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I forgot to submit my apartment checklist when I first moved in, am I screwed?
I moved into my apartment a year ago and and usually when you move in they give you the 入居時確認表 where you list down the previous damages of your apartment and in some cases, you might be asked to take pictures as well. However, I was going through a lot of things at the time from job changing to being hospitalized that it flew out of my head. 2023 was a rough year and the next time I thought about it it's been more than 6 months already. Upon checking the paper, I saw that I was supposed to submit it within the same week of moving in so it was already too late for me.
Now things have just started to clear out for me I'm trying to prepare to move out again and I found the same paper again and was wondering how I should expect to deal with this? My flat has a few holes and wallpaper tear and I'm worried about being taken advantage of the fees on moving out. When the time comes, is it possible to at least lower the amount or even better, avoid getting charges for this? I appreciate any advice. Thank you.
honestly you're not totally screwed but it does make things harder. the key here is that the burden of proof shifts to you since you missed the deadline most management companies will try to charge you for everything they can
what i'd do right now is document everything yourself. take clear photos and videos of every scratch hole and tear with timestamps if possible. if you have any photos from when you first moved in for social media or even just random pics that show the walls those help too
when you eventually talk to the management company about moving out just be upfront that you forgot but you know the place wasn't perfect when you got it. they might still try to charge you but being honest about the situation and showing you have evidence gives you more room to negotiate. worst case they try to charge you for everything and you can push back saying you'll take it to the 東京都不動産協会 or similar dispute place
also worth checking your contract - some places have a clause that after 6 months normal wear and tear isn't charged anymore. depends on the company but i've seen that in a few shinjuku area leases
I've seen this come up a few times with friends in Tokyo and the reality is less scary than you think. Management companies here are used to people forgetting the checklist, especially when it's been a year and you're a decent tenant who paid rent on time.
The standard approach is to lean hard on 経年劣化 when you do your move-out inspection. Wallpaper fading, tiny nail holes from hanging a calendar, even small tears near light switches from normal use all fall under normal wear after a year. Most landlords in Tokyo have a depreciation schedule for wallpaper where it's considered fully depreciated after 6 years, so if your place had old wallpaper when you moved in, they can't charge you the full replacement cost anyway.
When the inspector comes, stay calm and point out that without the checklist, they can't prove those marks weren't there before you moved in. If they try to charge you for something unreasonable, mention that you'll ask the 東京都不動産協会 for a mediation. Just saying that usually gets them to back down because they know they'd lose. I'd set aside maybe 2-3 man as a worst case but honestly you might walk away with nothing.
yeah you're probably gonna get hit with some charges but it doesnt have to be the full amount. had a friend in nakano who forgot hers too and they tried to charge her 8man for wallpaper replacement in a 1k. she pushed back saying the tear near the window was from sunlight damage not her and they dropped it to 3man
the thing is most management companies expect some negotiation. if you come in prepared with your own photos and a reasonable attitude they'll usually meet you halfway. also check if your contract has something about 経年劣化 (aging deterioration) because in tokyo theyre supposed to cover normal wear like sun-faded wallpaper or floor scratches after a year
one trick that worked for me was offering to do small repairs myself. bought a wall repair kit at daiso for 500yen and fixed a small hole, then told them i'd handle the rest if theyd waive the fees. they agreed because it saved them the hassle of calling a contractor. just dont try to paint anything unless you know the exact color code cause that can backfire
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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