Land Ministry To Help Elderly, Foreigners Find Rental Housing

One of the most challenging things for a foreigner when coming to Japan, especially for those who do not receive support from their employer, is to find an apartment. Foreigners are perceived as high-risk, high-maintenance, and unruly tenants. The climate has vastly improved in the past 5 years, with increasing numbers of landlords accepting such 'non-standard' tenants such as foreigners or unmarried couples. There has also been a boom in 'monthly mansions', or short-term rentals without key money.

The Nikkei now reports that the government is to help seniors, disabled people and foreigners find rental housing, by creating a database on rental housing properties that do not discriminate against applicants, and disclosing the data via the Internet.
I think many larger firms will take advantage of this channel, but many individual landlords are probably going to stick with the 'no foreigner' policy.

Full Story - Nikkei: Land Ministry To Help Elderly, Foreigners Find Rental Housing

Japan Real Estate / Property Investment Blog