Property Borders
Property Borders
Back to the days before the establishment of the Building Standards Act, the determination of property borders lacked accurate government resources. As a result, agreements were typically made between adjacent property owners.
While borders might be marked with indication plates on roads undergoing recent improvements, many traditional residential areas, especially those with Kyomachiyas, have complex or undocumented property borders.
Certified surveyors can provide official acreage survey maps for specific properties at the Legal Affairs Bureau. However, land registry maps, usually filed with the certificate of registration, primarily indicate the property's location rather than precise dimensions or borders.
Although we often place indication plates at property corners upon mutual agreement with neighbors, these are not legally binding. It is essential to note that reaching an agreement on borders may be challenging, especially if the property owner resides out of town.
Objects Crossing Over
Due to the architectural design of Kyomachiyas, it is common for parts like roof edges and rain gutters to cross over and extend into neighboring properties for weatherproofing.
The current Building Standards Act mandates that all building parts stay within designated borders. However, weatherproofing structures of Kyomachiyas, legal before 1950, are exempt.
Please understand that owners are not obligated to remove these crossovers in such cases, and resolution is encouraged through neighborly discussions if conflicts arise.
Regarding the Land Size
Property transactions in Japan are based on the registered land size documented at the Legal Affairs Bureau but not the actual land size.
These records, particularly for Kyomachiyas, were taken years ago and can be outdated and inaccurate. However, the land size is rarely re-measured at the time of transaction, making it common to encounter 2 different land sizes on contracts.
For specific property details or questions, please contact us using the "inquiry form" on the property page.
