Hey everyone, looking for some advice / sanity check.
I passed the screening for an apartment, but I haven’t had the important matters explanation yet and haven’t signed anything (online signing was supposed to happen later). I also haven’t paid any initial fees yet.
After reading through the contract more carefully, I’m starting to feel uneasy. A few things in particular:
There’s a 2-month rent penalty if you move out within the first 2 years, and honestly I’m not 100% sure I’ll even want to stay in Japan that long. There are also clauses saying that construction or repairs can cause odors, chemicals, or dust, and that tenants basically have to accept this even if it causes discomfort or health issues. On top of that, the contract says repairs might not be done promptly, and the landlord isn’t responsible for any inconvenience in the meantime.
Separately, the apartment is 15 minutes from the station, which didn’t bother me during the viewing, but now feels like it might get tiring long-term.
One more thing that added to my hesitation: during the viewing, I specifically asked about having a bidet (washlet). The agent assured me it was installed, and I did see one at the time. However, after passing the screening, I was told it had been removed because it was broken, and that I’d need to install one myself if I want it. It’s not a dealbreaker on its own, but combined with everything else, it made me feel less confident about proceeding.
The building is over 20 years old, so construction or repairs don’t feel unrealistic either.
At this stage (before explanation and signing), would it be reasonable to cancel the application if I’m already feeling unsure? I feel a bit bad about inconveniencing the owner/agent, but I also don’t want to move in while already having doubts.
Would love to hear from anyone who’s been in a similar situation or knows how this is generally handled in Japan.
by Wide_Building7945