What exactly is key money?
Reikin, which is a kind of "gift" money to the landlord, is usually equivalent to one (1) month's rent and is non-refundable.
Shikikin is a large deposit equivalent to anywhere from two (2) month's rent and up and is refundable to a small percentage.
If I rent an apartment from Apollo Properties, do I need to pay "Key Money"?
All of Apollo Properties' fully furnished rooms and apartments do not require any sort of Key Money or hidden fees. However for non-furnished apartments there are property owners who require some amounts of key money. There are also many places that do not require any key money.
Is a security/damage deposit required?
Yes. For fully furnished apartments a refundable security/damage deposit is required and is equivalent to one month's rent. 10,000 yen of the deposit is non-refundable.
To whom do I pay the security deposit? What other formalities should I expect?
The security deposit is the equivalent of one months' rent and is payable in cash in Japanese yen to an Apollo Properties staff member who will meet you and sign your rental agreement with you on the day you arrive. He or she will answer any questions you may have regarding the rental agreement and explain all aspects of the apartments from how to use the washing machine, turn on the stove, to how to replace light bulbs etc.
Do I need to send a "Holding Deposit" in order to reserve the apartment for my arrival date?
Yes, you will be required to send a "Holding Deposit" equivalent to half a months' rent of the apartment you wish to reserve. Without a holding deposit we can not guarantee that the apartment will still be available for your arrival date. We understand that some people are reluctant to send money to reserve an apartment sight unseen and you are more than welcome to ask us to try to hold it for your arrival, and we will, but it can not be guaranteed.
How can I pay the "Holding Deposit"?
We will send you a PayPal invoice for the holding deposit amount and you can easily pay this invoice using any credit card without having a PayPal account. Alternatively you can pay the amount by sending the amount by bank transfer to Apollo Properties' bank account, however please note that bank transfer charges will apply from both your home country as well as the Japanese banking system. Upon signing of the rental agreement this "Holding Deposit" will become part of your security deposit.
If I send a "Holding Deposit" then later cancel my reservation, will I lose the "Holding Deposit"?
Yes, Unfortunately, as we will have cancelled all advertising and any viewings of the property you have reserved and will therefore have lost any other opportunity to rent the apartment so the "Holding Deposit" will be forfeited as compensation for this loss.
Do I need a guarantor?
No. For fully furnished apartments a guarantor is not required; however, proof of proper visa status is required. Also, we need to know the name of your employer or school. For non-furnished properties there are many property owners that require a guarantor and many that do not so it really depends on the property in question.