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Corporate services

Japan Desk

Associate Director - Yoshi Tsuji

Fluent in English and Japanese

Qualified member of ARLA Propertymark experience helping Japanese companies and their employees with their accommodation needs in London.

020 3868 5733

Anna Suzuka - Property Manager, Japan Desk

Anna previously worked in the sales department of a Japanese advertising company where she learned about building strong customer relations through effective communication skills. Well organised and motivated, Anna enjoys the challenges of working in a cross-cultural environment which includes liaison with landlords based in the UK, Japan and various overseas countries. Anna greatly values the strong team ethic of the Japan Desk and looks forward to maintaining the high level of customer service that Japanese corporate tenants routinely expect. Passionate about food and travel, Anna also likes to read and practise yoga.

Akino Abe - Property Manager, Japan Desk

Akino has good communication and diplomacy skills having worked for a Japanese insurance company for a number of years. She is fluent in English and Japanese and is a good communicator which is appreciated by our Japanese tenants and landlords. The UK way of living is different to living in Japan so Akino takes time to ensure our Japanese tenants get settled quickly into their London rental properties. To relax, Akino likes to enjoy café culture and exploring the UK’s rich culture and history.

Yuzuka Toda - Property Manager, Japan Desk

Yuzuka graduated from University with a bachelor's degree in Global Japanese Studies and her career experience includes working as a co-ordinator at a design company in Osaka and a Japanese language teacher in Tokyo and Europe before coming to the UK to work in the services sector. Yuzuka enjoys looking after the properties she manages ensuring that everything is maintained to the standards expected. To relax after work, she enjoys travel, watching movies and keeping fit.

Erina Mori - Property Manager, Japan Desk

As a specialist dealing with housing executives in high-end properties, I enjoy being part of such a dynamic, fast-paced industry. I used to work at a real estate agency in Tokyo as a lettings consultant, then I spent four years working in property management so I have a lot of hands-on experience. As I have been living in London a while now, I draw on my own experiences of living here to help our Japanese tenants settle in. To relax after work, I enjoy travelling and enjoy playing badminton with my friends. It’s a great way to keep fit.

Kaiju Matsuda - Lettings Consultant

With a background career teaching English at a school in Japan and Japanese to foreign students, Kaiju has gained good customer-facing experience and linguistic skills. With communication and negotiating proficiency, his role is to provide Japanese tenants and our global landlords with the best mutual housing contract that suits both parties. Kaiju has developed good working relationships with many companies, some curated through his own network of contacts. His good natural instincts help him to meet the needs of our Japanese corporate tenants and landlord clients who greatly value his efforts.

Kayoko Takasaka - Lettings Consultant

Seeing herself as a bridge between Japan and the UK, Kayoko brings her own unique style of Japanese warmth into her daily role which our professional landlords and tenants appreciate. Previous career experience includes time spent working as a sales consultant in Japan followed by studies in the UK then working at a Japanese school to hone her English language skills. Being a music lover, Kayoko enjoys playing the bass and tin whistle and is a keen traveller, having already visited 35 countries.

Our Japan desk is a dedicated department employing Japanese people to provide a complete service to Japanese HR departments and their employees with their accommodation needs in London.

Unlike many other companies, our Japan desk has many unique advantages:

Lettings is our specialism - so our focus is on rentals and assisting tenants.
Professional and highly personal service so the process is smooth and seamless
65% of properties are managed by us so we can ensure maintenance issues are dealt with very quickly
Even where we do not manage, we act as an intermediary with landlords to help the tenancy to run smoothly
Access to London's best new developments through our relationships with the largest developers in London
Network of 21 branches so can offer properties throughout London
With our One-stop 10 point plan, we offer assistance every step of the process. Advise on location (distance to the company's offices and local schools); accompany all viewings; offer support throughout the entire process of finding a new home; assist during the tenancy and help with the return of the deposit at the end.

One-stop 10 point plan

1.Dedicated Account Manager

We provide a dedicated account manager throughout the whole process to act as the main contact, handling any issues or questions that arise.

2.Initial consultation and advice before arriving in the UK

Before the employee arrives, we will discuss both the company and the employee’s needs to establish priorities in terms of

Location
Type of property – requirement for parking
Rental budget
Journey time to the office
Preferences for schools, local amenities and transport links

so that you can be confident your new rental home meets all your requirements.

3.Property search and viewings

We will research all suitable properties within the specified budget, offering advice on areas which we believe will meet your needs and be conveniently located for your job, with good transport links. Once you have approved the properties you wish to view, we will take you take you around to view all the properties including pointing out where the local amenities, such as shops, gyms and of course where the local transport is.

4.Negotiation and Tenancy management

Once a property has been selected we will negotiate the best terms complying with any specific requirements made by the company.

And once the offer is agreed, we will draw up the tenancy agreement (using the company’s agreement where one has been previously approved), register the deposit with an approved scheme (where tenancy is in employee’s name) and complete other essential documentation to ensure that both company and employee are fully protected under UK law.

5.Pre move-in guidance and support moving in

When you move into your new home, we provide assistance from attending the inventory check-in (if required) to supplying relevant information about the property such as instructions for appliances and support setting up accounts with council tax, gas, electricity and other service providers.

6.Property Management

Most companies insist employees rent a professionally managed property as this means repairs or maintenance issues are handled quickly. Over 65% of the properties we let are managed by us so employee and company can rest assured that the property will be well-maintained and hassle-free.

7.Initial Contact point throughout the tenancy

Your dedicated account manager will be on hand during the tenancy to assist with any issues or questions that arise.

8.Tenancy Renewal

Many of our corporate tenants are so happy in their rental home that they choose to renew their tenancy at the end of their tenancy agreement. If so, we will handle any negotiation with the landlord and the completion of a new tenancy agreement on the company’s or employee’s behalf. If a new property is required, then we will research suitable properties in the chosen location and ensure that they meet the employee’s criteria to avoid time wasting or the need for additional searches.

9.Moving Out Assistance

At the end of the tenancy, we will assist both employee and company with the end of tenancy procedure, including recommending reliable and reasonably priced cleaners and attending the inventory check-out (if required).

10.Deposit Resolution Assistance

Once the tenancy has ended and the inventory check-out has been completed, we will liase with the landlord to ensure deductions are reasonable and push for a speedy return of the deposit.

Additional Services For Corporate HR Departments

We offer a number of additional services for HR departments including

regular meetings to discuss the market and rental budgets (to ensure the company's rents are in line with the market)
guidance tours of some new developments and some homes within our portfolio of London rental properties.

And of course we are always available to offer professional advice and assistance - we view our relationships with companies as long term and as such are always available to help where required.

Helping Japanese to find home in London

Find out more

Frequently asked questions

How does the Japan Desk support Japanese expatriates relocating to London?

From handling all the relocation processes, such as conducting property viewings and searches, tenancy management and renewal, to moving out and deposit resolution, our dedicated Japan Desk provides a comprehensive relocation service for Japanese expatriates relocating to London.

What property management services are available for Japanese landlords?

From finding and securing high-calibre corporate tenants to managing all the lettings requirements and taking care of the property, we offer an end-to-end property management service for our Japanese landlords.

Can Japanese companies lease homes for their staff in the UK?

With Benham and Reeves' dedicated Japan Desk, leading Japanese and corporate clients can easily find and lease homes for their staff in the UK.

Do Japanese investors face additional taxes when buying in the UK?

There is a 2% surcharge on the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) levied on foreign investors, which applies to Japanese investors when purchasing property in the UK.

How does Benham and Reeves assist with language and cultural differences?

Benham and Reeves hire local Japanese-speaking staff on their Japan Desk to help bridge linguistic and cultural differences.

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Benham & Reeves has a great franchise with corporate customers. Our agent, Mr. Tsuji found a tent who works for a Japanese bluechip company the very next day after we signed the full service contract. In addition, both Ms. Tsushima of the legal department and Ms. Mori of the maintenance department are highly professional and helpful. We are happy that we found B&R.

伊藤洋一

Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 177 reviews

Their Japan desk is quite good. They provided a good and useful instruction session when you move to a new housing.

Yuichiro