Non-refundable and this is required by a guarantor company. In case of a personal lease (not only foreigner tenants but also all Japanese), the most Owners require Tenants to join a guarantor company instead of preparing a personal guarantor. It secures monthly payments for Owner, which means the guarantor company pays a monthly rent on behalf of the tenant although he/she didn’t pay it for the month. Then, the guarantor company shall take a legal action to collect the unpaid amount against the tenant.
This initial fee usually accounts to approximately 50% to 100% of a total amount of a monthly payment (including a management fee, a car parking, a bicycle parking, paid together with a rent) for the first year as “one time payment”, and its renewal fee is about 10,000yen/year after 2nd year.
Guarantor company shall not be required only when the lease is signed by a large company.