Tokyo Life
Deposit and Key Money
When you rent an apartment or other lodgings, you will need to pay rent (money paid monthly by the renter) as well as various other expenses.
A deposit and key money are paid when you sign a contract (a promise to rent lodgings).
Deposit (security deposit) "敷金"
This is money you initially deposit with a person who rents you an apartment or other lodgings.
This money is used by a person who rents you a room.
The deposit money is equivalent to one to two months’ rent.
When a security deposit is used:
- It is used for cleaning when a renter makes a room dirty, or for repairing when a renter causes damage to a room.
- It is used at the time of returning a rented room, for cleaning a room, or for repairing a damaged room.
When you return a room, you must return it as cleanlily as the day you first rented it.
The unused security deposit will be returned to you when you return a room.
Key Money (gratuity fee) "礼金"
This is money paid to a person who rents an apartment or other lodgings to you.
Key money is equivalent to one to two months’ rent.
Key money will not be returned to you.
Nowadays, there are lodgings that require neither a security deposit nor key money.
Please read contracts carefully before you sign them.