Many people wonder whether they should change their registered address when moving into a shared house. While there is a legal obligation to change your registered address, there are also situations where it is not necessary. Changing your registered address makes it easier to access various administrative services and is helpful for changing the address on your driver's license and registering bank accounts. On the other hand, neglecting to change your registered address may result in the risk of not receiving tax and insurance notices, which can cause inconvenience. This article will explain in detail the legal rules regarding registered address in shared houses, cases where it is necessary to change it, the procedures, and the risks of not changing it. If you are considering moving into a shared house, please refer to this article.
Advantages and disadvantages of moving your residency registration to a shared house.
Many people wonder whether they should change their residency registration when moving into a shared house, but there are both advantages and disadvantages to changing your residency registration. It's important to make the right decision based on your own circumstances.
Benefits of moving your residency registration to a shared house
1. Access to public services smoothly.
By changing your registered address, you can more easily access administrative services such as health checkups, medical assistance, childcare support, and various subsidies provided by the local government.
2. You can change the address on your driver's license and bank account.
It makes changing the address on your driver's license, bank account, and credit card much easier, and also makes them more readily usable as official forms of identification.
3. Tax-related procedures will become simpler.
Because tax procedures such as resident tax and health insurance can be handled by the local government where you actually reside, you can be sure to receive your tax notices.
4. Ensuring reliable delivery of mail and important documents.
Having your registered address and current address match ensures that you receive notifications from your local government and tax-related documents reliably, reducing the risk of overlooking important procedures.
Disadvantages of moving your residency registration to a shared house
1. The procedures are troublesome for short-term stays.
If you only live in a shared house for a short period, such as a few months, the process of changing your residency registration is complicated, and you will need to go through the process again when you move next time.
2. This may affect dependent deductions and social insurance.
Moving your registered address may mean you are no longer considered a dependent of your parents, which could increase your out-of-pocket expenses for resident tax and health insurance. Students and part-time workers, in particular, should be aware of this.
3. Differences in resident taxes by municipality
Since resident taxes vary from municipality to municipality, moving your residence registration may increase your tax burden. It is important to check the amount of resident tax in your new place of residence beforehand.
4. In some cases, the management company of the shared house may not allow the registration of residents.
Some shared houses do not allow residents to register their residency, so you should check with the management company in advance.
Should I change my residency registration when moving into a shared house?
Many people wonder, "Do I need to change my residency registration?" when moving into a shared house. This article explains in detail the legal obligations, the risks of not changing your residency registration, and the exceptions where you don't need to change your residency registration.
Is changing my registered address a legal obligation?
<The obligation to change your residence registration and its basis>
Japanese law, specifically the Basic Resident Register Act, mandates that residents transfer their resident registration within 14 days of moving to a new address. This is a necessary procedure for local governments to properly manage residents' information and provide administrative services.
<Risks of not changing your residency registration (penalties and impact on administrative procedures)>
Failure to properly update your residency registration may result in the following risks:
- Possible penalties: Failure to change your registered address without a valid reason may result in a fine of up to 50,000 yen.
- Impact on administrative procedures: You may lose access to local government subsidies and resident services.
- Tax and social insurance problems: There is a possibility that resident tax may not be properly assessed, or that health insurance renewal may be delayed.
- Delays in receiving official documents: You may not receive renewal notices for your driver's license or notifications related to your My Number (social security number), which increases the risk of missing important procedures.
Cases where you don't need to change your residence registration.
In the following situations, it may not be a problem if you do not change your registered address.
<If your registered address is at your parents' home>
merit
- Leaving your residency registration at your parents' home prevents changes to your taxes and insurance premiums.
- If you are dependent on your parents, you often don't need to change your registered address.
Disadvantages
- Because your actual place of residence differs from the address on your resident registration, you may not receive notifications from the government office.
- I can't change the address on my driver's license or bank account.
<When using as a second home>
In some cases, if you use a shared house as temporary housing, it may not be a problem even if you don't change your registered address.
- If your parents' home or another residence functions as your primary place of residence.
- If you use a shared house only on weekends due to work or school commitments
In this case, there are no administrative issues with leaving your resident registration at your original address.
<For short-term stays>
For short-term stays of a few months, it is often not necessary to change your residency registration.
- Stays of less than 3 months: Generally, for short-term stays, the obligation to change your residency registration is not strictly enforced.
- If you have decided to change jobs or be transferred and are planning to move soon
However, in some cases, changing your registered address may be more advantageous for streamlining administrative procedures. Make an appropriate decision based on your lifestyle.
Search for a room
Only furnished properties with appliances are listed!
Procedure for changing your residence registration
When moving into a shared house, properly transferring your residency registration will allow you to use administrative services smoothly. The procedure for transferring your residency registration is divided into two categories: "moving within the same city or town" and "moving to a different city or town," and the necessary procedures differ for each.

When moving to a shared house within the same city or town
<How to submit a change of address notification>
- You will need to submit a "change of address notification" to the local government office of the city or town where you currently live.
- You need to complete the procedure within 14 days of moving.
- A transfer certificate is not required, but you may be asked to provide documents proving your new address.
<Required Documents>
- Identity verification documents (driver's license, My Number card, passport, etc.)
- My Number Card or Notification Card
- Documents proving your new address (such as a rental agreement or utility bills)
Since the required documents may vary depending on the government office, be sure to check in advance.
When moving to a different city or town
<Submission of moving-out notification and moving-in notification>
- Before moving, submit a "Notification of Moving Out" and obtain a Certificate of Moving Out.
- You submit a "change of address notification" at the new city/ward/town/village office.
- You can submit your moving-out notification up to two weeks before you move. You must complete the moving-in notification within 14 days of moving.
<Obtaining a Certificate of Transfer of Residence>
- When you submit a moving-out notification, the local government office will issue you a "moving-out certificate."
- A certificate of relocation is required when submitting a change of address notification in your new city or town.
<Items required when submitting a change of address notification>
- Certificate of relocation (obtained from the local government office of your previous address)
- Identity verification documents (driver's license, My Number card, passport, etc.)
- My Number Card or Notification Card
- Documents proving your new address (rental agreement, utility bills, etc.)
Since the procedures may differ depending on the municipality, checking the websites of the local government offices in both your current and new areas beforehand will help ensure a smooth process.
Q&A regarding resident registration in a shared house
This article explains common questions regarding resident registration when living in a shared house. We'll take a detailed look at how to list the head of household, how room numbers are handled, and the consequences of not changing your resident registration.
Who will be the head of the household in the shared house?
<Cases where the head of household is registered individually>
In shared housing, a key issue is how to fill out the "head of household" section when registering your residency. Generally, it's common practice to register each person as a separate household.
Example of how to fill out the form for the head of household:
- If there is a private room: In most cases, the resident themselves becomes the "head of household."
- In the case of dormitory-style accommodations: While it varies by local government, in some cases the manager of the share house (the representative of the operating company) is registered as the head of the household.
<The difference between room sharing and shared housing>
In the case of room sharing, since multiple people are contracting for one residence, they may be registered as one household on the resident register. On the other hand, in the case of share houses, contracts are often made individually, so it is common to register them as separate households.
If you'd like to learn more about the differences between room sharing and shared housing, please see this article.
Do I need to include my room number on my resident registration?
Whether or not you should include your "room number" in your registered address on your resident registration depends on the type of shared house you live in.
<Differences between dormitory-style and private room-style accommodations>
Dormitory type (shared room)
- Depending on the rules of the local government office, it may not be possible to include the room number.
- Some municipalities recommend registering only the address of the shared house and omitting the room number.
<Private Room Type>
- If there are individual rooms, it is common practice to list the room number.
- Including your room number is recommended to ensure the accuracy of your address when delivering mail or processing administrative procedures.
However, since the rules vary from municipality to municipality, it's best to check with the local government office where you will be registering your residency beforehand.
What happens if I don't change my registered address?
<Possible penalties>
Changing your registered address is legally required, and failure to do so without a valid reason may result in a fine of up to 50,000 yen (Article 52 of the Basic Resident Register Act).
However, penalties are rarely applied, and the issue is usually raised when a vehicle remains unregistered for an extended period.
<Disadvantages of public procedures>
Failure to change your registered address may result in the following inconveniences:
- Unable to renew your driver's license or My Number card: If your address doesn't match, the procedure may become complicated.
- Procedures for resident tax and health insurance may be delayed: Resident tax is levied by the municipality of your previous address, making administrative procedures complicated.
- Mail undeliverable and important notices delayed: Official notices and tax-related documents may be sent to your old address, increasing the risk of missing important information.
- Inability to receive various subsidies and administrative services: Administrative services (such as medical assistance, childcare support, and subsidy programs) that are only available in the municipality where you are registered as a resident may not be applicable.
Is it possible to change my registered address at Cross House?
At Cross House's shared houses, you can register your address as your official residence. This allows you to smoothly handle necessary procedures such as using various government services and changing the address on your driver's license and bank account.
We offer properties in popular areas, including Tokyo, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable life while keeping rent costs down. Available for both short-term and long-term stays, our unique feature compared to other share houses is the flexible residency registration process.
For information on Cross House properties and detailed procedures, please check our official website. If you have any questions regarding changing your registered address, please feel free to contact us.
Search for a room
Only furnished properties with appliances are listed!
Points to note when changing your residency registration when moving into a shared house
Moving into a shared house and changing your registered address can make it easier to access government services, but there are a few things to keep in mind. In particular, it is important to check in advance the impact on housing allowances and dependents, how short-term stays are handled, and the policies of the management company.
Impact on housing allowances and dependents
Changing your registered address may alter the conditions for tax and social insurance benefits.
1. Potential impact on eligibility for housing allowance
If you receive a housing allowance as part of your company's employee benefits, you may be ineligible for the allowance if the address on your resident registration does not match the company's regulations.
When applying for a housing allowance, be sure to check with your employer's HR department to see if a change in your registered address will affect it.
2. The possibility of being removed from parental dependency.
For students and part-time workers, changing their registered address may cause them to no longer meet the requirements for their parents' dependent deduction.
Since changing your registered address may affect your tax and health insurance dependency requirements, it is recommended that you check with the tax office and your health insurance association beforehand.
Handling of short-term stays
When using a shared house as temporary accommodation, it may not always be necessary to change your registered address.
1. Is it okay not to change my residency registration if I'm only staying for a short period?
- For short periods of less than three months, not changing your residency registration is often not a major problem.
- However, if you need to change the address on your driver's license or bank account, it's more convenient to transfer your resident registration.
2. Risks of not changing your residence registration
- Moving is safer if you plan to live there long-term, as it could affect taxes and official procedures.
- Depending on the local government's judgment, not having your residency registration updated may be considered a problem, so caution is advised.
summary
While there is a legal obligation to change your registered address when living in a shared house, there are exceptions for short-term stays or when using it as a second home. Changing your registered address can streamline access to administrative services and official procedures, leading to a more secure life. However, you should also consider the potential downsides, such as the impact on housing allowances and dependents, and the complexity of the procedures involved.
Also, some share house management companies may not allow you to register your residency, so it's necessary to check in advance. Consider your lifestyle and length of stay to determine if changing your residency registration is the best option.
This article provided a detailed explanation of the advantages, disadvantages, and procedures involved in changing your registered address. For more detailed information, please check
our website .