“Move-out Cost Overpayment Diagnosis” Launches “Tenant Rights Checker” — AI Checks Special Clauses in Rental Contracts to Determine Validity

Mycat Inc. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo) has newly released the “Tenant Rights Checker,” a tool capable of checking the validity of special clauses in rental contracts, as part of its AI-powered move-out cost diagnosis service, “Move-out Cost Overpayment Diagnosis” (https://taikyo.xyz).

Tool URL: https://taikyo.xyz/tools/rights-checker

Tool Overview

In move-out cost disputes, it is common for tenants to be charged high fees simply because “it is written in the contract.” However, not all special clauses included in rental agreements are legally valid.

This is a web tool where users can input special clauses regarding move-out costs, and an AI will determine whether it is highly likely or unlikely that the clause would be considered valid under legal precedent. The assessment is based on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s “Guidelines for Troubleshooting Restoration to Original Condition (Revised Edition)” and relevant judicial precedents (such as the Supreme Court judgment of December 16, 2005).

Input Items

Basic Information:

• Property type (Condominium/Apartment/Detached house/Other)
• Contract date (Year and Month)
• Whether an explanation of important matters was provided at the time of contract
• Whether individual explanations regarding the special clauses were provided

Input of Special Clauses (One clause at a time, up to 10 clauses):

Input is performed using one of the following methods.

Method 1: Selection Input — Select from common patterns of special clauses

• Special clause making house cleaning costs the tenant's responsibility
• Special clause making key exchange costs the tenant's responsibility
• Special clause making full wall covering replacement the tenant's responsibility
• Special clause making tatami mat surface replacement the tenant's responsibility
• Special clause making air conditioner cleaning the tenant's responsibility
• Special clause applying security deposits to restoration costs
• Special clause not setting a cap on restoration costs
• Penalty clause for short-term cancellation (less than 1 year)
• Special clause for restoration costs that does not take into account aging deterioration

Method 2: Text Input — Input the special clause from the contract exactly as it is written.

Output Assessment Results

1. Validity Assessment for Each Special Clause (3 levels)

The validity of each clause is assessed based on the following three levels:

• High possibility of validity: A pattern likely to be judged valid in court provided that appropriate procedures and content were followed. However, the reasonableness of the amount should be confirmed separately.
• Validity in doubt: A pattern that is problematic in light of the intent of the guidelines, or similar to patterns judged invalid in court precedents.
• High possibility of invalidity: A pattern highly likely to be judged invalid in court. Possibility of conflicting with Article 10 of the Consumer Contract Act.

2. Explanation of the Basis for Assessment

The following information is displayed as the basis for each assessment:

• Relevant Guideline Citations: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s view on the applicable special clause.
• Summary of Reference Precedents: An overview of judicial precedents judging similar special clauses (Supreme Court judgment of December 16, 2005: A special clause making the tenant bear the costs of normal wear and tear is invalid without “clear agreement”).
• Relationship with the Consumer Contract Act: The applicability of Article 10 of the Consumer Contract Act, which renders clauses that unilaterally disadvantage the consumer against the principles of good faith as invalid.

3. Condition Check for Valid Special Clauses

For a special clause to be recognized as valid, the following conditions are generally required. This tool displays whether these conditions are met based on the information provided.

• The content of the special clause is concrete and clear.
• Sufficient explanation of the special clause was provided at the time of contract.
• The tenant agreed to the special clause after understanding its content.
• The content of the special clause is within a reasonable range according to general social norms.

4. Key Points for Move-out Negotiation

Based on the assessment results, points to confirm when negotiating with the management company are presented. Items are listed as specific confirmation points, such as: “Because this special clause differs from the guideline standards, please confirm the basis for it.”

Background on Move-out Costs and Special Clauses

According to data from the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, there are 13,273 consultations per year regarding the restoration of rental housing (Source: National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan, FY2023). Many of these consultations include inquiries such as, “The contract states this is the tenant’s responsibility, but is this special clause valid?”

In its December 16, 2005, judgment, the Supreme Court indicated regarding special clauses for normal wear and tear that, “In order for a special clause requiring the tenant to bear the repair costs for normal wear and tear to be valid, it is necessary that the tenant clearly recognizes the fact and that it is recognized as part of the agreement.”

How to Use

1. Access the tool page (https://taikyo.xyz/tools/rights-checker)

2. Enter the basic information

3. Input the special clauses to be checked via selection or text entry

4. Display the assessment results instantly with the “Check” button

The tool is available for free from both PCs and smartphones. No member registration is required.

Future Development

We plan to add a feature for automatically generating negotiation templates for use when moving out.

※ This service does not constitute legal advice. Please consult with an expert such as a lawyer for the final judgment regarding the validity of special clauses.

■ Company Overview

Company Name: Mycat Inc.

Established: February 5, 2025

Address: 2-7-22 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

Business Content: Planning, development, and operation of AI-powered services for small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals

Corporate Website: https://mycat.business

Inquiries: info@mycat.business