• About share house

If you're looking for a cheap place to live, why is a share house recommended? We'll also introduce the average rent

Last Modified:2024.10.31

When considering moving, you may be concerned about how much rent will cost. If you are looking to move cheaply, we recommend a shared house. In this article, we will explain why shared houses are recommended, as well as the average rent.

Index

[view]

Share houses are good value for money! Why?

Share houses are good value for money. There are four reasons for this:

  • Utility bills and internet fees are included in the rent and common area fees.
  • Reduces the cost of consumables and food
  • Better facilities than rented properties
  • Initial costs are low


  • I will explain the reasons for each.

    Utility bills and internet fees are included in the rent and common area fees.

    One of the reasons for the good cost performance is that utility bills and internet fees are included in the rent and utility fees.
    If you live alone, electricity, water, and internet bills will cost around 15,000 yen per month.

    However, in a shared house, these costs are included in the monthly rent, so they will not increase no matter how much you use them.
    Another nice feature is that the amount is fixed each month, making it easy to keep track of your spending.

    Reduces the cost of consumables and food

    In a share house, the living room, dining room, kitchen, toilet, bathroom, etc. are shared spaces.
    Therefore, since the management company provides consumables such as tissues, toilet paper, and dishwashing detergent used by residents, it is possible to keep costs for consumables down.

    Also, since people can use the spacious kitchens, many people naturally cook their own meals.
    This will reduce your food expenses by eating out and buying ready-made meals less often.

    Better facilities than rented properties

    Many shared houses tend to have better facilities than rental properties for single people.
    There is no need to purchase refrigerators, washing machines, or other equipment as they are available in the shared space.

    Share houses with slightly higher rents can offer a more comfortable life, with amenities such as gyms, soundproof rooms, vegetable gardens, and high-end appliances.

    Initial costs are low

    Share houses generally do not require a deposit or key money.
    Instead, you will be required to pay a security deposit which can be used if unforeseen circumstances arise, but the average cost is around 10,000 to 50,000 yen, which is much cheaper than the deposit and key money.

    Since there is no need to purchase furniture or appliances, a major attraction of a shared house is that it allows you to save a lot on moving expenses compared to moving into a rental property.

    Share house rent average

    Just like with rental properties, rent for a shared house varies greatly depending on the area and size of the room.
    Let's take a look at the average rent for a shared house in the following two cases.

  • Average rent by area
  • Rent rates by room type


  • We will explain the average rent for each property.

    Average rent by area

    The average rent for a shared house by region varies, with the highest rates being in the Kanto area, where rents tend to be in the 50,000 yen range, but even in urban areas like Tokyo, the cheapest places can be below 30,000 yen.
    The average rent for a rental property for one person in Tokyo is around 68,000 yen.

    These are just average rent prices, so depending on the area there are some share houses that are more expensive than the average.
    More expensive share houses have various features such as excellent facilities and high convenience, so it is a good idea to compare multiple share houses before making a decision.

    Rent rates by room type

    There are a variety of room types available in shared houses, but in the Kanto area, most shared houses with private rooms are in the 50,000 yen range.
    In some "dormitory-type" shared houses, where the only private space you have is your bed, you can live for around 20,000 to 30,000 yen.

    If you don't need much private space and want to keep costs as low as possible, we recommend a dormitory-style shared house.

    However, you will need to be careful with your valuables and luggage.

    Beware of share houses that are too cheap! Here's why

    Living in a shared house with low rent has the advantage of saving on living expenses, moving, and initial costs.
    In addition, you will also have more financial freedom as you will be able to reduce the cost of consumables and food.

    However, be careful not to move to a share house that is too cheap just to keep costs down.
    Why do you need to be careful about share houses that are too cheap? There are four reasons below.

  • Often poorly managed
  • There are many problems with noise and theft
  • Common areas are dirty
  • No private space


  • I will explain the reasons for each.

    Often poorly managed

    If the property is not well-managed, you cannot live there with peace of mind. Low rent means that they cannot afford management fees.

    There is a possibility that the place is lawless due to poor cleaning or lack of strict shared house rules.

    There are many problems with noise and theft

    You must go through an examination to move into a shared house.

    However, in the case of low-cost shared houses, there are some that do not require tenant screening.
    Such shared houses tend to attract people with some issues, and there are many where problems such as noise and theft occur.

    There is a possibility that your life itself may be threatened, such as your belongings going missing or your pet making noise in the middle of the night, preventing you from sleeping peacefully.

    Common areas are dirty

    In cheap shared houses, cleaning companies may not be allowed into the common areas, so they are often always dirty.
    If common areas like the kitchen or bathroom are dirty, you won't want to use them.

    It is a good idea to visit the share house before moving in and judge whether it is well-maintained by the condition of the common areas.

    No private space

    Cheap shared houses tend to be dormitory-style with no private rooms.
    A dormitory-style shared house has multiple bunk beds in one room, and your only personal space is basically your bed.

    You'll have to be careful about managing your luggage and valuables, and you may feel suffocated if there's no space to relax.

    summary

    Share houses offer better cost performance than rental properties, so they are recommended for those who are looking to move on a budget. However, you should be careful when moving to a share house that is too cheap.
    As mentioned earlier, there may be some problems, such as frequent malfunctions or poor management.

    Some people may feel cramped in a shared house where they cannot secure private space.

    When looking for a shared house, we recommend that you not only look at the cost but also carefully observe the actual environment and people who live there to consider whether it is right for you.