Hello, this is Shuhei from TESEN SHARE HOUSE. Many of you may be wondering, “How much are the initial costs for a share house?” or “Is it really cheaper than renting a regular apartment?”
In short, the initial cost of moving into a share house is generally much lower than that of a regular rental property. At TESEN, the estimated initial cost is around ¥100,000 to ¥200,000, including the first month’s rent and common service fee.
In this article, we will clearly explain the difference between a regular rental and a share house, the breakdown of initial costs, specific TESEN SHARE HOUSE examples, and monthly living costs for first-time residents.
* This article has been updated in line with changes to our pricing system. The latest costs vary depending on the property, move-in date, and contract conditions.
Contents
- What are the initial costs for a share house? Differences from regular rentals
- Breakdown of share house initial costs
- How much are TESEN’s initial costs?
- What are the monthly costs?
- What is the money used for?
- About share house rules
- Bedding rental service
- Summary | For those who want to choose the share house lifestyle
What are the initial costs for a share house? Differences from regular rentals
If you would like to learn more about what a share house is, please also check out this article explaining share houses. Initial costs are the expenses you pay at the time of moving in. In a typical rental property, the following costs usually apply:
- Security deposit
- Key money
- Agency fee
- Fire insurance fee
- Key replacement fee
- Cleaning fee
- Guarantor company fee
When these are added together, the initial financial burden can become quite high. By contrast, share houses generally require much lower initial costs than regular rental apartments.
Breakdown of share house initial costs
A share house is a type of housing that tends to keep initial costs lower than regular rentals.
There are two main reasons for this:
- Facilities such as the kitchen, shower, toilet, and living room are shared, which reduces equipment and maintenance costs
- Private rooms are more simple in design, which helps keep rent and initial costs lower overall
In addition, many share houses come furnished with appliances and furniture, so you do not need to buy many new items when moving in. This makes moving much easier and lighter. For more details on what to bring, please see What You Need for a Share House.
How much are TESEN’s initial costs?
At TESEN share houses, the main initial costs are as follows:
- Contract administration fee
- Security deposit
- First month’s rent
* If you move in on or after the 15th of the month, the following month’s rent must also be paid in advance.
* Depending on the property, a fire insurance fee may apply. Fire insurance is not charged annually, but as a monthly fee of ¥512 (tax included).
There is no agency fee, security deposit in the usual rental sense, or key money.
If you are unfamiliar with share house terminology, please also check out 11 Share House Terms to Know Before a Viewing or Contract. Now, let’s look at how much it actually costs to move in.
Example 1
SEN OSAKA if you move in at the beginning of the month (on the 1st)
| Item | Amount |
| First month’s rent and common service fee (rent is prorated depending on the move-in date) | ¥65,000 |
| Contract administration fee | ¥19,800 |
| Security deposit | ¥65,000 |
| Total | ¥149,800 |
Initial costs vary depending on the property, room, and move-in date, but the general estimate is around ¥100,000 to ¥200,000.
The security deposit is refundable when you move out, as long as there is no need for repairs to the room. This means the actual financial burden is easier to manage.
* If you move out within one year of moving in, the security deposit will not be refunded.
If you are wondering which property or room would suit you best, please also see Which rooms are most popular in a share house?.
What are the monthly costs?
The monthly costs of living in a share house are mainly the following two items:
- Rent
- Common service fee
This makes the monthly payment structure very simple and easy to understand.
* Depending on the property, a fire insurance fee may apply. Fire insurance is charged monthly at ¥512 (tax included), not annually.
If the rent is ¥50,000
| Item | Amount |
| Rent | ¥50,000 |
| Common service fee | ¥15,000 |
| Total | ¥65,000 |
Rent varies depending on the room, but the common service fee is fixed. It includes water, electricity, gas, Wi-Fi, cleaning, and shared consumables.
If you are concerned about cleanliness in shared spaces, please also read this article about share house cleaning.
You also do not need to manage separate bills from different providers at the end of each month, which makes life in a share house much easier to manage. We can also suggest share houses according to your budget, so please feel free to contact us.
If you are not sure which property or room is right for you, please contact our consultation room on LINE. You can ask us anything related to share houses.
What is the money used for?
Let’s take a look at what rent, common service fees, and contract administration fees are used for.
Rent
This is the cost of renting your room.
Common service fee
This covers water, electricity, gas, Wi-Fi, cleaning, and shared consumables. It is charged at a fixed rate regardless of usage.
Contract administration fee
This covers screening, contract preparation, fire insurance procedures, various applications, and contract-related administrative work.
Security deposit
This is held until move-out and will be refunded if there is no major damage or need for repairs in the room.
* If you move out within one year of moving in, the security deposit will not be refunded.
About share house rules
Once the cost becomes clear, the next thing many people want to know is what daily life and house rules are like.
Share houses have house rules so that everyone can live together comfortably. If you know them before moving in, you can feel much more at ease. Please also check out 7 Rules of Share House Living.
Bedding rental service
Moving into a share house is light and easy because there is little need to buy new furniture or appliances.
However, bedding such as futons, pillows, and sheets often needs to be prepared by yourself, and these items can be surprisingly bulky.
At TESEN, in response to requests from people who want to move more easily, we offer a bedding rental service.
TESEN offers a bedding rental service.
Bedding rental service
Pillow, pillowcase, duvet, duvet cover, mattress cover, and other bedding essentials are available as a full set for ¥9,900 per year. This service is recommended for people who want to reduce the amount of luggage they bring when moving, as well as those moving from overseas. We can also prepare your bed before your move-in date so that everything is ready from the first day.
Summary | For those who want to choose the share house lifestyle
In this article, we explained the difference in initial costs between regular rentals and share houses.
- Initial costs for a share house are generally lower than for a regular rental
- The estimated initial cost at TESEN is around ¥100,000 to ¥200,000
- The main initial costs are the contract administration fee, security deposit, and first month’s rent
- The monthly costs are simple and mainly consist of rent and the common service fee
- Because furniture and appliances are included, the burden of moving is lower
TESEN share houses are attractive not only because the initial costs are easier to manage, but also because they offer newly built or purpose-designed share house spaces, carefully selected facilities, and a lifestyle where you can enjoy connections,交流, and new experiences with others.
For people who value not only where they live, but also the kind of time they spend, a share house can be a wonderful option.
If you would like to find a share house that suits you or get a better sense of the atmosphere, please take a look at TESEN’s properties. We look forward to meeting you there.
Recommended articles
- What is a share house?
- 7 rules of share house living
- About cleaning in a share house
- What you need when moving into a share house
- Which rooms are most popular in a share house?
If you have any concerns about choosing a property or moving in, feel free to contact us through LINE consultation.
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