Serviced apartments: the smart traveler's choice

From Beijing and Dubai to London, Los Angeles and Sydney, and on to Tokyo, serviced apartments are becoming the choice of smart international travelers and short-term residents.

Serviced apartments are furnished, self-contained apartments that are rented for short periods of time, usually from several weeks or months. As a home away from home, they generally have a lounge, a bathroom and a kitchen, in addition to one or more bedrooms.

With the continual increase in international travel and the rising sophistication of travelers, serviced apartments are quickly becoming a preferred alternative to hotels. This is especially so among business people because the apartments offer more privacy and freedom while being comparatively inexpensive. Reflecting the demand of globetrotting executives, many today come with desks and Internet connections. Furthermore, some even provide small offices to cater to business executives on short-term contracts in a foreign country.

Serviced apartments also appeal to families on the move. They offer ample space and freedom to cook and share a family meal, for example. Many families thus choose to live, eat and sleep in one apartment, rather than being spread out over several hotel rooms. Another advantage of serviced apartments is that they are often in good locations within city centers.

The quality of the apartments can vary. This is especially so in Western countries, where people with second homes rent them out for short-stay visitors. Agencies may offer a higher standard of apartment because they realize that people who rent short-stay accommodations seek comfort and a good standard of furnishing. Furthermore, quality serviced apartments also usually offer greater levels of customer service.

Tokyo servicedapartments
The concept of serviced apartments is quite new in Japan, and it is only recently that they have become popular. Monthly rates differ greatly from around ¥200,000 to ¥3 million, depending on the offered services. Usually, it takes around one week after your first visit until you can actually move in. Explained below are the general procedures you will have to take with an agent to rent a serviced apartment in Tokyo.

First, you make an appointment to inspect the apartment. After checking the apartment, you decide whether you would like to rent it. Applications are usually accepted up to one month before moving in. You should then check the terms of the contract. Some apartments offer a minimum leasing period of weeks while others can be rented for one month and more. The leasing procedure differs according to whether it is a corporate rental or an individual rental.

When renting on a corporate basis, the following documents are necessary: copies of the corporate registration, corporate seal registration certificate, corporate summary, corporate annual report or tax return application, as well as an identification certificate of the resident(s). In the case of renting as an individual, the necessary documents are: copies of an employment certificate, identification certificate, seal registration certificate, as well as the income tax return from the previous year.

The lease agreement should be signed and submitted at least one day before moving in. The full amount of the rent for the term of your contract should also be transferred to the designated bank account at least one working day before moving in.

Generally speaking, services included in the rent are management fees for common use areas, air conditioning, utilities fees such as gas, water and electricity, as well as various other services such as the Internet, cable TV and telephone line rental fees. At the most exclusive serviced apartments housekeeping is also included in the rent.

No key money or security deposit is usually required, and the number of people allowed to live in the apartment is determined by the rent. High-grade serviced apartments generally have a bilingual concierge desk to respond to the various requirements of residents, such as medical facility guidance, shopping advice, school information and so on.

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