● Private Housing

□ A real estate agent will help you find a house, apartment or condominium if you tell him what kind of place
you want, your budget, the location, required area, etc.
・Let us check the house’s exposure to sun, noise and others.
・In Japan, furniture, curtains and other items are not provided. There are also rooms without bath or shower.
Important Terms in a Contract
・Contract guarantee deposit (tetsuke)
The amount paid as a guarantee for a contract, i.e., to reserve a place. 
It is not usually refunded even in cases where there is no contract made.　　　　　　　
 ・Lease contract (chintaikeiyakusho)
A mutual agreement entered into between the landlord and the tenant. 
It contains the amount of rent, contract period and other details.
・Deposit/Security Money (shikikin/hoshookin)　
The amount paid to be held on deposit by the landlord.
・Maintenance/Management Fee (kyooekihi/kanrihi)
The money paid for maintenance such as the cost of repair of the 
apartment, expenses for common use facilities like electricity, etc. 
This is sometimes included in the rent.
・Brokerage Commission (chuukaitesuuryo)
The amount paid to the real estate agent.
・Joint Guarantor (rentaihoshoonin)
The person who will share responsibility or liability with the tenant 
in case problems occur.
When you leave the apartment, inform the landlord or superintendent one month 
in advance; otherwise, you may be asked to pay a month’s rent.

● Public Housing

□ Includes city-managed housing, prefecture-managed housing and housing for employment promotion.
□ The presence of family members, income and other factors are taken into consideration.
□ If there is no vacancy, you may not be able to move into a public housing even if you apply.
▼ For application and inquiries, contact the 
City-managed Housing: City Hall, Construction Department☎079-552-1111
Prefecture-managed Housing: City Hall, Construction Department ☎079-552-1111
Hyogo Prefecture Public Housing Corporation, Kobe Office ☎078-232-9557
　　 Housing for Employment Promotion: Hello Work Sasayama　☎079-552-0092

Even if it is bothersome, let us visit several houses with the real estate agent until we find the place we want.