2026 Busy Season Room Hunting: '2-3 Viewings' Most Common! Property Shortage Matching Desired Conditions Also Highlighted | Ielove Survey
According to a survey by Ielove GROUP, '2-3 viewings' was the most common for room hunting during the 2026 busy season, revealing a shortage of properties matching desired conditions. Post-move rent increased by an average of 12,000 yen, and while about 80% were satisfied, dissatisfaction due to rent and lack of information also emerged.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 11:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 11:44 (43 min after Collected)
Ielove GROUP Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Taisuke Iwana; hereinafter "Ielove GROUP"), which develops DX support services specializing in the real estate industry, conducted an "Apartment Hunting Survey during the Busy Season" targeting end-users. The results of the survey, with 706 valid responses, are now announced.
■ Background of the Survey
In the busy season for apartment hunting, changes are being observed in the timing of searches and the conditions prioritized, against a backdrop of property shortages, rising rents, and quick contract closures after listings.
There is also a growing trend for people to start gathering information and comparing options earlier than before to secure properties that meet their desired conditions.
Given these circumstances, this "Apartment Hunting Survey during the Busy Season" was conducted to clarify the actual situation of end-users' apartment hunting during the busy season and the challenges they face in choosing a residence.
■ Survey Summary
1. "2-3 viewings" most common, property shortage matching desired conditions is a challenge
2. Median rent before and after moving increased by approximately 12,000 yen, revealing a gap between ideals and reality
3. Approximately 80% of end-users satisfied with apartment hunting, but dissatisfaction due to rent and lack of information also voiced
1. "2-3 viewings" most common, property shortage matching desired conditions is a challenge
In response to the question, "Did you look for an apartment during the 2026 busy season (January-March)?", 10.8% of end-users answered "Yes, I looked for an apartment."
When asked about when they started looking for an apartment, "More than 3 months ago" was the most common at 31.6%, followed by "2-3 months ago" (26.3%), "1-2 months ago" (23.7%), and "Within 1 month" (18.4%). A total of 57.9% started looking more than 2 months ago, indicating a tendency to prepare early for the busy season.
The most common reason for starting an apartment search was "Contract renewal/rent revision" at 25.0%, followed by "Job change" (21.1%) and "Relocation" (17.1%).
This shows that many people consider moving not only during the season for school enrollment and new employment but also due to reviewing housing costs or changes in lifestyle.
In response to the question, "What conditions did you prioritize when looking for an apartment?", "Rent" was the most common at 78.9%. Meanwhile, "Location" was also high at 71.1%, indicating a tendency to prioritize not only cost but also commuting/schooling convenience and daily living convenience.
Other conditions such as "Surrounding environment" (52.6%), "Size" (46.1%), and "Layout" (44.7%) followed at almost the same level, suggesting a comprehensive comparison based on rent and location, including livability and daily comfort.
Regarding the number of properties viewed before deciding on an apartment, "2-3 properties" was the most common at 31.6%, followed by "4-5 properties" (23.7%) and "6 or more properties" (18.4%). On the other hand, 9.2% of respondents answered "Did not view any properties."
During the busy season, properties move quickly, and it is not uncommon for them to be taken by other prospective tenants while under consideration. Against this background, it is thought that a certain number of people decide to apply without on-site confirmation, referring to photos, listed information, and online viewings.
In response to the question, "Did you encounter any difficulties or challenges during your apartment search?", "Few properties matching desired conditions" was the most common at 56.6%.
This was followed by "Felt rent was high" and "Good properties quickly taken" at 48.7% each.
From these results, it can be seen that during the busy season for apartment hunting, many people act early due to property shortages and quick contract closures after listings, carefully searching for apartments while comparing conditions such as rent and location within limited options.
However, in such circumstances, it is thought that many people are dissatisfied with not finding properties that meet their desired conditions or with high rents.
2. Median rent before and after moving increased by approximately 12,000 yen, revealing a gap between ideals and reality
When end-users who answered "Yes, I looked for an apartment" were asked about their rent before and after moving, the median rent before moving was approximately 73,000 yen, and the median rent after moving was approximately 85,000 yen.
Furthermore, when end-users who answered "Plan to look for an apartment soon," "Considering but haven't started looking yet," or "Haven't looked for an apartment" were asked about the rent of their current home and their ideal rent, the median rent of their current home was approximately 64,000 yen, and their ideal rent was approximately 56,000 yen.
3. Approximately 80% of end-users satisfied with apartment hunting, but dissatisfaction due to rent and lack of information also voiced
When end-users who answered "Yes, I looked for an apartment" were asked, "Was your new place a town/station you had always wanted to live in?", the response was...
■ Background of the Survey
In the busy season for apartment hunting, changes are being observed in the timing of searches and the conditions prioritized, against a backdrop of property shortages, rising rents, and quick contract closures after listings.
There is also a growing trend for people to start gathering information and comparing options earlier than before to secure properties that meet their desired conditions.
Given these circumstances, this "Apartment Hunting Survey during the Busy Season" was conducted to clarify the actual situation of end-users' apartment hunting during the busy season and the challenges they face in choosing a residence.
■ Survey Summary
1. "2-3 viewings" most common, property shortage matching desired conditions is a challenge
2. Median rent before and after moving increased by approximately 12,000 yen, revealing a gap between ideals and reality
3. Approximately 80% of end-users satisfied with apartment hunting, but dissatisfaction due to rent and lack of information also voiced
1. "2-3 viewings" most common, property shortage matching desired conditions is a challenge
In response to the question, "Did you look for an apartment during the 2026 busy season (January-March)?", 10.8% of end-users answered "Yes, I looked for an apartment."
When asked about when they started looking for an apartment, "More than 3 months ago" was the most common at 31.6%, followed by "2-3 months ago" (26.3%), "1-2 months ago" (23.7%), and "Within 1 month" (18.4%). A total of 57.9% started looking more than 2 months ago, indicating a tendency to prepare early for the busy season.
The most common reason for starting an apartment search was "Contract renewal/rent revision" at 25.0%, followed by "Job change" (21.1%) and "Relocation" (17.1%).
This shows that many people consider moving not only during the season for school enrollment and new employment but also due to reviewing housing costs or changes in lifestyle.
In response to the question, "What conditions did you prioritize when looking for an apartment?", "Rent" was the most common at 78.9%. Meanwhile, "Location" was also high at 71.1%, indicating a tendency to prioritize not only cost but also commuting/schooling convenience and daily living convenience.
Other conditions such as "Surrounding environment" (52.6%), "Size" (46.1%), and "Layout" (44.7%) followed at almost the same level, suggesting a comprehensive comparison based on rent and location, including livability and daily comfort.
Regarding the number of properties viewed before deciding on an apartment, "2-3 properties" was the most common at 31.6%, followed by "4-5 properties" (23.7%) and "6 or more properties" (18.4%). On the other hand, 9.2% of respondents answered "Did not view any properties."
During the busy season, properties move quickly, and it is not uncommon for them to be taken by other prospective tenants while under consideration. Against this background, it is thought that a certain number of people decide to apply without on-site confirmation, referring to photos, listed information, and online viewings.
In response to the question, "Did you encounter any difficulties or challenges during your apartment search?", "Few properties matching desired conditions" was the most common at 56.6%.
This was followed by "Felt rent was high" and "Good properties quickly taken" at 48.7% each.
From these results, it can be seen that during the busy season for apartment hunting, many people act early due to property shortages and quick contract closures after listings, carefully searching for apartments while comparing conditions such as rent and location within limited options.
However, in such circumstances, it is thought that many people are dissatisfied with not finding properties that meet their desired conditions or with high rents.
2. Median rent before and after moving increased by approximately 12,000 yen, revealing a gap between ideals and reality
When end-users who answered "Yes, I looked for an apartment" were asked about their rent before and after moving, the median rent before moving was approximately 73,000 yen, and the median rent after moving was approximately 85,000 yen.
Furthermore, when end-users who answered "Plan to look for an apartment soon," "Considering but haven't started looking yet," or "Haven't looked for an apartment" were asked about the rent of their current home and their ideal rent, the median rent of their current home was approximately 64,000 yen, and their ideal rent was approximately 56,000 yen.
3. Approximately 80% of end-users satisfied with apartment hunting, but dissatisfaction due to rent and lack of information also voiced
When end-users who answered "Yes, I looked for an apartment" were asked, "Was your new place a town/station you had always wanted to live in?", the response was...