>> Read this information in Japanese／日本語で読む

*Notice (December 5, 2024) Please be advised that new applications for the International Student Housing Guarantor System will not be accepted after January 2025. (Renewals are possible for those who are currently using the system.） Further information about the "Sumuraku Plan", a new system recommended by the University for international students living in apartments, will be provided shortly.

In Japan, a guarantor is mostly necessary when you rent an apartment. Tohoku University offers a special house renting guarantor system for international students called "Tohoku University Housing Rent Joint Guarantor System" (Guarantor System).
With this system, Tohoku University can be an institutional guarantor of the apartment lease contract.

To apply for the system, applicants should meet the following conditions:

◆ Eligibility and Requirement
- International students of Tohoku University (including those who surely enroll in Tohoku University)
- "Student" resident status
- The apartment for rent must be located in Sendai
- Contract paper must be used as designated paper by Tohoku University
- Buying "Comprehensive Renters' Insurance for International Students" (Renters' Insurance) offered by JEES (Japan Educational Exchanges and Services)
Insurance Fee>>> 8,000 yen for two years/4,000 yen for one year

- Roommate must be your spouse or child/ren or Tohoku University international student (Not accepted in the case of living with a Japanese student.)

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Application flowchart of the Guarantor System

【Japanese version: Application flowchart】

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★The whole procedure takes time to get completed. We recommend that you should start this procedure one month prior to your preferred date for move-in an apartment.
★ Application documents are very important and you need to handle them with care. When making corrections, please cross out the mistake with two lines and put a seal (hanko) or signature next to the crossed-out part.

Please download forms 1 to 5 below and submit them to the DiRECT.
*Opening and Downloading forms require ID and password; contact DiRECT first by e-mail.
(Available exclusively to students of the School of Science)

◆ Guarantor System Application Guide
・Guide in Japanese
・Guide in English

For New Applicants

After you decide on an apartment, please prepare the following items and submit them to the DiRECT.

1. Application (Form 1) 【Printed double-sided】
2. Contract Paper: requires 2 copies of each NEW!
Form 2 (1)
Form 2 (2)
3. Letter of Agreement (Form 3)
4. Budget Estimation Sheet (Form 4) 【Printed double-sided】
5. Invoice Request for Housing Rent Joint Guarantor System (Renter's Insurance) [*]
* When you need an urgent application request, you may submit the invoice request to the DiRECT in advance.

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• How to apply for the system when living with your family or roommate
  

◆Living with your family
- When you live with your spouse and/or child(ren), it is necessary to submit a certificate proving marriage in addition to the above-mentioned application documents.

◆Living with Tohoku University international student(s)
- The main contractor should prepare the above-mentioned application documents.
- The roommate should prepare the following items and submit them to the DiRECT.

・Application (Form 1) 【Printed double-sided】
・Letter of Agreement (Form 3)
・Budget Estimation Sheet (Form 4) 【Printed double-sided】
・List of Tenants (Form 7)
・Invoice Request for Housing Rent Joint Guarantor System (Renter's Insurance) [*]
* When you need an urgent application request, you may submit the invoice request to the DiRECT in advance.

When renewing your apartment contract

When the time for apartment contract renewal comes, you need to submit a "Renewal Application".
*Submitting the form is required even if the contract renewal is automatically processed.

・Renewal Application (Form 6) 【Printed double-sided】
・Invoice Request for Housing Rent Joint Guarantor System (Renter's Insurance) [*]
* When you need an urgent application request, you may submit the invoice request to the DiRECT in advance.

【NOTE】
- You can choose "6 months" for the insurance period only in case of renewing your apartment contract for 6 months.
- If you are asked to submit the contract papers for the contract renewal procedure, 2 sets of Contract papers (Form 2 (1) & Form 2 (2)) NEW! are necessary for addition to the above-mentioned items.
(No submission required if Real Estate Agency/Landlord does not request.)

When moving out of the apartment

You need to submit a "Termination Notice" when you graduate or leave school or move into another apartment.

• In the case of graduation or leaving school

・Notice of Termination (Form 5) 【Printed double-sided】
・Roommate himself/herself should submit Notice of Termination for Cohabitants (Form 8)【Printed double-sided】

【NOTE】
If the insurance period remains more than a month, a refund can be made upon your request. Submit a copy of the bank book along with the Notice of Termination to the DiRECT. [Bank account in Japan ONLY.]
The refund procedure takes more than a month so you should designate a bank account other than yours.

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• In the case of moving into a new apartment

When you move into a new apartment and its apartment contract requires the guarantor, the following documents need to be submitted.

・Notice of Termination (Form 5) 【Printed double-sided】
・Roommate himself/herself should submit Notice of Termination for Cohabitants (Form 8)【Printed double-sided】
* "Notice of Termination" should be submitted first or along with the other documents to the DiRECT.

In addition, you need to submit the following documents for the new apartment contract.

1. Application (Form 1) 【Printed double-sided】
2. Contract Paper: requires 2 copies of each NEW!
Form 2 (1)
Form 2 (2)
3. Letter of Agreement (Form 3)
4. Budget Estimation Sheet (Form 4) 【Printed double-sided】
5. (Only the case if the renters' insurance contract expires) Invoice Request for Housing Rent Joint Guarantor System (Renter's Insurance) [*]
* When you need an urgent application request, you may submit the invoice request to the DiRECT in advance.

【NOTE】
- If the remaining period for the current renter's insurance contract is long enough, it is not necessary to buy the insurance again. The insurance should be still active for your new apartment.
- In such a case, you should be aware that the new apartment contract period and the renter's insurance contract period cannot be the same. Before the insurance expiration date comes, it is required to buy the renter's insurance again, which fully covers the apartment contract period.

When having a new roommate or family member
When changing your roommate or family member

You are supposed to submit the necessary document(s) when you have any new roommates or family members or when your roommate or a family member is changed.

• In the case of having a new roommate

The roommate him/herself should need to prepare the following items:

・Application (Form 1) 【Printed double-sided】
・Letter of Agreement (Form 3)
・Budget Estimation Sheet (Form 4) 【Printed double-sided】
・List of Tenants (Form 7)

・A photocopy of the contract paper which added the name of your new roommate
・Invoice Request for Housing Rent Joint Guarantor System (Renter's Insurance) [*]
* When you need an urgent application request, you may submit the invoice request to the DiRECT in advance.

• In the case of having a new family member

*Not required to submit "List of Tenants (Form 7)".
Instead, please submit a photocopy of the contract paper which added the name of your family member.

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Updated on May 17, 2023