90% of real estate companies now feeling effects of coronavirus
Over 90% of real estate companies are now reporting that the coronavirus pandemic is affecting their business activities. This is a 20 point increase from a previous survey carried out in early March.
Oldest merchant house in Kanto region demolished
Demolition of the Mizumura Residence in Kawagoe, Saitama, started on April 24. Built in the 1700s, this is said to have been one of the oldest surviving machiya townhouses in the Kanto region.
Daiwa House offering 3-month rent deferment to 500,000 tenants
On April 22, Daiwa House announced that they will be offering a three month rental-deferment plan to approximately 500,000 of their residential tenants. The company understands that tenants may be struggling with finances due to the economic impact of the global coronavirus pandemic and is offering this without the need for tenants to prove any proof of loss in income.
Japan’s largest hotel to house coronavirus patients
On April 10, hotelier APA Hotels & Resorts announced that the APA Hotel & Resort Yokohama Bay Tower will be leased out to Kanagawa Prefecture provide beds for coronavirus patients with light or no symptoms. The 37-story hotel is located on the Yokohama waterfront. With 2,311 rooms, it is the largest hotel in Japan based on room count.
Tokyo apartment sales drop by over 50% as pandemic hits buyer sentiment
Reported sales of existing apartments across Tokyo’s 23 wards have sunk to record lows this month as the coronavirus panic and state of emergency scares buyers from making big purchases.
Construction stalls amidst coronavirus shutdown
Major construction companies are temporarily shuttering building sites across the country in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus as the government declares a nationwide state of emergency.
Airbnb hosts leaving in droves as coronavirus cancellations pile up
Short-term ‘minpaku’ accommodation hosts are starting to exit the short-term letting market. As of April 2020, the number of hosts that de-registered their properties topped 4,100 since the registration system was introduced in mid-2018. There are currently 25,000 registered minpaku properties across Japan.