Foreigners explicitly listed as "Housing Support Priority", effective Oct 2025
On October 1, 2025, the revised Housing Safety Net Law came into force. Foreigners are now explicitly included as "Housing Support Priority Persons" who face difficulty renting housing. The law launches a MLIT-certified rent guarantor company system, a supportive housing certification program, and other frameworks aimed at reducing rental refusals.
Rent guarantor companies certified by MLIT are in principle obligated to accept foreigners, elderly, and other priority groups
Certified housing bundled with welfare checks, consultation, and job support — landlords can rent to foreigners with confidence
Legal rules for handling belongings after tenant death are codified, easing landlord concerns
Roughly 30% of rental listings still refuse foreigners, making housing a serious challenge for foreigners working and studying in Japan. By explicitly listing foreigners as priority persons, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism challenges landlord/agency prejudice at the legal level and builds public guarantee infrastructure so that landlords can rent with peace of mind.
On Sept 28, 2026, MLIT alerted condo management associations to advice desks and ordering cautions after the JFTC issued a cease-and-desist order over large-scale repair work in the Kanto region.
Japan's MLIT has published a draft cabinet order amending the Public Housing Act Enforcement Order, with public comments open from Sept 10 to 0:00 on Oct 11, 2026. It touches tenant eligibility, rent setting and vacating rules. Anyone may submit views.
Kyoto City is tightening vacation rental rules: "zero-day zones" where no rentals are allowed, late-night spot inspections, and business suspension orders for unregistered operators. Affects tourists using Airbnb and foreign property owners.