Trends for renters in Japan in 2025

As someone who has been renting for quite some time here, I try and keep an eye on any kind of noticeable changes to the rental industry. I saw a newly released survey from Leasing Management Consulting Co., Ltd. on rental trends in 2025, and naturally it piqued my interest. It was based on feedback from 374 real estate agents across the Tokyo metro area, and offered some useful info about what renters (including many expats!) can expect next year.

One of the biggest shifts is how normal electronic contracts have become. More than half of rental agreements are now signed digitally at many agencies, which to me is a clear sign that the famously paper-heavy rental process here is finally modernizing. For us as expats, this can mean faster applications and fewer in-person steps, which is especially helpful when you first get here and really just need to get a roof over your head!

Unsurprisingly, rent continues to rise, and over 40% of agents reported that tenants are increasing their budgets compared to 2024. On average, monthly budgets rose by around 8,000 yen for singles and even more for families. Rent negotiations are also common (I didn't really know this was a thing!) with many tenants aiming for modest reductions of 5 to 10%. 

Teleworking is another factor that has settled in for good. A decent chunk of renters search for homes assuming some level of remote work, showing that flexible layouts and extra space remain in demand.