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How Poor People Should Rent Apartments

The People's Advocate, Joel Z. Williams, gives poor young people some great tips for renting apartments. This video should be required viewing for anyone ...

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Ginger Ashford-Tansil commented on 06 Dec 2015

Hi Joel, how can I assist my 18 year old granddaughter find her first apartment?

Joel Z. Williams commented on 08 Dec 2015

+Ginger Ashford-Tansil . Go with her and take a lot of pics, and ask a lot of questions while you're taping.

John J. Burnett Jr. commented on 20 Oct 2015

Hello Joel. Thank you posting this video. I am up for renewing my lease in a low income housing community paying market rate. The application I filled out was marked low income housing (Section 8 LIHTC) I moved in 2012. In 2014 and 2015 I am being asked to re-certify for the Internal Revenue Section 42 tax credit program. Does this benefit me in anyway by doing this? I did what the landlord said because they sent me a completely filed out Eviction Notice if I did not feel out the form they requested and then told me about a rent increase of 25.00. My gut says something is wrong. I asked for a complete copy of my leases from 2012 to date with no response to my request. Not sure what to do if anything? I welcome any suggestions you may have.

John J. Burnett Jr. commented on 22 Oct 2015

Ok Thanks Joel talk with you at 1:00 on Saturday.

Joel Z. Williams commented on 22 Oct 2015

+John J. Burnett Jr. . Ok, i will place that on my calendar. please email me 5 min. prior. @ [email protected]

John J. Burnett Jr. commented on 21 Oct 2015

Hello Joel. Yes I can make myself available around 1:00 pm.

Joel Z. Williams commented on 21 Oct 2015

+John J. Burnett Jr. . There are so many questions I would need to ask you to know if you are being taken advantage of. Can you be available for a phone interview this weekend? Perhaps Saturday around 1:00 pm?

muleoftheeast commented on 04 May 2015

Some good points here I wouldn't otherwise have considered. Thanks for the info!

muleoftheeast commented on 05 May 2015

Yeh definitely, thanks again man. This video is really a one of a kind on the subject. Of the others I've seen most just talk about bills and bureaucracy, few mention the areas you talk about here.If I were you I would do a "part 2" to this video, perhaps go into greater depth on the areas no estate agent would talk about (crime rates, bugs/infestations, tenant legal rights etc). Just a thought, keep up the informative content tho! Thanks again

Joel Z. Williams commented on 05 May 2015

+muleoftheeast Awesomesauce! Glad you got something out of it.

Kelly02895 commented on 10 Feb 2015

Good, straight-forward advice. Excellent job, Sir! Wasn't aware of a "smell" to detect bedbugs, but that's something I need to pass along to friends.

Joel Z. Williams commented on 10 Feb 2015

Thanks for that. Yeah, the smell is a definite giveaway. Also, put an app on your cell phone that allows you to record a conversation and have that thing recording while they are showing you the apartment. Be sure to ask very specific questions too, like "Have you had any bedbug problems here before?, What about in this particular residence? What is the policy if I get bedbugs from another tenant? etc." force them to tell you either a lie or the truth.

Michael Giltz commented on 10 Jan 2015

Why is your flag facing backwards?

Rahmir Brown commented on 30 Jan 2015

Camera's sometimes flip everything like a mirror would still to this day don't understand why.

Joel Z. Williams commented on 10 Jan 2015

must be some kind of optical illusion. im a veteran.

The Best Ideas for Renting Apartments Cheaply : Real Estate Tips

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propertytelevisionau commented on 13 Dec 2012

great info guys!

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How to Rent Apartments in Japan - Ep 2. Gaijin Troubles 日本での賃貸のマナー

This is the second video in a series on renting apartments in Japan. Many thanks to Sachiko-sensei for teaching us! //www.youtube.com/landhousing ...

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Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@haubrion こんにちは、 1:29 では少し触れるけど、確かにそれは良い保証協会も良い話題かもしれません。ごみ分別について、難しいのは各自治体は違う分別の規制があるから難しいけど、基本として紹介するのは良いネタだと思います。今度作るのをちょっと考えますね。外婚人の多い地域ではポイ捨てが問題になっているのは問題だと初耳なんだけど、ポイ捨てはだめというのは全世界の常識なはずのにww やっぱりゴミは結構文化的のネックになるね、大体日本は高い基準をキープしているから（たくさんの例外があるけど）。うん、考えさせてくれました・・ありがとうございました！

Hikosaemon commented on 18 Jan 2011

@theorigin12 I know people with gaijin parents who are permanent residents in Japan who act as guarantors. Also, foreign companies will often use a foreign signatory when they act as guarantor for an employee, so it isn't unheard of. However, in the end of the day, whether a guarantor is acceptable or not is totally up to the landlord. I have had landlords that won't accept corporate guarantors for example. It's all case by case, but I would say a permanent resident foreigner would probably work

dothetwist298 commented on 19 Jan 2011

@TokyoZeplin I agree about school,but I don't want to pay for karaoke.It's kind of unfair,why do I have to pay for my practice when I don't do it here,and I can do it anytime.But the thing is that I'm an adult,I'm not sure if any music school would take me in,seeing that I'd be able to come onyl after work or during the weekends.I practice every day,I don't think I'd be allowed at school every day.I'll see if I can find anything,because it's very important to me and I can't live without violin.

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@moolikeachicken The big difference is Izakaya. I can't explain in words just how wonderful izakaya are. I'm sure the US is like NZ in that if you want to drink, but also have an audible conversation and be able to see your friends in a lit room, a home party is the only option (as opposed to a dark noisy bar or club). Izakaya are set up for parties - they have great food, great booze, you can be reasonably rowdy but still see and talk to all your friends, and no one has to clean up afterwards.

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@Zukiekie lol - the most important thing about living in Japan, or just about any country with a different culture to your own, is that there are a bunch of different rules and conventions you will need to pick up. Breaking the rules and feeling guilty is all part of the "culture shock" process. It is only painful when you have no idea what is going on or why you are in trouble - the purpose of this vid is to give people a bit of context to help them adjust. Come visit and see how you like it!

TokyoZeplin commented on 18 Jan 2011

@dothetwist298 The violin is a surprisingly noisy instrument (used to play myself!), compared to say an acoustic guitar, and sadly the floors and walls in most Japanese apartments are absolutely tiny. That means that sound can very easily jump from your room into the next, above you or below you, and in Japan, that's a very big no-no. I wouldn't count on finding an apartment where you could practice violin at home. I know people that rent karaoke rooms to practice there, for the same reasons.

TokyoZeplin commented on 19 Jan 2011

@Hikosaemon Hah! Indeed I did see a french horn! Weird with electric guitars though... why not use a set of earphones plugged into the amp? And I meant that particularly a violin is a very loud instrument, in that it has a very easily indistinguishable sound. An acoustic guitar for instance blends very neatly in the background noise with the frequency it plays at, whereas a violin is very high-pitched and really stands out. Though I didn't know you could actually put it as a search criteria!

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@getsuyobiwamitsuki Sorry - I mumbled a bit. I said "blu-tack" - just something that won't damage the walls. The two general solutions are 1) for buildings with concrete walls, many now have railings with movable hooks that you can attach wire to and hang pictures from. That is how I hang the pictures in my room in my video, and 2) for wooden walls, there are some clever hooks that basically use pins - they can hold up pictures and leave almost imperceptible holes. So there are ways around

Hikosaemon commented on 27 Jan 2011

@TolokyoRAW They're all slightly different, but I looked at using a guarantor company a few years ago, and the two companies I checked were for a small monthly fee. The key is that in most cases, the companies themselves don't become guarantors - they introduce you to old fellers who volunteer to sign as guarantor and use the monthly payments as income, but this is why it is important to really check out the company you are using. The service is primarily for Japanese without guarantors.

Hikosaemon commented on 21 Jan 2011

@linkinpain Well, I've seldom had to look for more than a day. The main thing is the first time it was really stressful because I didn't really get what was going on and that is why I made this. The only place I've ever heard of a guy not being able to find an apartment was in Kitakyushu - In Tokyo, where only about 50% of apartments are available for foreigners, that's still plenty, plus there are other options like gaijin houses and guest houses. So it isn't that bad. Just be prepared.

lordblazer commented on 18 Jan 2011

@kua514 cool. be ready to throw down 200k-300k yen for move-in fee in some areas. all in cash and all at once. Depending on the landlord etc etc. On your own is a pain. If you're a student it is fine your University is your Guarantor, but remember those fees aren't on a student budget. down payment is normal, but at times I think in Japan they ask for too much, and it seems like there isn't much of a competitive market outside of Tokyo for real estate. Dunno. Live in Shanghai people!!

Hikosaemon commented on 21 Jan 2012

@blondeno1girl As a 20 year resident, I don't have to tell you what your options are in terms of fighting back against such landlords that won't consider foreign tenants, Debito's site is there with all the advice that you could want. In the end of the day, what it comes down to is the lack of a human rights law in Japan - there is a bill being drafted in the Diet that is a hot topic for rightists opposed to it, but that promises to give better means to those who suffer this issue.

Hikosaemon commented on 27 Jan 2011

@TolokyoRAW Not illegal - just emphatic that doing it behind your landlord's back is grounds for termination and eviction, and that it is a concern that many landlords express about allowing foreign tenants in. Whether subleases are permitted is of course up to the contract and understanding between the tenant and landlord - where your landlord is a person and you get on well, of course that's an ideal situation. The key however is not to presume you can do it without permission.

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@xxjacobxx3 It isn't exactly insurance. It's a personal financial guarantee - a pledge of financial responsibility for anything you do. And yes, asking people for it sucks, which is why parents in law or a company are the usual defaults. Two alternatives are- 1) yes, there are companies that act as guarantors for you, usually in exchange for a small monthly fee, so it is a wee bit like insurance, 2) public housing, gaijin/guesthouses and some apartments don't require guarantors

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@alaivani Lots of people are asking about the gomi bumbetsu - I haven't got a video on it lined up, but it looks like lots of people want to see it so I will consider making one. The main issue is that it is done completely differently in each local government district in Japan - even definitions of "burnables" and "recyclables" change depending on which area you are in, so it would only be a guide, but I'll definitely look at making a video on that in the near future. Cheers!

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@grooveonchan Hey man, good to see you! Hope you are well. Yep, there is always going to be some yobbo come and ruin it for everyone no matter what you do, but I figure if nothing else, I can at least try to be a source of information for people who get in the situations as I often did, of getting in trouble and having no idea what it was that I had done wrong exactly... This kind of thing is hard to take in ahead of time, but hopefully it will click when people arrive.

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@linkinpain lol, kissing ass is an unfortunate part of life in any country. In the end, the pain and punishment isn't worth it. However, it is fair to say that Japan is definitely at the stricter end of the scale, and it does drive a lot of foreigners crazy in that way. My only suggestion is not to take it too heavily. Just because Japanese don't have massive house parties doesn't mean they don't do massive izakaya parties - which are unlike anything I have seen in NZ.

omgharajuku commented on 13 Jul 2011

Thanks for the video! I have a question, though. I will be studying abroad for a year in Tokyo, and I signed up with the University to help me find an apartment. A woman from the school sent me a brochure, while another person emailed me volunteering to help with the apartment search, and she sent me a bunch of pages about apartments. If I go with the apartments the woman sent me (which are cheaper) will she charge me one month's worth of rent like in the video?

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@BoyGeniusT Hey man, Episode 4 is specifically about that so stand by. If you are coming to Tokyo, you could also do a lot worse than use Sachiko's real estate agency which is in a really nice part of Tokyo and is obviously very gaijin-friendly. The general advice I give friends is to save money, be patient, and remember that your agent is doing their best to help you, so even if you get frustrated, don't take it out on them. There is always a way through ;)

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@toycarlvr Well, yes and no. In NZ, there is no category for "burnable" and "non-burnable" waste like Japan, and it is more common to have parties or meet friends at home than outside, and it is completely normal to sublet rooms in an apartment that you rent yourself. I think some of those points aren't obvious to someone new to Japan. However, the rules become clear pretty quickly and those who ignore them because they don't care are indeed knuckleheads.

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@dothetwist298 When searching for apartments, the information sheets usually include data on whether pets or musical instruments are allowed. Lots of Japanese play instruments obviously, so it is a big issue, but unfortunately, only a small proportion of apartments allow it. It is still worth making a search criteria. As Zep mentioned, I have also seen people practicing in Karaoke, but usually it is with huge French Horns and electric guitars and stuff.

To lokyo commented on 27 Jan 2011

Wow...she seemed to say really strongly that subletting is illegal. O.o I approached my landlord and asked if I could do it - he said, "sure, I trust you to take care of whoever comes in". But I'd already developed a really good relationship with my landlord, so I guess it was different. There's a word of advice for everyone: be friendly with your landlord. I used to have house parties, and he'd always bring up homemade food or drinks for everyone.

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@hmatsuuchi Of course the best approach is to find agencies that help foreigners - public housing (UR) allows foreigners, but there tends to be a lot of competition for rooms. Sachiko's work (Landhousing) I understand goes out of its way to ensure that landlords are open to foreigners to begin with. You are right however, once a landlord has decided not to allow foreigners, there is no negotiation - they use their own agents in order to avoid that.

Hikosaemon commented on 18 Jan 2011

@kua514 Yep, you're pretty much right I think. Unfortunately it only takes a couple of yobs to ruin it for everyone - rumours about good tenants go around less quickly than bad ones obviously. The guarantor issue is the biggest headache - but the key is to be forewarned - if you negotiate a job from outside Japan, make sure they will either provide your housing or act as guarantor. If you are on your own, there are still options, but it is a pain.

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@IamTyrick My pleasure. And agreed, I think that apartment hunting is probably the most stressful part of living in Japan, for almost all foreigners, and also for many Japanese in a similar position to foreigners here. I've made a lot of mistakes, been through a lot of stress, and learned a lot in my 12 years and six apartments in Tokyo, so I figured I could do a little to help others learn some of the lessons I had to learn the hard way. Cheers!

Hikosaemon commented on 19 Jan 2011

@Degenskonto A sublease is when someone renting an apartment rents all or part of it on to someone else. The most common scenario in NZ is when one person rents a house and pays the landlord rent for it, but rents out rooms in the apartment to other people. I lived in a lot of places in NZ this way, paying my rent for a room in a house to a guy who had the main lease with the landlord. In Japan, this kind of thing is usually strictly prohibited.

Hikosaemon commented on 21 Jan 2011

@akitokimemo Everyone's experience is different, but I think the simple answer to that is "no". Renting apartments is the most difficult thing for foreigners in Japan, but for most foreigners, especially from rich countries, life in Japan varies from being semi-invisible with a free VIP pass / diplomatic immunity wherever you go, to being a virtual movie star in small towns. You don't blend much, but 99% of discrimination tends to be positive.

Hikosaemon commented on 21 Jan 2012

@blondeno1girl That's not true at all - Ep 3 we spend a whole episode talking in Japanese about how Sachiko confronts and persuades landlords to change their attitudes toward accepting foreign tenants. Fact remains however that landlords that won't consider foreign tenants is a fact of life here that foreigners looking for apartments need to deal with. This is intended as constructive advice for new arrivals of what can be done.

BoyGeniusT commented on 20 Jan 2011

Thanks for the videos ^_^ I'm a senior in high school and I plan on moving there after college. The apartment thing worried me the most seeing as I heard foreigners have a bad rep. It seems harder than I thought but atleast I'm somewhat prepared now ^_^ Do you have any advide on how I can prepare for the move (besides learning the language which I need to do) I have never been there before and have no friends or contacts there.

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@cloudstrifeification Once you move into an apartment, provided you know how to avoid drama (pointers in this vid) it is all pretty much smooth sailing from there. Apartment hunting can be, I think, the most stressful part of being in japan, but often it can be over in a day or so. The purpose of the vid is to minimize stress and confusion when you do it by giving people an idea of what to expect. Glad to hear it helps!

Hikosaemon commented on 20 Jan 2011

@RobotKoi At first, I thought a guarantor was like a character reference, and couldn't understand why it was so difficult to find someone to be your guarantor. This again is why accommodation is a really important part of any job negotiation before or when you come to Japan - it is really the only time you have leverage to make sure you are covered. Something I only learned when I got my second job....

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