Characteristics of private room share houses

A share house is a rental property where people share the living room, kitchen, toilet, bathroom, etc. Rooms in a share house are divided into "dormitory type" rooms with bunk beds and shared by multiple people, "semi-private type" rooms that are similar to dormitory type rooms but with privacy, and "private room type" rooms that are completely private.
Recently, private rooms have been attracting attention.
Let's take a look at the features of the private rooms.

Reasonable

First of all, it is reasonably priced.
Although it is a private room, the living room and bathroom are shared spaces, so you will occupy less space than if you lived alone.
This allows you to live at a lower cost than if you were to live alone in a rented property.
In addition, common area fees often include utilities, communication fees (internet charges), and the cost of consumables such as toilet paper, so not only are costs lower than if you were to sign individual contracts, but it also saves you the trouble of paying and replenishing various items.

Privacy is guaranteed

The basic premise of a share house is that you share common spaces and facilities with other residents.
However, there may be times when you need some time alone or want to keep your personal belongings under control.
If you choose a private room, you can lock it to prevent anyone from looking into your room while you're away.
You can enjoy the benefits of communal living while still ensuring your privacy.

The security of having friends

Above all, the appeal is the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have friends living in a share house.
A shared house is recommended for people who feel lonely living alone.
There may be differences in daily routines, but there is a sense of security knowing that someone will be there when you show up in the shared space.
By deepening your relationships with your housemates, you will be able to ask for advice and help each other out when you are in trouble.
There are also properties that have a concept and properties that bring together residents who have something in common.
By choosing such a share house, you may be able to make new encounters and make new connections.

The difference between a share house and living alone

Some people may think that living in a shared house is not much different from living alone if you have your own room. However, there are quite a few differences between living in a shared house and living alone.

Reduced initial investment costs

The following table compares the cost of renting a private room in a shared house with the cost of renting a regular apartment or condominium.

	Share house private room (Cross House)	General rental property (example)
Deposit	Initial cost: 30,000 yen	1-2 months' rent
key money	0 yen	1-2 months' rent
First month rent	1 month supply	1 month's rent
Common area fee	15,000 yen	5,000 yen to 10,000 yen
System usage fee	1,000 yen	0 yen
Guarantor company fee	0 yen	1 month's rent
Brokerage fee	0 yen	1 month's rent
Furniture, home appliances and other daily necessities	Around 50,000 yen	150,000 yen to 200,000 yen
total	Around 96,000 yen Plus 1 month's rent	155,000 yen to 210,000 yen Plus 5 to 7 months rent

Share houses often do not require a deposit or key money, but do require an "initial fee."
For many properties, the initial costs are set at a flat rate rather than calculated as a few months' rent, so you can keep costs down compared to regular renting.
Also, when you start living on your own, you will need to purchase a full set of home appliances and furniture, but in shared houses, furniture, home appliances, cooking utensils, and cleaning supplies are usually provided.
Therefore, all you need to prepare are bedding and personal items such as shampoo, cosmetics, etc.
Bedding may be provided depending on the property, so be sure to check before moving in.

Fully equipped kitchen and bathroom

In apartments and condominiums for single people, facilities such as the kitchen and bathroom may be smaller or cramped compared to apartments for families.
In the case of shared houses, they are generally detached houses or apartments for family use that have been renovated, or properties that were built specifically for use as shared houses.
Additionally, the kitchens and bathrooms are sized to fit a family home or even larger.
Some properties even come with an island kitchen and a full range of cooking appliances.
It is a good idea to research the facilities in advance.

Shared Space

Another unique feature of a share house is the abundance of shared spaces.
In share houses with a large number of residents, some properties have a large sofa in the living room so that all residents can relax, a lounge where residents can interact with each other, and a theater room where residents can relax and watch movies.
In addition, in response to the recent increase in remote work, some locations have also set up co-working spaces.

Administrator

Another reassuring thing about living in a shared house is that there is a manager on-site and a management company that comes around regularly.
The responsibility for managing shared spaces lies with the manager or management company.
For example, if you have problems such as a broken washing machine or water leaking, you can ask the manager or management company to handle it.
If you live alone, you will need to contact a real estate company or contractor if necessary and be present when repairs are made.
Living in a shared house eliminates these burdens.
Also, if serious trouble occurs between residents of a shared house, the manager or management company can intervene.

A new type of share house

As share houses become more popular, new types of share houses are emerging.

With bathroom and toilet

First, we will introduce properties with bathrooms and toilets.
As share houses grow in popularity, more and more people are saying things like, "Share houses seem interesting, but I want to have some privacy," or "I'm worried about sharing a bathroom with other people," and so the number of properties with bathrooms is starting to increase.

Kitchen included

In response to comments such as, "I don't like eating alone when there are other people in the shared spaces," or "I'd like to be able to make drinks and instant noodles in my own room," the number of shared houses with rooms equipped with mini-kitchens is on the rise.
Some properties even come with a bathroom, toilet, and mini-kitchen, making them almost the same as an apartment for one person.

Large room

More and more people are looking for more comfortable spaces, and there are more and more shared houses with private rooms over 10 tatami mats in size. As the floor space increases, the rent also increases, but they still seem to be popular.

Who is suitable for a share house?

So far, we have looked at the characteristics of a shared house and the differences between living in a shared house and living alone.
So, what kind of people are suited to living in a share house?

People who enjoy interacting with others

First of all, they are people who can enjoy interacting with others.
The most distinctive feature of a share house is that the living room, kitchen, etc. are shared.
By spending time together in shared spaces and interacting with other residents, a new world will open up to you.

People who like to do things together

People who enjoy doing things together might also be suited to living in a shared house.
For example, if you are someone who enjoys events that come with communal living, such as birthday parties for residents or welcome parties, you will have a great time in a shared house.

Enjoy a comfortable new life in a private shared house!

So far, we have looked at the features of private room-type share houses, how they differ from living alone, and what type of people they are suitable for.
Private room-type share houses, where residents can enjoy interacting with other residents while maintaining their privacy, are likely to become even more popular in the future.
Cross House Co., Ltd. operates a number of share houses, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
If you are interested in a share house, please feel free to contact us.