|
5£®Reikin£¨thank-you money/Key-money£©
Also at the time of renting a room or an apartment,
a tenant may be asked to pay Reikin, a kind of premium customarily
paid in appreciation of the use of the room or apartment.
The usual amount is equal to one or two months¡¯rent. This
is not refundable.
Key money is a gratuity paid by a prospective
renter to a landlord or real estate agent before he or she
can move into a property. The term "key money" applies almost
exclusively to Japan, although property owners in other countries
may require a similar premium. In the United States, it is
illegal for landlords to require key money. However, prospective
renters who are willing to pay more for a property often pay.
In the United States, for example, it is common for a landlord
to require the equivalent of one or two months rent as a security
deposit to offset delinquent rent payments or damage to the
property during occupancy. This deposit is normally refunded
when the tenant moves out, less any repair costs. Some landlords,
however, may charge spurious costs for nonexistent repairs.
A cash payment of key money may be required in those parts
of North America with strict rent controls, most notably New
York City. Because it is paid in cash, it is very difficult
to trace and usually impossible to prove in court. In Japan,
however, key money is non-refundable and often amounts to
several times the monthly rent, totaling as much as six months
or more. This practice is commonly despised by foreigners
living in Japan and Japanese alike. |
