Credit Saison has unveiled a new service to address the standard requirement of a guarantor in Japanese rental agreements to streamline the rental process for foreign residents in Japan. The initiative will help to ease the challenges expatriates and newcomers face when seeking accommodation in the country.

In Japan, corporate leases are preferred by landlords but personal leases are acceptable if they have a local, Japanese national willing to serve as a personal guarantor.  This can prove highly challenging for new arrivals to Japan, such as expatriates.

Credit Saison’s service aims to alleviate these challenges by introducing rental guarantees explicitly tailored for foreign residents. The new solution is expected to offer an alternative to the traditional guarantor system, providing greater accessibility to housing options for expatriates and easing their transition into life in Japan.

Per the article in Nikkei Asia:

Credit Saison will initially offer the new service via 10 real estate companies across Japan. The service will be available to anyone who has a residence card, passport or any other ID document. The company will accept even foreigners allowed to stay for only one to two years. The coverage, guarantee and other terms will be the same as for Japanese.

A tenant usually pays an initial warranty fee equivalent to 50% to 100% of the monthly rent. The fee subsequently changes depending on how it is paid: 10,000 to 20,000 yen ($70 to $140) if paid annually, or 1% to 2% of the rent if paid monthly. Credit Saison will make the rent payments if the tenant defaults.

The new offering has the potential to make personal leases an easier option in the future for expatriates and the companies who move them alike.