Inspection Association (NPO) / Chairman, Organization for the Promotion of Distribution of Vacant Houses / Former Director, Japan Association of Lawyers for Arbitration ADR
Born in 1948 in Hiroshima Prefecture. In 2004, he founded the Japan Housing Performance Inspection Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving housing problems. He advises on contractual issues such as subleases, deposits and guarantees, and victim groups, and negotiates and discusses with relevant government agencies and related companies.
Q. The owner of the room I am occupying has changed to someone else due to a sale. The new owner has asked me to pay the security deposit since I did not receive one. I paid the deposit when I moved in. Do I have to pay it again?
A. No, you do not have to pay the deposit again.
In most cases, the amount of the deposit is considered part of the purchase price. Since the new landlord inherits the rights and obligations of the previous landlord, the security deposit is also inherited. You will need to make a good case to the new landlord.
Raising the rent after a change of ownership
Q. The owner has changed and the landlord says: “We are going to change the contract and raise the rent. If you don’t agree, please move out. Do I have to comply with the new owner’s request?
A. The contents of the lease and the rent are the promises, rights and obligations of the tenant and the previous landlord. Therefore, the new landlord cannot unilaterally change them.
The new landlord inherits the rights and obligations of the previous landlord. It will be necessary to make a good argument to the new landlord.
