Short answer
退去立会 (taikyo tachiai, also written 退去立会い) is a meeting where you and your landlord or 管理会社 (kanri gaisha, property management company) go to the property together to confirm its condition when you move out. Both sides inspect the room together and confirm whether there is any damage, anything that needs to be restored, or any items to be deducted from your 敷金 (shikikin, security deposit).
What this term means
- 退去 (taikyo) — moving out, ending your lease.
- 立会い (tachiai) — being present, confirming something together.
Put together, a 退去立会 is a joint walkthrough of the property by both parties when you move out. Its purpose is to confirm the condition of the property face to face and reduce later disputes over the deposit and restoration costs.
How a taikyo tachiai usually works
- Arrange a date for the taikyo tachiai with your landlord or management company (usually around your move-out date).
- Both sides inspect the room together: walls, floors, fixtures, and so on.
- Confirm which items need cleaning or restoration, and whether they will be deducted from your deposit (敷金).
What you need to watch out for
- Clean the room as thoroughly as you can before moving out.
- If you have doubts about any charge during the inspection, ask the other party to explain the basis on the spot.
- Keep your contract and any records or photos of the room's condition from when you moved in, so you can compare.
Which official body or resource to check if you are unsure
For disputes involving restoration and your deposit, you can refer to the guideline on restoration of rental housing published by the 国土交通省 (Kokudo Kōtsūshō, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, MLIT). Note that under the MLIT guideline, 原状回復 (genjō kaifuku) does not mean returning the unit to exactly its original move-in condition: it refers to restoring damage caused by the tenant beyond ordinary use (intentional damage or negligence), while normal wear and aging are generally not the tenant's burden. The specific terms are governed by the contract you signed with your landlord or management company.
Common Japanese terms
- 退去立会い (taikyo tachiai) — move-out inspection
- 敷金 (shikikin) — security deposit
- 原状回復 (genjō kaifuku) — restoration of tenant-caused damage beyond ordinary use (not full restoration to the original condition; normal wear and aging are generally not the tenant's burden)
- 管理会社 (kanri gaisha) — property management company
- 大家 / 貸主 (ōya / kashinushi) — landlord / lessor