What kind of property is a fully furnished apartment?

A furnished apartment is a standard rental property that comes with furniture and appliances. When you sign a contract for a room, the furniture and appliances are automatically included, so you can start using them right away.

It is popular among people who are living alone for the first time and don't know what to buy, people who are too busy to afford to buy furniture and home appliances, and people who are planning to move soon.

The specific furniture and appliances provided will vary depending on the property.

Home appliances include refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, lighting fixtures, etc. When it comes to furniture, many rooms are equipped with large furniture and appliances such as sofas, beds, and dining tables.

The difference between a furnished apartment and a monthly apartment

The difference between a furnished apartment and a monthly apartment is the type of contract.

In most furnished apartments, you will need to go through the same contract procedures as for regular rental properties. When signing the contract, you will be asked to pay a deposit, key money, and provide a guarantor, and the contract will be for one year.

With monthly apartments, contracts are made on a monthly basis. There are many properties where you can move in immediately, and no deposit, key money, or guarantor is required.

The rooms are equipped with a wide variety of furniture and appliances, making them a convenient alternative to a hotel. You can move in with just a change of clothes and a few basic personal items, and bring only one bag.

The rent for monthly apartments is set higher than that for fully furnished apartments.

If you plan to stay for up to six months, we recommend that you consider a monthly apartment, and if you plan to stay for six months to two years, an apartment with furniture and appliances is recommended. If you plan to stay for more than two years, even if it is a bit of a hassle, you will likely realize the economic benefits of purchasing your own furniture and appliances at the beginning.

Benefits of fully furnished apartments

There are four main benefits to choosing an apartment with furniture and appliances. Please take a look at these points.

Reduce initial costs

If you choose to live in an apartment that is fully furnished, you won't have to buy all the furniture and appliances you need for daily life.

Even if you were to purchase a complete set of furniture with the bare minimum functions required for living alone, it would cost you around 100,000 to 200,000 yen. You can save a lot of money.

Reduce moving costs

Furniture and appliances for your new life must be moved to your new home. It is common to hire a professional mover to move large items, but this can be costly.

If you live in an apartment that already has furniture and appliances, you won't have to carry them yourself, which will help keep costs down.

No burden of disposing of furniture and appliances

After living alone for a while, many people have trouble disposing of the furniture and appliances they used when they move out of their apartment.

If the furniture and appliances are provided, you can just leave them there when you move out. This is a welcome benefit in an age where throwing things away can cost money.

Short-term use is very advantageous

Furnished apartments, which have low initial costs, are recommended for short-term occupancy. This will help you keep the total cost of renting a property low.

If you are planning on staying for between six months and two years, please consider it.

Disadvantages of furnished rental properties

When you focus only on the advantages, you tend to overlook the disadvantages. To avoid regrets, you need to check in advance whether you can tolerate them.

Here are four points to consider:

You may not be able to customize the design or functionality to your liking.

You don't have the freedom to choose the amenities that come with a fully furnished apartment, so you'll likely have to put up with things you're not happy with in terms of design or functionality.

Equipment cannot be disposed of, even if new items are purchased.

Use second-hand furniture and appliances

The furniture and appliances you use are second-hand, not new. Depending on when they were manufactured, there is a possibility that they may break even right after you move in.

Also, people who have a physiological aversion to second-hand goods should be careful.

Rent tends to be higher for the same conditions

Compared to regular rental housing with the same conditions, properties that come with furniture and appliances tend to have higher monthly rent.

If you plan on staying for a long time, you may be able to reduce your total costs by choosing a regular rental property, even if there are initial costs involved.

Contractual repair costs

Depending on the terms of your contract, you may have to pay for repairs to built-in furniture and appliances.

Please make sure to check carefully before signing the contract who will handle what situation.

Furnished apartments are recommended for the following people

Furnished apartments have both advantages and disadvantages, which is why many people worry about whether they are right for them.

We will summarize the characteristics of regular rental properties, furnished apartments, and monthly apartments, as well as who they are recommended for.



Compare the different conditions and find the type that best suits you.

What about ownership of furniture and appliances?

When moving into an apartment that is fully furnished, one thing you need to be careful about is ownership.

Depending on how the furniture and appliances installed in the room are treated under the contract, your actions after moving in may change. Be sure to check carefully when signing the contract.

The facilities provided in fully furnished apartments can be broadly divided into two categories:

• Facilities
• Items left behind

The characteristics of each are as follows.

Facilities

Regarding the furniture and appliances installed in the room, if the contract states that they are "equipment," then they belong to the landlord. They are rented and used as ancillary equipment for the room.

If something breaks down during use, you can contact the management company or the landlord and they will take care of it. There is no need for the tenant to pay for repairs.

However, if the relevant furniture or appliances are damaged intentionally or carelessly, the tenant will be responsible for the repair costs.

Items left behind

Leftover items are items that the previous occupant left behind in the apartment. For the landlord, there is no benefit to spending money to dispose of items that are still usable and in good condition.

In many cases, lighting, air conditioning, and other items are left installed so that the next resident can use them. In this case, the landlord does not have ownership rights.

Even if you contact the landlord when something breaks down, they will not cover the cost of repairs. They can remove the item, but they will not restock new items.

Be sure to pay attention to the "obligation to restore things to their original condition"

When renting a property, one thing that can easily cause trouble is the obligation to restore the property to its original condition. Furnished apartments are no exception.

Let's learn what the obligation to restore things to their original condition is, along with some tips to avoid trouble.

What is the obligation to restore things to their original state?

People who rent housing are obligated to restore the property to its original condition when signing the contract.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "Guidelines and Troubles Regarding Restoration to Original Condition" defines restoration to original condition as "repairing damage and loss resulting from the tenant's intentional or negligent acts, breach of duty of care, or other use that exceeds normal use, resulting from the decrease in the building's value caused by the tenant's occupation and use" (※1).

While living in a rental property, it is inevitable that the room, facilities, and furniture will deteriorate or become damaged. The person renting the property must return it to the condition it was in when they rented it at the end of the lease, except for wear and tear due to aging and normal use.

For example, it is inevitable that wallpaper will discolor even if nothing is done while you are living in the home.

In addition, there may be cases where the property gets dirty through carelessness. The tenant does not have to pay for the repair costs in the former case, but in the latter case, the tenant must cover the costs of cleaning it up.

If the furniture and appliances in the apartment are included in the "equipment," they will naturally be subject to the obligation to restore them to their original condition. Please handle them with care.

Things to check to avoid hassle

In order to avoid disputes over restoring a furnished apartment to its original condition, it is important to carefully check the terms of the contract in advance.

If you find anything concerning about the furniture, appliances, or the condition of the room, take photos and records when you move in. This will make it easier to explain when you move out.

Also, be sure to remember which furniture and appliances in the room do not belong to you.

Disposing of items just because they are "old" can lead to problems. Even if you don't use them, please keep them in a safe place until you move out.

summary

Furnished apartments have many benefits, including low initial costs. This property style is recommended for busy people or those with limited time, but there are a number of points to be aware of when signing a contract.

Why not acquire the necessary knowledge about ownership and the obligation to restore the property to its original condition, and then start choosing your ideal property?

*1 https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001016469.pdf