How to choose a share house you won't regret! 5 things to keep in mind!

[By type] How to choose a share house

1. Community-focused

• The shared spaces are extensive, encouraging lively interaction between residents.
• Joint events and dinner parties are held regularly
• There are also share houses where you can have international and business exchanges.

• People who want to make more friends
• Someone who likes to talk to people
• People who want to enjoy the unique interactions of a share house

• Privacy can be difficult to ensure
• Not suitable for those who want a quiet stay

2. Private-minded

• Many of the properties are completely private and come with locks to ensure privacy.
• Interaction between residents is kept to a minimum, allowing for a quiet environment.
• The rules for using the shared spaces are clear and there are few problems.

• People who want to concentrate on work or study
• People who are interested in communal living but want to maintain a reasonable distance
• People who want to live in a quiet environment

• Because there is little interaction between residents, it can be difficult to feel the benefits of living in a share house.
• Rent tends to be slightly higher than in a typical share house.

3. Cost-conscious

• Rent is relatively cheap, making it a low-cost place to live even in urban areas
• Many of the properties are shared rooms
• Utility fees and common area charges are often included, so there are few additional costs

• People who want to keep rent low
• People who want to live in a share house for a short period of time
• Students and freelancers who want to save on living expenses

• If you share a room, privacy can be difficult to achieve.
• The level of facilities and services varies greatly depending on the property.

Tips for choosing a share house

1. Rent and maintenance fees

• The ideal rule of thumb is to keep your rent to less than one-third of your monthly take-home pay.
• Even in the same area, rent for share houses varies greatly depending on the property
• Low-rent properties often have different facilities and management systems, so it is important to consider the balance.

• Common area fees often include utility fees and internet fees.
• Depending on the property, cleaning fees and equipment fees may be included in the common area fee.
• The amount of the common area fee varies depending on the property, so be sure to check the details before signing the contract.

• Will the total amount of rent and maintenance fees fit within your budget?
• Are utility bills and Wi-Fi fees included in the common area fee?
• Are there any additional costs (cleaning fees or management fees)?

2. Distance from station

• Ideally, a property within a 10-minute walk from the nearest station
• If the walk is longer than 15 minutes, daily travel can become a burden.
• Check if there are transport options (bus, bike, etc.)

• Are there any convenience stores or supermarkets nearby?
• Are there restaurants, cafes, gyms, and other amenities available?
• Are the streets well lit at night and are you able to return home safely?

• Simulate the distance from the nearest station and commuting time
• Are there any facilities necessary for daily life (supermarkets, convenience stores, etc.) nearby?
• Check the number of public transport services and the last train time

3. Facilities

• Kitchen: Availability of cooking utensils and home appliances (refrigerator, microwave, rice cooker, etc.)
• Bathrooms and showers: Are there enough of them? Are there any times when they tend to be crowded?
• Toilets and washrooms: Are there an appropriate number installed for the number of residents?
• Washing machines and dryers: free or paid, number available
• Wi-Fi environment: communication speed and connection stability

• Bed, desk, storage: Furnished or not
• Air conditioning/heating: Are they provided in the room?
• Windows and sunlight: Is there good ventilation and natural light?
• Soundproofing: Wall thickness and noise control from neighboring rooms

• The completeness of shared facilities (kitchen, bathroom, Wi-Fi, etc.)
• Are the rooms equipped with all the necessary facilities?
• Is there soundproofing and privacy?

4. The atmosphere of the residents

• For working adults: Many people lead a work-centered lifestyle
• For students: Often active until late at night
• International exchange type: Many foreign residents, allowing you to enjoy multicultural exchange
• Event-oriented: Residents have a lot of interaction with each other and many joint events.

• Average age and occupation of residents
• Frequency of interaction between residents (if you want a quiet environment, less interaction is better)
• Does your lifestyle (night owl, morning person, etc.) suit you?

• Resident attributes (working adults, students, international exchange students, etc.)
• Rules for communal living and resident etiquette
• The atmosphere and level of communication between residents

5. Management System of the Operating Company

• Cleaning frequency: Are common areas cleaned regularly?
• Equipment repair response: Are repairs prompt in the event of a breakdown?
• Trouble handling: Response policy in case of trouble between residents

• Quick response to inquiries from residents
• High resident satisfaction, good reviews and good reputation
• The rules are clear and the environment is set up for peace of mind.

• Frequency of cleaning and maintenance
• Rules for dealing with disputes between residents
• Reputation and reviews of the operating company

How to find a share house

1. Decide on your desired conditions

• Rent and maintenance fees: Set a monthly budget and decide what you can afford.
• Location: Consider the distance to the nearest station and the commute time
• Facilities: Check whether the property has Wi-Fi, air conditioning, furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, etc.
• Resident demographics: mainly students, for working adults, international exchange, etc.
• Management system of the operating company: Check cleaning frequency and whether or not they handle problems

• Keep rent, maintenance fees, and initial costs within your budget
• Consider the area you want to live in and the convenience of commuting to work or school
• Does the atmosphere and lifestyle of the residents suit you?

2. Search for properties online

• Use a portal site specializing in shared houses: e.g. "Hitsuji Real Estate," "SHARE PARADE," "Cross House," etc.
• Check the official website of the operating company: The official website may have properties that are not listed on the portal site.
• Use social media and message boards: Check the latest information on Twitter, Facebook, LINE open chat, etc.

• Check out the photos and floor plans to see if they meet your requirements.
• Check the details of common area fees and initial costs
• Check the reputation of the company by reading reviews and comments

3. Make an appointment to view the property

• Reservations made through the operating company's official website: Many operating companies accept reservations via web forms or email.
• Make a reservation by phone: In many cases, same-day availability is possible, making it easy to adjust your schedule.
• Inquire via LINE or social media: Recently, some operators have made it easy to make reservations via LINE.

• Check in advance whether a viewing is available on the date you want
• Contact the management company to see if the property is available
• Make a list of questions you want to ask during the viewing

4. View the property

• Kitchen: Is it kept clean? Rules for sharing cooking utensils and refrigerators
• Bathrooms and toilets: Are there enough for the number of residents?
• Living room: Size, facilities, and an atmosphere that makes it easy for residents to gather
• Washing machines and dryers: Free or paid? Rules for use

• Room size and storage space: Is there enough space to store your luggage?
• Wi-Fi connection status: Check speed and stability
• Soundproofing: Is it difficult to hear sounds from the next room?

• What kind of people live there? Would your lifestyle suit them?
• Is there active interaction between residents in the common areas?

• Ask the management company about the frequency and rules of maintenance
• Check whether equipment repairs are carried out promptly

• Does the photo match the actual atmosphere?
• Does the resident's lifestyle suit them?
• Is the management company polite?

5. Proceed with the contract procedure

1. Submit your application form (online or paper)
2. Subject to screening (a guarantor may be required)
3. Sign and stamp the contract (check the contract period and rules)
4. Pay the initial costs (rent, maintenance fees, deposit, key money, etc.)
5. Receive the keys and decide on your move-in date

• Contract period: Are short-term contracts available? Is there a minimum contract period?
• Rules for moving out: deadline for notice of termination and whether or not there is a penalty
• Rules for using shared facilities: Cleaning duties and rules for use

• Check the contract details carefully and ask any questions you have in advance
• Check if there are any additional costs (renewal fees, moving out fees)
• Ask the management company about how they handle disputes between residents

summary

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