When and how much of your deposit comes back — and what to do if it doesn't

In Japan, a rental deposit ("shikikin") is settled and refunded after move-out. The timing depends on the lease, but a common benchmark is around one month after you hand back the unit. This guide explains, based on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) restoration guideline, how much can legitimately be deducted.

Bottom line: only your share comes out of the deposit

A landlord may deduct only what is genuinely the tenant's burden. Ordinary wear — furniture dents in the floor, sun fading, electrical marks behind appliances — is the landlord's cost and should not be deducted. Items like carpet and wallpaper also have a 6-year useful life, so the longer you lived there, the smaller your share.

If the refund is too small or never arrives

Ask the landlord or management company for an itemized statement, check whether ordinary wear has been wrongly charged to you, and if you can't reach agreement, contact your local Consumer Affairs Center (Consumer Hotline 188).

Use the checker below to estimate how much should be deducted and how much should come back.