7 ms·

Like others having lived there for a short period of time, I agree with this observation. The cultural premium on risk, that may merely inconvenience someone, i

Like others having lived there for a short period of time, I agree with this observation. The cultural premium on risk, that may merely inconvenience someone, is unreasonably high (by my standard, anyway). Ever have to pay a bribe to a landlord to rent an apartment as a matter of accepted business protocol? Look up "reikin". Then you'll realize why some think it's totally reasonable to live out of an internet cafe.

gfxgirl 6y ago
It's not a bribe. That's your negative spin. The positive spin is it's just 2/26th pre-payment of the rent for 2 years. You then pay 1/26th every month for 2 years, repeat when you renew your contract. Do I like having to pay 2/26th up front (2 months rent?) no. But I also would prefer not to have to put down payments on cars/houses.
- brazzy 6y ago
  If it truly were a pre-payment, it would be partially refunded when the rental contract terminates early.
  - gfxgirl 6y ago
    No, it wouldn't. It would just be your non-refundable downpayment. Plenty of other things have non-refundable up front payments in the USA and other countries.
    - brazzy 6y ago
      Then don't try to spin it as "pre-payment". It is not.
- tasogare 6y ago
  You are wrong. Those fees are added to the normal rent, they are not part of it. I choose my current appartment in part because there was no additional "gift money" to pay. Each time one moves place those have to be paid, which makes moving quite costly.
  - gfxgirl 6y ago
    I'm not wrong. Different apartments give different offers just like everything else in the world.
  - neilparikh 6y ago
    I think gfxgirl's point is that you can mentally model the gift money as added on the rent, and use that number when comparing apartments. Ex. 50/mo + 240 gift money (for a 2 year lease) == 60/mo without gift money.
michaelt 6y ago
Loads of countries have something functionally equivalent to reikin - just they call it a "background check fee" or "credit check fee" or "administration charge" or "inventory fee"
freetime2 6y ago
Calling it a bribe is seriously misleading. A bribe implies illegal or dishonest behavior. But reikin is perfectly legal, and is typically fully disclosed up front in the rental listing. It’s basically just a one-time fee that is paid up front - something which is not at all uncommon in the world of commerce.

gfxgirl 6y ago

It's not a bribe. That's your negative spin. The positive spin is it's just 2/26th pre-payment of the rent for 2 years. You then pay 1/26th every month for 2 years, repeat when you renew your contract. Do I like having to pay 2/26th up front (2 months rent?) no. But I also would prefer not to have to put down payments on cars/houses.

brazzy 6y ago
If it truly were a pre-payment, it would be partially refunded when the rental contract terminates early.
- gfxgirl 6y ago
  No, it wouldn't. It would just be your non-refundable downpayment. Plenty of other things have non-refundable up front payments in the USA and other countries.
  - brazzy 6y ago
    Then don't try to spin it as "pre-payment". It is not.
tasogare 6y ago
You are wrong. Those fees are added to the normal rent, they are not part of it. I choose my current appartment in part because there was no additional "gift money" to pay. Each time one moves place those have to be paid, which makes moving quite costly.
- gfxgirl 6y ago
  I'm not wrong. Different apartments give different offers just like everything else in the world.
- neilparikh 6y ago
  I think gfxgirl's point is that you can mentally model the gift money as added on the rent, and use that number when comparing apartments. Ex. 50/mo + 240 gift money (for a 2 year lease) == 60/mo without gift money.

michaelt 6y ago

Loads of countries have something functionally equivalent to reikin - just they call it a "background check fee" or "credit check fee" or "administration charge" or "inventory fee"

freetime2 6y ago

Calling it a bribe is seriously misleading. A bribe implies illegal or dishonest behavior. But reikin is perfectly legal, and is typically fully disclosed up front in the rental listing. It’s basically just a one-time fee that is paid up front - something which is not at all uncommon in the world of commerce.