New regulations regarding Airbnb type residential lodging in Japan
#1
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New regulations regarding Airbnb type residential lodging in Japan
Renting a residential housing for lodging, such as Airbnb, has become popular in large cities in Japan lately. In Japan such rental activity is called Minpaku (民泊).There will be a new regulations effective June 15, 2018 in Japan regarding Minpaku, or residential property lodging rental.Some of key points on the new regulations are:
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Shinjuku ward includes Shinjuku station area, Kabukicho, Ookubo, Takadanobaba, west side of Yotsuya station, west side of Ichigaya station, west side of IIdabashi station.
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- Maximum of 180 nights per year of lodging is allowed by one property
- Must provide kitchen and bathroom settings
- Must provide bedding items
- Must have a written contract which includes property diagrams
- Maximum number of occupants based on square footage of the property
- Emergency lighting and emergency escape route on display
- Multilingual guide of a property
- Must maintain a record of occupants (name, address, occupations)
- Must maintain contact point (phone, e-mail, etc.) for neighbors concerning a lodging activity
- Each prefecture will oversee the regulation
- Use for overnight lodging only, no short day time use allowed
- If a condominium association or a neighborhood association prohibit such activity, then a property cannot be used for a loading purpose.
- Must be registered with local prefecture office
- Lodging not allowed from Monday 12 noon to Friday 12 noon
- Maximum of 150 nights of lodging per year allowed by one property
- Property address and a person in charge will be posted publicly such as on Shinjuku ward’s website
Shinjuku ward includes Shinjuku station area, Kabukicho, Ookubo, Takadanobaba, west side of Yotsuya station, west side of Ichigaya station, west side of IIdabashi station.
Last edited by AlwaysAisle; Nov 20, 2017 at 9:10 am
#4
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#5
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Very glad this is happening. No need for dropping safety, quality and management standards. The market will always offer less expensive solutions, but they do not need to be unregulated.
#6
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The 180-day maximum has nothing to do with safety, quality, or any other standards, though, and seems to serve no other reason than to drive up the price, no?
#7
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If I had an Airbnb next door, I would like the 180-day maximum. I've heard stories about rude tourists knocking on neighbor doors to ask for help or coming in late and loud, etc.
#8
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if you're limited to 180 days you are not going to be a professional Residence and therefore will maintain it as an amateur. As such you won't have the same standards to be held to that a professional place that is registered would and therefore you would not have the same safety levels and safety procedures and safety facilities so yes the 180 days has everything to do with safety, quality and any other standard one might care to name actually .
#9
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The hotel lobby has also been pushing their lackeys in the MHLW to lobby property management companies to encourage condo HOAs to enact new provisions restricting Airbnb type lodging. IMHO, this is totally inappropriate, illegal and probably unconstitutional behavior by the MHLW.
#10
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The hotel lobby has also been pushing their lackeys in the MHLW to lobby property management companies to encourage condo HOAs to enact new provisions restricting Airbnb type lodging. IMHO, this is totally inappropriate, illegal and probably unconstitutional behavior by the MHLW.
restricting AirBNB type lodging. Allow it but make sure it does not undo the professionals' efforts at safety standards.
#11
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Really? I'm kind of in the camp that the government does not need to (and is probably incompetent to) protect consumers on this kind of low risk activity.
#12
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You will note that I do not disagree with that position. I do not advocate government involvement unless it is supported by the public. I do however feel limitations for the safety of all are a wise idea. Implemented by proposition, by public law, I think the impact of private residences for lease could be positively augmented while the risks minimized. Thank goodness awareness of the potential hazards has been recognized. To assume low risk for housing is to not really understand the responsibility of public safety borne by landlords.
#13
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You will note that I do not disagree with that position. I do not advocate government involvement unless it is supported by the public. I do however feel limitations for the safety of all are a wise idea. Implemented by proposition, by public law, I think the impact of private residences for lease could be positively augmented while the risks minimized. Thank goodness awareness of the potential hazards has been recognized. To assume low risk for housing is to not really understand the responsibility of public safety borne by landlords.
btw.... after Kobe I would have put a mandate in place to demolish all old houses and buildings (historic sites excepted) within 10 years.
#14
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What kind of regs, do you think are appropriate? I might prohibit any paid lodging in old buildings/houses, but beyond that I'm not sure what would be needed...
btw.... after Kobe I would have put a mandate in place to demolish all old houses and buildings (historic sites excepted) within 10 years.
btw.... after Kobe I would have put a mandate in place to demolish all old houses and buildings (historic sites excepted) within 10 years.
Out of curiosity though, you do not advocate government interference with regulations regarding leasing conditions and responsibilities yet appear in the last statement to advocate government interference in the allowance of the very existence of structures. Clarification on where the lines for safety should be drawn?
#15
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I would start with the regulations required of hotels and serviced apartments that exist now. These are fairly diverse and fairly specific. Safety today is good and there is a reason for that. New players. i.e. AirBNB owners, should be held to no less of a standard. Simply owning a residential property does not qualify one to become a hotel level lessor.
Out of curiosity though, you do not advocate government interference with regulations regarding leasing conditions and responsibilities yet appear in the last statement to advocate government interference in the allowance of the very existence of structures. Clarification on where the lines for safety should be drawn?
Out of curiosity though, you do not advocate government interference with regulations regarding leasing conditions and responsibilities yet appear in the last statement to advocate government interference in the allowance of the very existence of structures. Clarification on where the lines for safety should be drawn?
Again I would ask though what are the regulations specific to lodging that are needed for safety reasons. If I were a skeptical person, I'd be tempted to think the new regulations had little to do with actual safety and more to do with shielding the lodging industry from competition and to discriminate against residents and visitors from poorer countries.
Last edited by 5khours; Nov 23, 2017 at 6:59 pm