1.
renewal fee (especially on a rental contract)
A fee paid when renewing a contract — most often an apartment lease, but also driver's licenses, domain names, and memberships. In the context of rental housing, the term specifically refers to a lump-sum payment (typically equivalent to one to two months' rent) paid to the landlord every two years.
Composed of 更新 (renewal, update) and 料 (fee, charge). In everyday Japanese life, 更新料 most often refers to the contract renewal fee on rental apartments, which is a well-known — and frequently grumbled-about — feature of the Japanese housing system. It is typically paid to the landlord once every two years when the lease is renewed, on top of the regular rent.
Cultural note
The practice is common especially in the Kanto area, but much less so in other regions. In some rental contracts (particularly in the Kansai area), there is no 更新料 at all, and the tenant instead pays a relatively higher monthly rent or other fees.
Common collocations
- 更新料を払う: to pay a renewal fee
- 更新料なし: no renewal fee (often used as a selling point in rental listings)
- 家賃一ヶ月分の更新料: a renewal fee equal to one month's rent
- 契約更新時の更新料: renewal fee at contract renewal
Similar words
Related Words
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礼金 ("key money")
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敷金 (security deposit)
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仲介手数料 (broker's commission)
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家賃 (monthly rent)