Shikikin is money you leave with the landlord when you rent a home in Japan.
Unlike reikin, or key money, it is not simply paid to the landlord and gone forever. After you move out, the deposit is settled, and any amount that does not need to be used should generally be returned to you.
So what is the deposit for?
It can be used if, for example, you leave unpaid rent or cause damage to the property that you are responsible for.
If you paid a deposit of ¥100,000 and there were ¥20,000 in costs that you were responsible for when you moved out, the basic idea would be that the remaining ¥80,000 is returned to you.
In Japan, many people think of shikikin as money that should generally come back, although some amount may be deducted when they move out.
But one point is especially important:
You are not normally responsible for the cost of repairing ordinary wear and tear or deterioration that happens simply because time has passed.
For example, wallpaper or tatami may fade from sunlight. Furniture may leave marks on the floor. Parts of the room may gradually become worn through normal everyday use.
These are generally not considered the tenant’s fault.
As a rule, the landlord is responsible for the cost of repairing normal wear and tear and age-related deterioration.
Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also makes clear that “restoring” a rental property does not mean returning it to exactly the same condition as when it was brand new or when the tenant first moved in.
The situation is different if the tenant causes damage through carelessness or through use that goes beyond normal living.
For example, if you make a large hole or deep scratch by hitting something against a wall, or allow serious damage to develop because you failed to clean or take reasonable care of the property, you may be responsible for the repair cost.
There may also be special terms in the rental contract, so it is important to check the conditions concerning the deposit and move-out costs when you sign the lease.
In other words, shikikin is not money that you should simply assume will never come back.
If money is deducted when you move out, do not assume that every deduction is automatically valid just because it came from the deposit.
Check what each charge is for and why you are being asked to pay it.
References
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Guidelines on Disputes Concerning Restoration to Original Condition
- Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism — Q&A on the Guidelines for Restoration to Original Condition
- Civil Code of Japan, Article 622-2 — Security Deposits
