In the Japanese real estate market, inquiries from buyers and renters extend beyond the home's size, location, and rental cost. Sometimes they delve into the property's history, including whether it has witnessed deaths or tragic events in the past, which can directly affect its market value.
These properties are known in Japan as "jiko bukken," which include homes that have seen murders, suicides, or deaths that went undiscovered for long periods, making them less attractive to some housing seekers and prompting their owners to list them at lower prices and rents.
According to a report by the BBC, some renters have no qualms about living in these homes despite their histories, benefiting from lower housing costs. Among them is a young artist named Riuwa, who rented an apartment in Tokyo despite being informed that a former resident had committed suicide there.
Riuwa says she pays a monthly rent of 45,000 yen, compared to about 62,000 yen for similar apartments, representing a discount of nearly 27%. She mentions having heard footsteps inside the apartment and seeing what she believed to be a ghost, a personal account that does not constitute evidence of paranormal phenomena.
In another example, 79-year-old American Diane Tencher purchased a three-bedroom house in Kagoshima for 20 million yen after being informed of the death of an elderly woman who lived there alone, which affected the property's price, as similar houses in the area could reach about 45 million yen.
Japan regulates the disclosure of death history in properties through government guidelines issued in 2021, outlining the cases that real estate agents must inform buyers or renters about, with exceptions related to certain natural deaths.
While these properties cause concern for some due to their past, others view them as an opportunity to acquire homes at lower prices, considering the increasing importance of cost and location when making a purchase or rental decision.