(1) Deposit Money
The deposit is paid to the landlord as security for any failure to pay the rent and so on. This is refunded when a tenant leaves the house, unless there is any previous neglect in paying the rent or damage to the room. The amount of money is equivalent to about 1 or 2 months' rent.

(2) Public Amenities Charges
The public amenities charge is sometimes included in the rent. If not, it covers the electricity and water supply charges for areas in common use such as electric, water sewer, garbage and cleaning charges.

(3) Key Money (non-refundable)
Those renting a room in Japan generally pays a certain amount of money to the landlord as a gratuity. The amount of money is equivalent to about 2 months' rent.

(4) Real Estate Agent's Fee
The fee is paid to the real estate agents as a brokerage fee. The amount of money is equivalent to about 1 months' rent. If privately-funded international students sign a contract to rent an apartment introduced by the Hiroshima University Co-op, you will not need to pay a real estate agent fee.

STEP 1: Go to International Student Exchange Group to pick up the necessary documents.

(Office hours for the International Student Exchange Group are from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday thorough Friday)

* If you are an international student on the Kasumi Campus or Higashi-Senda Campus, please go to the international student section of your Faculty, not the International Student Exchange Group.

In Japan, a guarantor is usually required when you sign a tenancy contract for an apartment. Hiroshima University provides international students with an institutional guarantee called an "Apartment Tenancy Guarantee Certificate" under the condition that students join the "Fire Insurance" and "General Liability Insurance" provided by Hiroshima University Co-op, or other equivalent insurances. Please ask International Student Exchange Group for more information.

STEP 2: Go to the Hiroshima University Co-op or a real estate agency to look for an apartment

Should an "Apartment Tenancy Guarantee Certificate" be necessary, please come to International Student Exchange Group to get the related documents before you go to the Co-op shop or real estate agent.

When looking for an apartment, we recommend that either your guarantor, your Japanese friends, or your tutor accompany you as the number of international students who have problems or trouble with landlords or real estate agencies when they leave Japan is increasing.

(1) Tenancy contracts are effective for 2 years.

If you only want to rent your room for a few months or one year, you must inform the real estate agency in advance. Should you vacate your room before the contract period is up, you will be subject to penalties. It's common to pay penalties equivalent to one months' rent when you vacate after less than one year.

(2) No more than two persons are allowed to occupy 1K rooms (a room plus a kitchen).

If you want to live with your family or friends, you should discuss your option with the University Co-op or real estate agent in advance.

(1) When your friends stay overnight in your room, you must get permission from your landlord in advance.

Please be considerate of your neighbors and keep the noise level down when you have your friends over.

(2) Wearing shoes indoors is not polite in Japan.

Be sure to keep your room and your kitchen clean, especially after cooking oily foods, such as fried food.

(3) Garbage Collection

Municipalities will collect household garbage at a specified location on a specified day. Garbage must be separated into several categories such as burnable, recycleable, and unburnable garbage, etc. There are slight differences the in rules among municipalities, so please ask your landlord, caretaker, or neighbors.

(1) Tell your landlord one month before you ove out of your room.

Moving out without giving prior notice to th elandlord may result in penality charges.

(2) When moving out, leave the room exactly as you found it when you moved in.

Do not leave your personal belongings such as furniture, bedding, dishes, bicycle or motorbike behind. Be sure to properly dispose of them before moving out.