Utilities
法定点検 Notice: Gas / Fire-Safety Inspection Notice Explained
A 法定点検 notice tells you that a periodic inspection required by law — of gas equipment, or a building's fire-safety or water/drainage equipment — will be carried out. It usually comes from a gas company, building management, or a contracted inspector, with the date and a request for access or your presence. ⛔ The inspection itself is legitimate and necessary, but 'we're here for an inspection' is also used as a pretext for sales scams (点検商法), pushing unneeded equipment or contracts. Check the date, and the inspecting company's name and contact, on the notice.
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⛔ Beware 'inspection' sales scams (点検商法): someone says 'we're here to inspect the gas (or fire equipment)', enters, then creates fear — 'this device is dangerous, replace it now', 'sign now and it's cheaper' — to make you buy expensive equipment or a contract on the spot. The statutory inspection itself is legitimate, but verify it's genuine: check ID and call the company / building management on the notice yourself. Don't buy or sign on the spot; if stuck, contact the Consumer Hotline (188).
Who receives it
People whose home uses gas, or who live in an apartment/building, from the gas company, building management, or an inspector. Gas safety inspections and building fire-safety inspections are required by law for safety, and may need the resident's cooperation (being present or allowing entry). Nationality does not matter.
What to do
- 1Check the inspecting company's name, what is being inspected (gas / fire equipment), the date, and whether your presence is needed.
- 2If you need to be home or present at the given time, arrange it or reschedule via the contact on the notice.
- 3⛔ Check the ID (staff card, etc.) of anyone who comes before letting them in. If suspicious, call the company or management on the notice yourself to confirm they really arranged it.
- 4Even if, during the inspection, you're told 'this equipment must be replaced' or 'sign now and it's cheaper', do not buy or sign on the spot. Decide separately, calmly, whether it's needed.
- 5If anything is unclear, contact the gas company / building management printed on the notice.
About the deadline
The inspection date is on the notice. If it doesn't suit you, don't ignore it — contact the number on the notice to reschedule. Gas and fire-safety inspections are for safety, so if legitimate, cooperating is important. The cost of the statutory inspection itself is usually included in management or base fees; you should not normally hand cash to the inspector on the spot.
Common misunderstandings
- Can I refuse the inspection?
- Gas safety and building fire-safety inspections are required by law for safety, and residents are asked to cooperate. If it is legitimate, it's safest to reschedule and allow it. But verify it's a genuinely arranged inspection via the company name and contact.
- Is this a scam (点検商法)?
- The statutory inspection itself is legitimate. But some scammers use 'inspection' as a pretext to enter and sell unneeded equipment or contracts. Check ID and call the company / management on the notice yourself to confirm the inspection was really arranged.
- During the inspection they said equipment 'must be replaced'.
- Do not buy or sign on the spot. Whether it's really needed can be judged calmly, including by asking another provider. Being rushed into a contract at the door or during an inspection can be a sales-scam tactic.
- Does the inspection cost money?
- The statutory inspection itself is usually included in management or base fees. If an inspector demands cash on the spot, decline for now and confirm with the company / management on the notice.
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This page is general information. For your own case, confirm with the office that issued the document, or with a qualified professional.