About the Apartment

From HyogoAJET

With burdens like language barriers and keymoney, finding an apartment in Japan is not pleasant business. One of the blessings of the JET Program is the Contracting Organizations are required to provide us with apartments. Of course, that means we get plenty of questions about housing.

[edit] My fridge is broken! Will my school buy me a new one?

It is not your contracting organizations responsibility to buy you anything. If something in your apartment breaks, please do not expect your contracting organization to replace it. Some schools out of the kindness of their hearts will buy you things, but it is important to remember that your home is not their responsibility. Sorry.

[edit] My school wants to charge me a lot of money for new tatami.

Things like tatami mats and shoji (those sliding doors) need to be replaced periodically. Tatami mats are usually replaced once every three years, though some places change the tatami mats for each new tenant. Unfortunately, replacing tatami isn't cheap, as the price of one mat can vary from ¥3,000 to ¥7,000.

If you have a tatami room, we highly recommend you talk to your school about costs. Some schools charge their ALTs a monthly fee, others only ask for money from the ALT who is living in the apartment when they change the tatami. One of the PAs used to live in an apartment with tatami and, as it cost about ¥40,000 to replace the tatami every three years, each ALT was asked to pay ¥13,000 a year. Talk to your school about how they do things, and if you think it's unfair, try to convince them to try a different approach.

[edit] Can I move?

Your contracting organization is probably involved in a one-year lease with your landlord, and it probably won't be possible to move out without incurring some substantial headaches and costs for yourself and your school/BOE. As such, changing apartments is not advised. If you feel strongly about moving, talk to your school about it, giving them your reasons for wanting to move (filthy carpeting, holes in the wall, etc). They might try to come up with other solutions (cleaning the carpeting), or they might try to find you a new apartment.

If your school tells you that they won't move you, and you believe your situation is absolutely intolerable, you do have the option of finding and moving into a new apartment by yourself (subject to the terms of your contract, of course). In this case you will be responsible for any and all costs concerned, which can add up to a mind-boggling amount of money. Also, the trouble you cause your school (who may have to continue paying rent for an empty apartment) may cause some bad blood between you and your coworkers, which you don't want. The final decision is yours, but moving out on your own is not advised.

Our advice would be that, if you really want to move, keep hounding your school/BOE about it and try to convince them to let you. Don't expect to be able to move right away, as they probably need to draw up a budget for it, which will happen in March.

v • d • e Living Guide
General	Meet The CIRs ・ Meet The PAs ・ Phone Numbers and Emails ・ Hyogojets Mailing List ・ Emergencies ・ Useful Links ・ AJET ・ Acronyms ・ Information Centers
For New Jets	The Hiring Process ・ Buying From Your Predecessor ・ Japanese Customs ・ Bringing Medicine To Japan ・ Presents For Coworkers ・ Tokyo to Hyogo ・ Alien Registration Card ・ First Few Days ・ Pension Book ・ Settling In At Home ・ Letter of Appointment ・ Personal Seal
Money	How Much Money Should I Bring? ・ Banking in Japan ・ Sending Money Home ・ Paychecks ・ Paying Up Front ・ Taxes Back Home ・ Statement of Earnings ・ Resident Taxes
Work	Who do I work for? ・ Evaluations ・ Paid Leave ・ Special Leave ・ Unpaid Leave ・ Study Leave ・ Recontracting and Transfers ・ Conferences ・ Yashiro Orientation ・ The Mid-Year Conference ・ I have nothing to do!
Life In Hyogo	About the Apartment ・ How safe is Japan? ・ Map of Hyogo ・ Dealing with bugs ・ Shopping in Japan ・ Train Lines, Times, and Fares ・ Hyogo Winters ・ Hyogo Summers ・ Typhoons ・ Sports Opportunities ・ Trains: Vocab and Tips ・ Post Office ・ Useful Items to Help You Live in Japan ・ Religious Institutions
Traveling	Traveling ・ Leaving The Country ・ Buses ・ International Airports ・ Domestic Airports ・ Tourist Spots ・ Travel Agents ・ Ferries ・ Natural Disasters Abroad
Language and Culture	Learning Japanese ・ Language Resources ・ Japanese Classes in Hyogo ・ Proficiency Tests ・ Study Tips ・ Japanese Holidays ・ Japanese Etiquette ・ About the CLAIR Courses
Food	Food Shopping ・ Restaurant Vocab and Guidebooks ・ Types of Restaurants ・ Recommended Restaurants
Health	Bringing Medicine To Japan ・ Japan's Medical System ・ Counseling and Support Groups ・ Vaccinations ・ Find a Doctor ・ Medical Examinantions ・ About our Health Insurance ・ AJET Peer Support Group ・ Dentists ・ Insurance and Dental Work
Books, etc.	Book Stores ・ Hyogo AJET Library ・ Libraries ・ Magazines ・ Newspapers etc.
Driving	Attention Drivers! ・ Buying a Car ・ Driving in Winter ・ Getting Around ・ Getting Car Insurance ・ Getting a License ・ Rules of the Road ・ Driving School ・ Driving Test ・ Drinking and Driving ・ DUI / DWI ・ My BOE won't let me drive!
Visas, etc.	Immigration Offices ・ Visa Renewal and Status of Residence ・ Reentry Permits ・ Renewing Your Passport ・ Post-JET Visa Advice ・ Temporary Visitor Visa
Recommendations	Gym Recommendations ・ Recommended Restaurants ・ Find a Doctor ・ Find a Hairdresser
Legal Issues	Lost Passports ・ Arrested in Japan ・ English Speaking Lawyers
Computers and Phones	Buying a computer ・ Typing in Japanese ・ Getting Internet ・ Word in Japanese ・ Cell Phones ・ Home Phones ・ Phoning Home ・ Help with Technical Problems
Leaving JET	Checklist for Leaving Japan ・ Post-JET Visa Advice ・ Return Tickets ・ Shipping Stuff Home ・ The Pension Refund ・ Staying In Japan ・ Preparing For Your Successor ・ Predecessor Information ・ Reverse Culture Shock ・ Police Clearance Certificate ・ Certificate of Participation ・ I want to break contract ・ Goodwill Envoys