A letter saying your apartment rent will rise can feel urgent, especially when it is written entirely in Japanese. First identify the proposed amount, the month it would start, the reason, and any date by which the sender wants a reply. Keep the notice and your lease together. You can ask for an explanation and discuss the proposal before signing a new agreement. For a substantial increase or a dispute, seek advice promptly.
Words to find on the notice
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 賃料改定のお知らせ | chinryō kaitei no oshirase | Notice of a proposed rent revision |
| 現行賃料 | genkō chinryō | Current rent |
| 改定後賃料 | kaitei-go chinryō | Proposed rent after revision |
| 改定額 / 増額 | kaitei-gaku / zōgaku | Change in amount / increase |
| 適用開始日 | tekiyō kaishi-bi | Proposed start date |
| 共益費 / 管理費 | kyōeki-hi / kanri-hi | Common-area or management charge; check whether it changes separately |
| 回答期限 | kaitō kigen | Requested reply deadline |
| 同意書 / 署名 | dōi-sho / shomei | Consent form / signature |
| 更新契約 | kōshin keiyaku | Renewal agreement |
Work through the notice in five steps
- Confirm the sender. Compare the landlord or management company’s name and contact details with your lease and previous correspondence. If payment instructions have changed, verify them through a contact method you already know before transferring money.
- Compare the figures. Write down the current rent, proposed rent, monthly difference, any separate management charge, proposed start date, and requested reply date. For example, ¥90,000 to ¥95,000 is a proposed ¥5,000 monthly increase; check whether the total monthly payment also changes.
- Read your lease. Find the rent, renewal date, and any clause on rent revisions. A rent increase notice may arrive with a renewal packet; our lease renewal notice guide helps distinguish the renewal fee from monthly rent.
- Ask for the basis in writing. If the reason or calculation is unclear, request the grounds for the increase and time to review them. Keep a copy of the notice, your response, and payment records.
- Get advice before agreeing to terms you dispute. A proposed amount does not become acceptable merely because it appears in a letter. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s consumer guidance advises checking carefully before signing and discussing the reasons with the landlord. If you cannot resolve the matter, contact a local consumer center or qualified legal adviser rather than stopping rent payments on your own.
Short Japanese replies you can use
Use the following as starting points; replace the dates and amounts with your actual details. A written reply creates a record, but it is not a substitute for advice on a dispute.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 賃料改定のお知らせを受け取りました。内容を確認しています。 | Chinryō kaitei no oshirase o uketorimashita. Naiyō o kakunin shite imasu. | I received the rent revision notice and am reviewing it. |
| 増額の理由と金額の根拠を書面で教えていただけますか。 | Zōgaku no riyū to kingaku no konkyo o shomen de oshiete itadakemasu ka. | Could you explain the reason and basis for the amount in writing? |
| 現時点では改定後の賃料に同意していません。協議をお願いします。 | Genjiten de wa kaitei-go no chinryō ni dōi shite imasen. Kyōgi o onegai shimasu. | I have not agreed to the revised rent at this point. I would like to discuss it. |
| 回答期限を延長していただけますか。 | Kaitō kigen o enchō shite itadakemasu ka. | Could you extend the reply deadline? |
What the legal guidance says—and what to avoid assuming
Japan’s Act on Land and Building Leases, Article 32 addresses requests to increase or decrease building rent when conditions make the existing rent inappropriate. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government explains that rent revisions should be discussed, with reasons and grounds for the request; if talks fail, mediation and litigation may be involved. The result depends on the contract and facts. Do not assume that every increase is invalid, that a notice alone settles the amount, or that missing a reply date automatically requires you to leave.
The Tokyo consumer center also warns that signing a revised agreement can make later changes difficult. Continue to address rent payments and correspondence carefully while a disagreement is unresolved; ask a professional how to handle payment if the landlord refuses the amount you consider appropriate. If you live in Tokyo, the official page lists its rent increase consultation service. Elsewhere, the consumer hotline 188 can direct you to a nearby consumer affairs center. If a move becomes necessary, see our moving-out checklist. For the full renting sequence from listing to renewal and leaving, return to our Japanese apartment guide.
