Sun fading, furniture dents, dark marks behind the TV: do you pay?
At move-out you may be charged for wallpaper discoloration, furniture dents, or dark marks behind appliances. Under Japan's restoration guideline, these are normally the landlord's burden.
更新: 2026-06-13
At move-out, settlement statements often list charges for wallpaper discoloration, dents left by furniture, or the dark marks ("electrical scorching") behind a TV or refrigerator. Under Japan's restoration guideline (MLIT, "Guideline on Restoration Trouble"), these are normally not the tenant's burden.
Why these are the landlord's burden
The guideline treats wear that arises from ordinary living as "normal wear and aging" (通常損耗・経年劣化), which the landlord bears. Sun-caused fading of wallpaper and tatami, dents and marks from placing furniture, and scorching behind appliances all fall into this category — as do small pin or thumbtack holes that don't require base repair. None of these are charged to the tenant.
What to watch for
- A full wallpaper-replacement charge framed as "your fault" for sun fading.
- Furniture-dent repair listed as a tenant cost.
- Discoloration from neglected condensation (mold) or cigarette tar, which can be the tenant's burden — different from ordinary aging.
Use the checker below to estimate which side your case falls on.