The pros and cons of moving your residence to a share house
Many people wonder whether they should transfer their residence card when they move to a share house, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to doing so. It is important to make the right decision based on your own situation.
Benefits of moving your residence to a share house
1. Public services can be received smoothly
By transferring your residence registration, you will be able to more easily take advantage of government services such as health checkups, medical assistance, childcare support, and various subsidies provided by your local government.
2. You can change the address on your driver's license or bank account
It will allow you to smoothly change the address on your driver's license, bank account, and credit card, and will also make it easier to use as official identification.
3. Tax-related procedures become easier
Tax procedures such as resident tax and health insurance can be completed in the local government where you actually live, ensuring that you receive tax notices.
4. Ensures receipt of mail and important documents
If your residence card and current address match, you can be sure to receive notices and tax-related documents from your local government, and reduce the risk of overlooking important procedures.
Disadvantages of moving your residence to a share house
1. The process is complicated for short-term stays
If you are living in a share house for only a short period of time, such as a few months, the procedure for transferring your residence registration can be complicated, and you will need to go through the process again when you move again.
2. Dependent deductions and social insurance may be affected
By changing your residence registration, you may no longer be considered a dependent of your parents, and your self-payment for resident tax and health insurance may increase. Students and part-time workers should be especially careful.
3. Differences in resident taxes by municipality
Since resident taxes vary by municipality, your tax burden may increase when you move your residence registration. It is important to check the amount of resident tax in your new location in advance.
4. The management company of the share house may not approve the registration of residence certificate.
Some share houses do not allow residents to register their residence cards, so you should check with the management company in advance.
Should I transfer my residence card to my shared house?
Many people wonder, "Do I have to move my residence card?" when living in a share house. We will explain in detail the legal obligations, the risks of not moving, and the exceptions where you do not have to move your residence card.
Is it a legal obligation to transfer your residence card?
<Obligation to transfer residence certificate and its basis>
Under Japanese law, the Basic Resident Registration Act requires that you transfer your residence certificate to a new address within 14 days of moving. This is a necessary procedure for local governments to properly manage resident information and provide administrative services.
<Risks of not transferring your residence certificate (penalties and impact on administrative procedures)>
If you do not transfer your residence registration properly, you may face the following risks:
- Possible penalties: If you do not transfer your residence registration without a valid reason, you may be subject to a fine of up to 50,000 yen.
- Impact on administrative procedures: You may be unable to receive local government subsidies and resident services.
- Tax and social insurance issues: Resident taxes may not be collected properly and health insurance renewals may be delayed.
- Delays in receiving official documents: You may not receive driver's license renewal notices or notifications related to your My Number, which puts you at risk of missing out on important procedures.
Cases where you do not need to transfer your residence certificate
In the following situations, it may not be a problem if you do not transfer your residence registration.
<If your residence card is registered at your parents' home>
merit
- By keeping your residence registration at your parents' home, there will be no changes to your taxes or insurance premiums.
- If you are dependent on your parents, you often do not need to change your residence registration.
Disadvantages
- Since your actual place of residence is different from the address on your resident registration card, there is a possibility that you will not receive notifications from the local government office.
- I can't change the address on my driver's license or bank account.
<When using as a second home>
If you are using a shared house as a temporary residence, there are cases where it is not a problem if you do not transfer your residence registration.
- If your family home or another residence serves as your primary residence
- If you are using a share house only on weekends due to work or school
In this case, there is no administrative problem if you leave your residence registration at your original address.
<If you are staying for a short period of time>
If you are staying for a short period of time, such as a few months, you will likely not need to transfer your residence registration.
- Stays of less than 3 months: Generally, if your stay is for a short period of time, there is no strict requirement to transfer your residence certificate.
- If you have decided to change jobs or be transferred to a new location and are planning to move soon
However, in order to make administrative procedures smoother, there are cases where it may be more beneficial to transfer your residence registration. Make the appropriate decision based on your lifestyle.
Procedure for transferring residence certificate
When moving to a share house, you can use government services smoothly by transferring your residence registration appropriately. The procedure for transferring your residence registration is divided into two cases: "moving within the same city/ward/town/village" and "moving to a different city/ward/town/village," and the required procedures are different for each.
When moving to a share house within the same city, town, or village
<How to submit a change of address notification>
- Submit a "change of address notification" to the city hall of the city or town where you currently live.
- This procedure must be completed within 14 days of moving.
- A moving-out certificate is not required, but you may be asked to provide proof of your new address.
<Required documents>
- Identification document (driver's license, My Number card, passport, etc.)
- My Number card or notification card
- Proof of new address (rental contract, utility bill, etc.)
The documents required may vary depending on the government office, so be sure to check in advance.
If you move to another city, town, or village
<Submitting a moving out notification and a moving in notification>
- Before moving, submit a "moving out notification" and obtain a moving out certificate.
- Submit a "change of address notification" at your new city, town or village office.
- You can submit a moving out notification up to two weeks before you move. Moving in notification must be submitted within 14 days of moving.
<Obtaining a moving-out certificate>
- Once you submit your moving out notification, the local government office will issue you a "moving out certificate."
- The moving out certificate must be submitted when filing your moving in notification to your new city, town or village.
<Items you need to bring when submitting your change of address notification>
- Moving-out certificate (obtained from the city hall of your previous address)
- Identification document (driver's license, My Number card, passport, etc.)
- My Number card or notification card
- Proof of new address (rental contract, utility bill, etc.)
The procedures may vary depending on the city, town, or village, so to ensure a smooth process, it is a good idea to check the website of the city hall where you are moving out of and moving into in advance.
Q&A regarding residence registration at a share house
We will explain some points that many people have questions about when registering their residence card when living in a share house. We will take a closer look at how to write down the head of the household, how to handle room numbers, and the impact of not transferring your residence card.
Who will be the head of the household in a shared house?
<Case of registering the head of household individually>
When living in a shared house, the question of how to fill in the "head of household" item when registering your residence card becomes an issue. Generally, it is common to register one person as one household.
Example of Head of Household:
- If there is a private room: In most cases the resident will be the "head of household."
- In the case of a dormitory type apartment: This varies depending on the municipal office, but in some cases the manager of the share house (the representative of the operating company) will be registered as the head of the household.
<Difference between room sharing and a share house>
In the case of room sharing, multiple people are signing a lease for one residence, so in some cases they are registered as one household. On the other hand, in the case of a shared house, people often sign a lease individually, so it is common to register separate households.
If you would like to know more about the difference between room sharing and a share house, please read this article.
Do I need to write my room number on my residence card?
Whether or not you should write your room number in the address registered on your resident card depends on the type of share house.
<Difference between dormitory type and private room type>
Dormitory type (shared room)
- Depending on government office rules, it may not be possible to include the room number.
- Some local governments recommend registering only the address of the share house and omitting the room number.
<Private room type>
- If there are individual rooms, it is common to write the room number.
- We recommend including your room number as this will ensure the accuracy of your address when delivering mail or completing administrative procedures.
However, rules vary by municipality, so it's best to check with the local government office where you will register your residence in advance.
What happens if I don't transfer my residence card?
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
Transferring your residence registration is required by law, and if you do not do so without a valid reason, you may be subject to a "fine of not more than 50,000 yen" (Basic Resident Register Act, Article 52).
However, penalties are rarely applied, and it is often a problem when a company remains unregistered for a long period of time.
<Disadvantages of official procedures>
If you do not transfer your residence registration, you may experience the following inconveniences:
- Unable to renew driver's license/My Number card: A mismatched address can complicate the process.
- Resident tax and health insurance procedures will be delayed: Resident tax will be levied in the local government of your previous address, making administrative procedures more complicated.
- Non-delivery of mail and delays in important notices: Notices from government offices and tax-related documents may be sent to your old address, meaning you risk missing out on important information.
- Not being able to receive various subsidies and government services: Government services that are only available in the municipality where you are registered as a resident (such as medical assistance, childcare support, and subsidy systems) may not be available.
Is it possible to transfer my residence registration at Cross House?
At Cross House share houses, you can register your residence card as your official address. This allows you to smoothly complete the necessary procedures, such as using various government services and changing the address on your driver's license and bank account.
We have a wide selection of properties in popular areas including Tokyo, allowing you to live comfortably while keeping rent low. They are available for both short and long term stays, and compared to other share houses, they have a flexible resident registration system.
Please check the official website for information on Cross House properties and detailed procedures. If you have any questions about transferring your residence certificate, please feel free to contact us.
Things to note when transferring your residence card to a shared house
By transferring your residence registration when moving into a share house, you can easily receive government services, but there are some things to be aware of. In particular, it is important to check in advance about the impact on housing allowances and dependent support, how to handle short-term occupancy, and the management company's policies.
Impact on housing allowance and dependents
Transferring your residence registration may change the conditions for taxes and social insurance benefits.
1. It may affect the eligibility of housing allowances
If you are receiving a housing allowance as part of your company's employee benefits, you may not be eligible for the allowance if your registered address does not meet the company's regulations.
When applying for housing allowance, be sure to check with your employer's human resources department to see if changes to your residence registration will affect your benefits.
2. Possibility of being removed from parental support
In the case of students or part-time workers, there are cases where transferring their residence registration means they no longer meet the conditions for claiming as a dependent on their parents.
Changing your address on your resident registration may affect your tax and health insurance dependent requirements, so we recommend checking with your tax office or insurance association in advance.
Support for short-term occupancy
If you are using a shared house as a temporary residence, it may not be necessary to move your residence registration.
1. Do I need to transfer my residence registration if I am staying for a short period of time?
- If the period is less than three months, there are usually no major issues if you do not transfer your residence registration.
- However, if you need to change the address on your driver's license or bank account, it is more convenient to transfer your residence registration.
2. Risks of not transferring your residence certificate
- There may be impacts on taxes and official procedures, so if you plan to live there long-term, it would be safer to move.
- Depending on the judgment of the local government office, not transferring your residence registration may be considered an issue, so you need to be careful.
summary
While there is a legal requirement to transfer your residence card when living in a share house, there are exceptions for short-term stays or when using the house as a second home. By transferring your residence card, you can use government services and go through official procedures more smoothly, allowing you to live a more secure life. However, you must also consider the disadvantages, such as the impact on housing allowances and dependent support, and the complicated procedures.
Also, some share house management companies may not allow you to register your residence, so you should check beforehand. Consider your lifestyle and length of residence and decide whether transferring your residence is the best option.
In this article, we have explained in detail the advantages and disadvantages of transferring your residence certificate, as well as the procedure for doing so. For more detailed information, please check out our website .
