賃貸契約 更新のお知らせ (Lease Renewal Notice) and 更新料

Who receives it

The named tenant on the lease receives it (the primary tenant if two people signed). Most recipients hold a 普通借家契約 (standard renewable lease). If your contract says 定期借家契約 (fixed-term lease), there is no renewal system; instead you may receive a 再契約のご案内 (offer of a new contract) or a notice that the contract simply ends. If your company rents the apartment for you, the notice may go to your employer's HR or general affairs department instead.

What to do

1. 1Open the envelope and mark three things: the contract expiry date, the reply-by date, and the total amount being requested.
2. 2Take out your own copy of the 賃貸借契約書 (lease agreement) and check that the renewal fee clause, the new contract period, and the required move-out notice period match what the notice says.
3. 3Decide whether to renew or move out, and reply to the 管理会社 by the stated date, using the enclosed reply form or the cancellation form if you are leaving.
4. 4If renewing, sign and seal the renewal agreement, return it, and pay the 更新料 to the printed bank account by the stated payment date.
5. 5Handle fire insurance and the 保証会社 renewal separately, since these usually come as different documents and separate charges, and keep copies of everything you send.

About the deadline

The reply-by date is printed near the top of the notice or on the reply slip, usually as ◯月◯日までにご返送ください. This is the management company's paperwork cutoff, not the contract expiry date itself. If you intend to move out, the real deadline is the 解約予告期間 (advance notice period) written in the cancellation clause of your lease; giving notice late can mean paying rent for an extra period even after you have moved. The payment due date for the renewal fee appears separately on the invoice or transfer slip. If a date is unclear or already past, phone the management company shown on the notice as soon as possible.

Common misunderstandings

If I ignore it, does my contract end and do I have to leave?

No. Under a 普通借家契約, the lease generally continues by operation of law (法定更新) even if no paperwork is signed, and your rent obligation continues too. Ignoring the notice mainly creates disputes about the renewal fee and terms, so reply either way.

Is a 更新料 required everywhere in Japan?

No. The custom varies by region, and no fee is owed if your lease contains no renewal fee clause. The clause in your own contract is what matters. If you disagree with the amount or whether it applies, consult a consumer affairs centre (消費生活センター) or a lawyer rather than arguing from general information.

The notice says the rent will increase at renewal. Can I refuse?

A rent revision at renewal is a proposal, not something that takes effect automatically the moment you read it. You can ask the management company for their reasoning and discuss it. If no agreement is reached, it becomes a legal question, and that is the point to speak with a lawyer.

They asked for a copy of my residence card. Is that normal?

Asking for identification at renewal is common practice to confirm the tenant and contact details. Verify you are sending it to the actual management company by calling the number printed in your signed lease, not only the one on the letter. Your My Number is never needed for a lease renewal.

Other documents

• 管理組合・自治会・町内会: Condo-Association / Neighborhood-Association Notice Explained
• 退去・原状回復・敷金精算: Move-Out / Restoration / Deposit-Settlement Notice Explained
• 家賃滞納・保証会社: Rent Arrears / Guarantee-Company Notice Explained