlord at least one to two months prior to the day you wish to terminate the contract.
２．Find a moving company
People typically ask professional movers to do the actual moving. It is better to obtain quotes of the moving costs from several companies to compare prices.
３．Remove all belongings
Remove all personal belongings and clean the apartment without leaving any trash.
４．Dispose of bulk waste
When you need to dispose of a large amount of bulk waste, such as furniture, bedding, and bicycles, you must contact the environmental department of your city office to find out to dispose of them at your earliest convenience. In most cases, the pickup days are once or twice a month, and you will be asked to purchase designated stickers for bulk waste.
If you offer to leave your bicycles to others, please make sure you hand over the bicycle registration documents as well.
Under the Home Appliance Recycling Law, TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, and air-conditioners cannot be disposed of as large-scale garbage.
You need to contact the stores where these appliances were purchased or the manufacturer to arrange for disposal for a fee. Also, under the “Law for Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources,” used PCs must be collected by manufacturers themselves for a fee. (https://www.pc3r.jp/) (in Japanese only)
５．Return the apartment key and restore the apartment to its original condition
Usually, upon returning the house key to the landlord, the standing deposits will be settled if any. You need to follow the “restoration rule” (the room should be returned to the same condition it was in when you arrived) stipulated in the contract, and have the room inspected by the landlord or real-estate agent.
６. Notify the following institutions of your address change
- University
Contact the office of your department.
- Telephone Company
Notify the telephone company of your new address.
- City Office
If you move and your address changes, you must notify the city (or ward) office within two weeks.
The procedures differ depending on whether you are moving within the same city or to a different city. Please contact the city office for details.
You must also update the address on your National Health Insurance card.
- Utility Companies
Call each service office to change your address details no later than one week prior to moving out.
- Water
Ask each water authority in municipal government.
- Bank / Credit Card
All financial institutions with which you have accounts should be notified of your address change.
- Post Office
Submit a change-of-address notice at the post office so that your mail will be automatically forwarded to your new address.