N3 Topic-Based Conversation — Renting & Real Estate Negotiation
An eight-lesson N3 course on renting in Japan at a more advanced level: viewing a property and checking conditions, negotiating the rent, understanding contract terms and clauses, guarantors and insurance, deposits and key money, renewal and rent increases, moving out and the inspection, and dealing with the landlord when problems arise.
Who this course is for
This course is designed for self-learners and JLPT candidates preparing for N3, with emphasis on topic-conversation, conversation through structured lessons and guided practice. Study 8 step-by-step lessons with free interactive quizzes on Minna Nihongo. Ideal if you want exam-style review, daily study habits, and measurable progress without a classroom schedule.
Lessons
- Viewing a Property — Book a viewing, inspect the layout, sunlight and facilities on site, and ask what the monthly cost really includes before you apply.
- Negotiating the Rent — Compare the rent with the local market rate, make a clear offer, and keep the negotiation polite when the landlord says no.
- Contract Terms and Clauses — Read a Japanese lease carefully: contract period, cancellation notice, special clauses and penalties, and ask about anything you do not understand before you stamp it.
- Guarantor and Insurance — Understand why a guarantor is required, what a guarantee company costs, and which risks fire insurance does and does not cover.
- Deposit and Key Money — Read an initial-cost breakdown, separate the deposit from key money, and understand which parts are returned and which are written off.
- Renewal and Rent Increase — Handle a contract renewal, ask for the grounds behind a rent increase, and negotiate a figure both sides can accept.
- Moving Out and Inspection — Give notice correctly, get through the move-out inspection, and check how the restoration costs and the returned deposit are calculated.
- Dealing with the Landlord — Communicating with a landlord or property manager about repairs, rules, and disputes during a tenancy.
Sample vocabulary from this course
- 内見（ないけん） (内見): viewing the inside of a property
- 契約書（けいやくしょ） (契約書): written contract
- 交渉（こうしょう） (交渉): negotiation
- 敷金（しききん） (敷金): security deposit
- 保証人（ほしょうにん） (保証人): guarantor
- 物件（ぶっけん） (物件): property, listing
- 連帯保証人（れんたいほしょうにん） (連帯保証人): joint guarantor
- 条項（じょうこう） (条項): clause, article
- 値下げ（ねさげ） (値下げ): price reduction, lowering the price
- 礼金（れいきん） (礼金): key money (a non-refundable thank-you payment to the landlord)
- 日当たり（ひあたり） (日当たり): sunlight, sun exposure
- 特約（とくやく） (特約): special clause, special agreement
- 敷引き（しきびき） (敷引き): part of the deposit kept by the landlord
- 折り合う（おりあう） (折り合う): to reach an agreement, to compromise
- 保証会社（ほしょうがいしゃ） (保証会社): guarantee company
- 妥協（だきょう） (妥協): compromise
- 築年数（ちくねんすう） (築年数): age of a building
- 原状回復（げんじょうかいふく） (原状回復): restoring a room to its original condition
- 保証料（ほしょうりょう） (保証料): guarantee fee
- 賃貸借（ちんたいしゃく） (賃貸借): lease, rental agreement
- 図面（ずめん） (図面): floor plan, drawing
- 解約（かいやく） (解約): cancellation, termination of a contract
- 相場（そうば） (相場): market rate, going price
- 緊急連絡先（きんきゅうれんらくさき） (緊急連絡先): emergency contact
- 償却（しょうきゃく） (償却): writing off, amortising a cost
- 設備（せつび） (設備): facilities, equipment
- 火災保険（かさいほけん） (火災保険): fire insurance
- 違約金（いやくきん） (違約金): penalty for breach of contract
- 精算（せいさん） (精算): final settlement, settling accounts
- 提示（ていじ） (提示): offer, presentation of a figure
- 内金（うちきん） (内金): partial payment made before the total is fixed
- 補償（ほしょう） (補償): compensation, coverage
- 譲歩（じょうほ） (譲歩): concession, yielding
- 共益費（きょうえきひ） (共益費): common area maintenance fee
- 禁止（きんし） (禁止): prohibition, banned
- 承諾（しょうだく） (承諾): consent, agreement
- 管理費（かんりひ） (管理費): building management fee
- 応じる（おうじる） (応じる): to comply with, to respond to
- 加入（かにゅう） (加入): joining, subscribing to insurance
- 手付金（てつけきん） (手付金): earnest money paid to secure the contract