Short answer
This is a lease renewal notice (契約更新のお知らせ, keiyaku kōshin no oshirase) sent by your management company (管理会社, kanri gaisha) or real estate agency. It tells you that your current contract is about to expire, whether you will renew, the renewal fee (更新料, kōshinryō) and handling fee payable on renewal, the new rent and contract period, and the deadline by which you need to reply or complete the procedures. Amounts and terms vary by contract and region — follow your contract and the notice itself.
What this document is
Japanese rental contracts usually run for a fixed term (commonly 2 years; check your contract). Before it expires, the management company sends a renewal notice. Renewal may involve:
- 更新料 (kōshinryō) — renewal fee (whether it is charged, and the amount, vary by region and contract).
- 更新事務手数料 (kōshin jimu tesūryō) — handling fee paid to the management company for processing the renewal.
- 火災保険更新 (kasai hoken kōshin) — fire insurance often needs to be renewed at the same time.
- 保証会社更新 (hoshō gaisha kōshin) — if you used a guarantor company, you may need to pay the guarantee fee again.
Common fields on the document
- 契約更新 / 更新のお知らせ (keiyaku kōshin / kōshin no oshirase) — contract renewal / renewal notice.
- 更新料 (kōshinryō) — renewal fee (amount varies by region and contract).
- 更新事務手数料 (kōshin jimu tesūryō) — renewal handling fee.
- 新賃料 / 家賃 (shin chinryō / yachin) — the new rent after renewal.
- 契約期間 (keiyaku kikan) — the contract period after renewal (commonly 2 years; check your contract).
- 火災保険 (kasai hoken) — fire insurance (often renewed at the same time).
- 保証会社 / 保証委託料 (hoshō gaisha / hoshō itakuryō) — guarantor company / guarantor commission fee.
- 返送期限 / 締切 (hensō kigen / shimekiri) — deadline for returning documents or completing the procedures.
What you need to do
- Check the 更新料 (renewal fee), 手数料 (tesūryō, handling fee), 新賃料 (new rent), and 契約期間 (contract period) shown on the notice.
- Decide whether to renew or move out (moving out usually requires advance notice within the notice period set in your contract).
- If renewing: return the signed documents by the 返送期限 (return deadline), pay the relevant fees, and renew your 火災保険 (fire insurance) where applicable.
- If you disagree with the amounts or terms, contact the management company / real estate agency first; for disputes, you can consult your local consumer affairs center.
Where the deadline / amounts may appear
- Deadline: usually printed next to wording such as 返送期限, 締切, or ご返送期限 (go-hensō kigen, polite form of "return deadline").
- Amounts: 更新料, 手数料, 新賃料, and 保険料 (hokenryō, insurance premium); the total is often printed next to 合計 (gōkei, total) or お支払金額 (o-shiharai kingaku, amount payable).
Which official body to contact if you are unsure
For contract and fee questions, first contact the management company / real estate agency printed on the notice. For contract terms, you can refer to the Standard Rental Housing Contract (賃貸住宅標準契約書, chintai jūtaku hyōjun keiyakusho) published by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省, MLIT). If a dispute arises with your landlord or management company, you can call Japan's consumer hotline 188 to reach your local consumer affairs center (消費生活センター, shōhi seikatsu sentā). In all cases, your contract and the official guidance take precedence.
Common Japanese terms
- 更新（こうしん） (kōshin) — renewal
- 更新料 (kōshinryō) — renewal fee
- 更新事務手数料 (kōshin jimu tesūryō) — renewal handling fee
- 賃料 / 家賃 (chinryō / yachin) — rent
- 契約期間 (keiyaku kikan) — contract period
- 火災保険 (kasai hoken) — fire insurance
- 保証会社 (hoshō gaisha) — guarantor company
- 返送期限 (hensō kigen) — return deadline