Condensation mold at move-out: is it the tenant's burden?
Whether mold on walls or wallpaper is your responsibility at move-out depends on whether condensation was left unwiped — and how years of tenancy reduce the share.
更新: 2026-06-13
In Japan, tenants are sometimes charged from their deposit for wallpaper ("cloth") replacement because of mold around windows or on walls. This guide explains, based on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) restoration guideline, when that charge is reasonable.
Bottom line: it depends on whether condensation was neglected
If you saw condensation building up and left it unwiped, and mold spread as a result, that can count as a breach of the duty of care (善管注意義務) — meaning it could have been prevented by normal living — and the cost may fall on you. But if you ventilated and cleaned as usual, and the mold came from a structural cause such as poor insulation or a leak, that is the landlord's problem, not yours.
Even when it is your burden, it is not the full amount
Wallpaper has a useful life of 6 years. The tenant's share is (6 − years occupied) ÷ 6. After 5 years it is about 16.7%; after 6 years or more it is effectively 0%, so no replacement charge should normally apply.
Use the checker below to estimate the burden split for your case.