How to choose a shared house and what to check

Rent, common service fee, etc.

Since this is a monthly payment, set a budget for the amount you can afford to continue paying before looking for a shared house.
When setting a budget, it is important to decide how much you are willing to spend over your budget, so that you can decide without hesitation when you come across a property that is just a little over your budget but that you really like. It would be regrettable to think that you could have rented it …." if it got filled while you were wondering what to do with it.
Also, be sure to check the details of common service fee in addition to rent. Common service fees often include electricity, gas, water, and Wi-Fi as well as cleaning and maintenance costs. However, it is not always included, so check to see if there are any separate charges. You may be charged separately for these lifeline costs, especially if the common-service fee is extremely low.

Initial cost

Shared houses do not require a security deposit or key money as with most rental properties, but a guarantee deposit is often required as a deposit.
In most cases, you will receive a refund minus cleaning and other costs when you move out, but it is a good idea to check whether these costs are flat, and in what cases you will be charged additional fees, etc.
In addition, fees such as administration fees, contract fees, brokerage fees, and renewal fees are handled differently depending on the property and the management company. It is also important to check how much the total initial cost will be.

Facilities and age of the property

Most shared houses are furnished with furniture and appliances, but they do not always have everything you want.
Not only furniture and appliances, but also cooking utensils, tableware, TV, and a clothes-drying stand are provided, and there are many properties where you can really move in "by yourself." On the other hand, there are some properties that have nothing in the room but a bed, or that do not provide a washing machine and require use of a coin-operated laundry in the neighborhood.
Also, if you use a bicycle for transportation, make sure there is a space for bicycle parking.
To accommodate the recent increase in remote work/classes, some properties have co-working spaces as common areas.

Older properties may have their own inconveniences for a lower rent.
If the property is too old, it is also important to check if it has been maintained and renovated.
In one of the properties I have lived in the past, a wooden apartment building about 40 years old that was used as a shared house, there was an incident in which the floor of the dormitory room next door fell out one day.

Location

Consider which is more important for you, easy access from the station or low rent, depending on your lifestyle.
What is in the vicinity is also important.
Quiet residential areas offer quiet living, but you may feel inconvenient in terms of shopping.
It is advisable to check the distance to supermarkets, convenience stores, drugstores, and other places to buy food and daily necessities.
No matter how convenient the location is, if there is a downtown area nearby, you will be a little concerned about noise and security.

Restrictions based on age and gender

Once you have narrowed down the list of properties you are interested in to a certain degree, you can go and see them at the preview. The following five points should be especially checked during the preview.

Existence and contents of house rules

Whether it is a private room or a dormitory room, a shared house is a space to live with others. House rules are often established to ensure that all residents feel comfortable.
The details vary from property to property, but the following are five common rules.

• Non-smoking or limited smoking areas
• No midnight use of common space
• Quiet from X:00 p.m. to X:00 a.m.
• Space allocation for refrigerators, etc.
• No friends visiting or staying overnight, etc.

In some properties, cleaning and trash removal may be on a duty basis.

Availability of privacy

Even if a room is labeled "private," it may actually be separated from the rest of the room by partitions or curtains.
Check to see if it is a "private room" that is properly roomed, and how much noise from the next room will be heard.
It is also advisable to check whether the private room has a key.
I lived in a room with a fusuma (sliding door) that was private but had no key.
In the case of dormitory rooms, check the maximum number of people in the room, whether there are curtains on the beds, and whether there is a place to keep valuables (lockers with locks, etc.).

Infection control measures

It is also a good idea to make sure that measures are in place to prevent infection with the COVID-19. The following are the five main infection control measures taken in shared houses.

• Ventilation in the building
• If visitors are present, obtain their names and contact information
• Installation of alcohol sanitizers, etc. in common areas and water supply areas
• Wearing a mask in common areas
• Confirmation of overseas travel history, etc. is also required at the time of previewing.

"Share-Suru!?" displays an "COVID-19 measures" icon for shared houses with infection control measures.
(The infection control measures are in accordance with Japan Shared House Organization's "Operational Guidelines for Responding to the Outbreak of the COVID-19." ）

Atmosphere of other tenants, properties and vicinity around the shared house

If you actually visit a shared house for a preview, you may meet other tenants in person.
Even if you cannot meet them, we recommend that you ask the person who will show you around what kind of people live there.
It is also important to actually see the property to get a feel for the sunlight, the layout, and the atmosphere around the property.

Response by the management company

Choose a management company that can demonstrate how it will respond in the event of problems or emergencies within the shared house.
Especially in a shared house, there is no limit to the number of troubles that can arise from the smallest of things.
Ask in advance where you should consult if you notice anything unusual in your life.
Some companies say, "Residents should resolve problems among themselves."
It is also a good idea to ask during the preview what problems they have had in the past and how they were resolved.

If the property states that a cleaning company will be involved in the cleaning, make sure to confirm the extent to which the company will take care of the cleaning.
This is one of the points where "different stories" are likely to occur after moving in.