Author: Kei Sumikawa

* Previous post: Guarantor system in Japan “Rentai-Hoshou-Nin” (1)

Once you become a Rentai-Hoshou-Nin for your friend’s house rental, you are likely to  bear responsibility for the following points.

• rent money of the house (and also late payment charge)
• damage related to the house rental (such as scratches on floor, broken windows, etc.)
• anything else

You may think it will not become a large amount, but, as a matter of fact, it could become very big.

For example, if your friend runs short of money and stops to pay his rent money, you will have to pay his rent money for him.

If the management company of the house contacts you immediately after your friend’s non-payment, the amount may not be large. But management companies sometimes do not contact the Rentai-Hoshou-Nin for months. If your friend is behind his payment for 10 months, and if the rental money is JPY100,000 per month, the amount will reach one million. I once saw a case, in which the management company didn’t contact the Rentai-Hoshou-Nin until the unpaid amount has reached 3 million JPY. In that case, the Rentai-Hoshou-Nin ended in bankruptcy.

Guarantor system in Japan “Rentai-Hoshou-Nin” (3)

When someone makes agreements in Japan, such as when he/she rents a room, “Rentai-Hoshou-Nin” may be required.

“Rentai” means joint.
“Hoshou” means guarantee.
“Nin” means person.

And, “Rentai-Hoshou-Nin” means joint and several guarantor.
(Simple “Hoshou-Nin” means guarantor.)
There is a big problem with the term several, but I will explain it later.

When you are asked to become a “Rentai-Hoshou-Nin”, you should consider the situation very carefully.
By easily signing your friend’s house rental contract, you may bear grave responsibility beyond your expectation.

Guarantor system in Japan “Rentai-Hoshou-Nin” (2)

We are in the Golden Week period, which is a long vacation for Japanese people (maybe not that much long for foreign people, though).

Our office is on vacation from 28 April to 1 May, and 3  to 6 May ( I’ll be at the office on 2 May).

I’m spending my vacation at Okushiga Kogen resort in Nagano prefecture. Okushiga Kogen is  at a height of 1500-2000m above sea level and you can still enjoy skiing. There’s plenty of snow left on the slope, but I’ll stay on the sofa for today.

Though I’m on my vacation, I have my PC with me, so feel free to make contact  by email.

In Japan, we use “hanko” (seals) in place of signatures. Hanko is more trusted than a signature in Japan, and having your own hanko may be necessary if you are living in Japan.

Once you get your own hanko, it is very important that you handle it with caution and keep it in a safe place. Unlike signatures (which is hard to forge), anyone can easily use your hanko, and it is indistinguishable who actually used the hanko. If somebody else uses your hanko on any contract sheet, it is estimated that YOU have agreed the contract, and you will have to take responsibility about the contract.

So, you should not easily put your hanko into someone’s hands.

If you are involved in a legal trouble related to using hanko, be sure to consult an attorney as soon as possible.

Cherry blossom in a park near our law office (Kawasaki Kanagawa).