When you move out of a rental property, the management company or landlord will always conduct a final inspection of the room.
At this time, we check whether any of the tenants' belongings are left behind, what the condition of the facilities is, and whether the procedures for terminating the electricity, gas, and water contracts have been completed.
Also, if the property is found to be scratched or broken upon inspection, the landlord will require the property to be restored to its original condition, and the tenant will be required to respond accordingly.
So, to what extent do we have to restore the property to its original state?
There are many problems that occur when restoring something to its original condition, and if you do not acquire the knowledge and make proper preparations, you may end up having to pay for things that you do not really need to pay for.
In this article, we will explain in detail how to restore a rental property to its original condition.
In order to move out amicably and start your new life in a good mood, it's important to acquire the correct knowledge about restoring the property to its original condition.
What is restoration to original condition?
First of all, what exactly does restoration mean? Let me start by giving a simple explanation.
Restoration means returning the room to the way it was before you moved in.
For example, any defects or malfunctions that occur while you are living there, such as dents or scratches in the floors or walls, or broken storage shelf doors, must be repaired by you before you move out.
Restoring the property to its original condition is the tenant's/lessee's "obligation" and has a legal basis as stipulated in Article 621 of the Civil Code.
In other words, restoration to the original state is unavoidable.
What is the scope of the obligation to restore the property to its original condition?
So what exactly does restoration to the original state entail? Also, to what extent do you have to go?
For example, if you have lived in a house for 10 years, the floor will have marks from the furniture you placed there, the wallpaper will fade from the sun, and other scratches and stains will inevitably appear.
Next, we will answer the question, "How far should I go?"
First, let me introduce Article 621 of the Civil Code mentioned earlier.
Article 621
If any damage occurs to the leased property after the lessee receives it (excluding wear and tear caused by normal use and income, and changes to the leased property over time; the same applies hereinafter in this article), the lessee is obligated to restore the damage to its original state when the lease terminates. However, this does not apply if the damage is due to reasons beyond the lessee's control.
As can be seen from this article, tenants are not required to pay for scratches and stains that occur during normal daily life (normal wear and tear) or natural deterioration that occurs over time.
However, in reality, there are often differences of opinion as to whether scratches or stains are the result of negligence or normal wear and tear, which can lead to problems.
To avoid such situations, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has published guidelines regarding rules such as who is responsible for paying for restoration work to its original state.
Troubles and guidelines regarding restoration to original state
First, let me introduce the guidelines published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. You can also view the original text from the link below.
In order to prevent problems related to restoration to the original condition, this guideline compiles general standards that are considered reasonable for how the costs of restoration to the original condition should be borne, taking into account standard concepts in residential rental contracts and court precedents.
As stated on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's website, the guidelines merely set out general standards, and the contents of existing lease agreements will remain valid unless the contents are too inappropriate from a social perspective.
The guidelines are intended solely as a reference for resolving issues through discussion when there are no provisions in the contract, the agreements are ambiguous, or there are clearly problems with the content of the agreements.
In other words, in order to prevent any problems from occurring, it is important to carefully check the terms of the contract when you move in.
Since restoration to the property's original condition is an issue that occurs at the end of the lease agreement, people tend to forget about what to do when moving out when they move in, but the contract contains everything about moving in and moving out.
Therefore, it is important to carefully consider what will happen when you move out before signing a contract.
Examples of burdens
With reference to the guidelines, we will introduce specific cases in which you are and are not obligated to restore the property to its original condition.
Please refer to the table below.
| item | Restoration obligation required | No obligation to restore to original condition |
|---|---|---|
| Walls and ceilings (wall coverings, etc.) | 1. Grease stains in the kitchen due to neglecting daily cleaning 2. Mold and stains caused by condensation being left unattended (for example, when walls and other surfaces are corroded due to neglect of maintenance and the landlord is not notified) 3) When water leaks from an air conditioner are left unattended and cause the walls to corrode. 4) When there is tar or odor caused by smoking (when the wallpaper is discolored or smelly). ⑤ Nail holes and screw holes in walls, etc. (These were made to secure heavy objects, and may require the wall board to be replaced) ⑥ Traces of lighting fixtures installed by the tenant ⑦ Intentional stains or scratches such as graffiti |
① Blackening on the wall behind home appliances such as televisions and refrigerators ② Traces of pictures or posters hung on the wall ③ Small holes from thumb tacks or pins used to fasten posters or photos ④ Screw holes or marks from the installation of an air conditioner purchased by the tenant ⑤ Discoloration of wallpaper due to natural deterioration such as exposure to sunlight or aging |
| Floors (flooring, tatami, etc.) | 1) Stains or mold caused by spilling drinks etc. (when cleaning or maintenance after a spill is neglected or insufficient) ② When rust marks under the refrigerator have transferred to the floor (when the rust has been left unattended and dirt has transferred to the floor) ③ Scratches or dents caused by strong impacts during moving or redecorating a room. ④ Discoloration or deterioration of flooring caused by the tenant's negligence, such as exposure to rain. |
① Turning the tatami mats over and replacing them (there is no particular damage, and it is only necessary to welcome the next resident) ② Dents and marks on floors and carpets caused by furniture being placed there ③ Discoloration of tatami mats and flooring caused by drought (or other defects caused by building construction) |
| Fittings, sliding doors, pillars, etc. | ① Scratches or odors on pillars, etc. (walls and floors) caused by pets, etc. ② Intentional damage such as graffiti | 1) Window glass damaged by natural disasters such as storms |
| Facilities, etc. | 1) Oil stains on the gas stove area, ventilation fans, etc. (dirt caused by the tenant's neglect of cleaning and maintenance) ② Water stains, mold, etc. in the bath, toilet, and sink (resulting from the tenant's neglect of cleaning and maintenance) ③ Damage to facilities caused by improper daily maintenance or failure to follow the intended purpose or usage. ④ Loss or damage of keys caused intentionally or accidentally. ⑤ (If there is a garden) Removal of overgrown weeds in the garden. |
1. Air conditioners (if they are not dirty or smelly due to smoking, etc.) ②Facilities and equipment failure due to equipment lifespan |
Tenant's Duty of Care
Above we have introduced examples of burdens that follow the guidelines, but some people may be worried about what will happen in their own case.
Next, we will explain the approach to the obligation to restore the property to its original condition from a different perspective (tenant's duty of care).
Tenants have the obligation to use the rented property with the care of a good manager (Article 400 of the Civil Code). This is commonly referred to as the duty of care.
Anything borrowed must be used with the degree of care that is generally expected of you.
When renting a house, it is generally interpreted that daily cleaning and cleaning upon moving out are considered the minimum standard and are included in the duty of care.
If the tenant intentionally, or through carelessness or negligence, causes wear and tear or damage to the rented property that is greater than would result from normal use, the tenant will be considered to have caused damage in breach of the duty of care and will be obligated to restore the property to its original condition.
The cost of such repairs will of course be borne by the tenant.
If you are unsure who is responsible for repair costs, think back to your own actions while you were a tenant, such as whether you cleaned the property regularly, and whether you reported any problems to the landlord or management company.
What is the average cost of restoration?
I hope that the explanation above has given you some understanding of the circumstances in which you will be responsible for any expenses incurred.
Next, many people will be concerned about how much it will cost if they are obligated to restore the property to its original condition.
Here we will explain the approximate cost of repairs required to restore the property to its original condition.
The amounts listed are merely average rates for common cases, so we cannot guarantee that the amount will be exactly as listed below. Please use them as a guide only.
| Repair items | Market price for repairs |
|---|---|
| Replacing wall and ceiling boards | 20,000 to 60,000 yen |
| Re-laying of flooring (partially) | 10,000 to 30,000 yen (depending on area and material) |
| Replacing the cross | 1,000 to 1,500 yen (per 1 m2) |
| Mold and limescale in bathrooms, toilets, and other wet areas | 5,000 to 20,000 yen |
| Stains around the kitchen | 15,000 to 25,000 yen |
| Stains on flooring, carpets, etc. | 10,000 to 25,000 yen |
| Whole house cleaning | 20,000 to 50,000 yen (assuming 1K to 1LDK) |
What to do to prevent problems
Problems regarding restoration to the original condition are common among problems associated with renting a home.
Even in some cases where there is no trouble, people may simply accept the expense and think, "It can't be helped," even though they do not really need to pay for it.
To avoid any trouble and leave in a good mood, please pay attention to the following three points.
- Confirmation of contract details in advance
- Check every corner of the room before moving in
- Clean regularly
Confirmation of contract details in advance
The most important thing is to choose carefully when you move in (sign the contract).
If you enter into a contract without thinking carefully because the listed rent is lower than the market rate or the property has the ideal layout and facilities, you may find that the contract also includes conditions such as "yen will be deducted from the deposit as a room cleaning fee when you move out."
It will be too late if you realize when you move out that you don't actually have to pay, so don't just focus on the superficial terms. Make sure to check the contract contents and moving-out conditions before signing the contract.
Check every corner of the room before moving in
If possible, before moving, you should thoroughly check the interior for any scratches or other damage and the state of deterioration.
If you can't do this before you move, we recommend checking immediately after you move.
If there is anything damaged or worn, take a photo and send it to the management company.
It's the same as checking for scratches on a rental car before you set off.
By sharing photos of any damage or deterioration (that was not caused by you) that occurred before you moved in with the management company (landlord), the evidence will serve as evidence and you can avoid being charged unnecessary restoration fees.
Clean regularly
It may seem obvious, but be sure to clean the room properly while you are in the apartment.
Regular cleaning and maintenance can reduce cleaning costs when tenants move out, and it also allows you to notice breakdowns and deterioration of various facilities, which helps prevent any problems when tenants move out.
summary
This time, we explained how to restore rental properties to their original condition.
When you hear "restoring the property to its original condition," you might think of it as something that happens when you move out, but I hope you understand that it's something you should think about from the moment you move in.
If there is trouble over restoring the property to its original condition when you move out, it will be unpleasant for both parties.
To prevent such troubles from occurring, be sure to carefully read the terms of the contract before signing it, clean regularly, and be conscious of living in a clean environment.
