[Survey of 400 Landlords] 35.5% of Rental Property Owners and Managers Have Encountered Dirty or Garbage-Filled Units | Neighbor Complaints and Odors Top Issues, with Cases Exceeding 1 Million Yen in Additional Restoration Costs

Blue Clean Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Ryuji Fujita; hereinafter "the Company"), which operates a bio recovery business (hygiene restoration services such as special cleaning), conducted a questionnaire survey titled "Survey on Dirty Rooms and Garbage Houses in Rental Properties" targeting 400 individuals who own or manage rental properties.

Survey details: https://b-clean.jp/owned/rental-property-dirty-room-garbage-house

In recent years, the issue of dirty or garbage-filled rental units has gained attention due to factors such as the increasing number of elderly single-person households and social isolation.

The problem of dirty rooms or garbage houses is not merely about cluttered interiors. It can lead to various impacts on rental property management, including neighbor disputes caused by odors or pests, abandoned belongings, and increased restoration costs.

Moreover, in the field of special cleaning, more serious issues such as solitary deaths or prolonged unexplained absences are often discovered in such units.

Therefore, Blue Clean Co., Ltd. conducted this survey targeting 400 rental property owners and managers to examine the prevalence of dirty or garbage-filled units, associated troubles, restoration costs, and current countermeasures.

Blue Clean Co., Ltd. will continue to conduct such surveys to visualize the challenges faced in property management and disseminate information that contributes to risk reduction and early detection.

[Usage Guidelines for This Survey]

1. When quoting or republishing data from this survey, please credit: "Source: Blue Clean Co., Ltd."

2. Please include a link to the following page as the source:

https://b-clean.jp/owned/rental-property-dirty-room-garbage-house

[Survey Overview]

Survey Name: Questionnaire on Dirty Rooms and Garbage Houses in Rental Properties

Survey Period: June 9, 2026

Survey Method: Web survey using Freeasy

Target Respondents: Individuals who own or manage rental properties

Valid Responses: 400

Survey Summary

35.5% have experienced handling a dirty or garbage-filled unit

The most common criterion for identifying such units is "abandoned garbage bags" at 69.25%

Approximately 60% of those who have experienced such cases reported incidents within the past year

The tenant group perceived as most prone to creating such conditions is "elderly single-person households" at 47.75%

The most frequent issue reported is "neighbor complaints (47.18%)"

The most common additional restoration cost is "between 100,000 and 300,000 yen"

8.45% of cases incurred additional restoration costs exceeding 1 million yen

One in four respondents answered "no specific countermeasures in place"

The most needed future countermeasure is "strengthening management company inspections and management systems"

35.5% of Rental Property Owners and Managers Have Encountered Dirty or Garbage-Filled Units

A survey conducted by Blue Clean Co., Ltd. targeting 400 individuals who own or manage rental properties revealed that 35.5% have encountered severely cluttered or garbage-filled units, with some cases requiring additional restoration costs exceeding 1 million yen.

First, when asked whether they had previously encountered a dirty or garbage-filled rental unit, 35.5% of the 400 respondents who own or manage rental properties answered "yes."

This means approximately one in three property managers has experienced such a situation, indicating that dirty or garbage-filled units are by no means an isolated or rare issue.

While rental property management often focuses on issues like rent arrears or equipment failures, these results reveal that the deterioration of indoor environments itself has become a significant management risk.

In recent years, increasing numbers of elderly single-person households and social isolation have been pointed out, making it more difficult for others to notice changes in tenants' living conditions. As a result, deteriorating indoor environments may go unaddressed for long periods, potentially escalating into severe cases of clutter or garbage accumulation.

"Abandoned garbage bags" is the most common indicator of a dirty or garbage-filled unit at 69.25%

The most frequently cited criterion for identifying dirty or garbage-filled units was "abandoned garbage bags" at 69.25%, revealing that conditions affecting the surrounding living environment—such as odors or items piled on balconies—are being recognized as problematic (survey by Blue Clean Co., Ltd.)

When asked about the criteria for identifying such units, "abandoned garbage bags" was the most common response at 69.25%.

This was followed by "foul odors (59.5%)", "floors not visible (53.5%)", "large amounts of items placed on balconies (50.25%)", and "pest infestations (47.25%)".

What becomes clear from these results is that property owners and management companies are not merely concerned about messy rooms.

It appears that many recognize a unit as a dirty or garbage-filled house when conditions such as foul odors, pests, or excessive items on balconies begin to affect the surrounding living environment.

In other words, the issue of dirty or garbage-filled units is not just an individual tenant's problem but is recognized as a management challenge that affects the entire building and neighboring residents.

Approximately 60% of those who have experienced such units reported incidents within the past year

Among the 142 individuals who have experienced dirty or garbage-filled units, approximately 60% reported incidents occurring within the past year, revealing that this is an ongoing management issue rather than a one-time occurrence (survey by Blue Clean Co., Ltd.)

Next, among the 142 respondents who had experienced such units, they were asked how many incidents occurred within the past year. "1–2 incidents" was the most common response at 34.51%.

Additionally, "3–5 incidents (14.08%)", "6–10 incidents (5.63%)", and "11 or more incidents (4.23%)" were also reported in significant numbers.

On the other hand, "no incidents (less than one)" accounted for 41.55%.

This means that approximately 60% of those who have experienced such issues have encountered at least one case within the past year.

What becomes evident from these results is that dirty or garbage-filled units are not isolated incidents but an ongoing management challenge that can recur continuously.

In particular, owners and management companies with larger portfolios are more likely to encounter such cases, and the number of cases requiring intervention is expected to increase in the future.

"Elderly single-person households" are the most frequently cited group perceived as prone to creating such conditions at 47.75%

Among tenant attributes perceived as more likely to result in dirty or garbage-filled units, "elderly single-person households" were the most frequently cited at 47.75%, although 18.25% responded "no particular tendency," revealing that this is a risk that must be addressed regardless of specific demographic attributes (survey by Blue Clean Co., Ltd.)

When asked about tenant attributes perceived as more likely to lead to such conditions, "elderly single-person households (47.75%)" ranked highest.

This was followed by "individuals with mental health concerns (33.75%)", "single male tenants (24.75%)", and "younger single-person households (22.5%)".

In the case of elderly single-person households, physical or cognitive decline and reduced social interaction may make it difficult for others to notice deteriorating living conditions.

Furthermore, the fact that "individuals with mental health concerns" ranked highly indicates that the issue of dirty or garbage-filled units is not merely a matter of poor lifestyle habits but is recognized as being linked to multiple factors such as health status, living environment, and lack of support.