The management association of an apartment building in Azabu Juban have filed a request with the Tokyo District Court to ban a real estate company from operating an 8-room share house out of one of the apartments.

The association believes that the share house configuration violates the condominium ownership law and building standards act.

In June, the real estate company filed an application with them to convert the 83 sqm (893 sqft) apartment into five rooms. By the end of July, however, it was discovered that they had converted the space into 8 smaller rooms around 7.2 sqm (77 sqft). Some of the rooms have windows that cannot be opened. The association was incorrectly told that the apartment was only to be used as staff accommodation.

The real estate company purchased the 3-bedroom apartment at a public auction in April for 40,150,000 Yen. After converting it into an 8-room share house, they are now advertising the rooms at 98,000 Yen/month. They claim that the configuration does not violate any building codes as each room is above 7 sqm in size and has a window.

On August 6, the Azabu fire station and Minato ward office sent staff to inspect the property, but the owners would only grant access to staff from the fire station.

The association is insisting that the 16-apartment building was not designed to have so many residents in one space. Other neighbours are concerned about possible noise issues and other troubles that may arise from having a share house in the building.

 Sources:

The Mainichi Shimbun, August 22, 2013.
The Sankei Shimbun, August 22, 2013.

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