Negotiating Lease Renewal Terms | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: In a housing office discussion, a tenant asks which lease renewal terms may be negotiable for a longer and more stable commitment..

EN → JA / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Negotiating Lease Renewal Terms to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

契約更新の通知を受け取り、条件について話し合いたいと思っています。

kee-YAH-koo koh-SHEEN noh TSOO-chee oh oo-keh-TOH-ree, JOH-ken nee TSOO-ee-teh hah-nah-shee-ah-ee-TAI toh oh-MOHT-teh ee-MAHS. I received the renewal notice and would like to discuss terms.
B

更新条件を一緒に確認して、調整できる部分があるか見てみましょう。

koh-SHEEN JOH-ken oh EESH-shoh nee kah-koo-NEEN shee-TEH, choh-SAY dee-KEE-roo BOO-boon gah AH-roo kah MEE-teh mee-mah-SHOH. We can look at the renewal together and see where there is room to adjust.
A

私はこれまで信頼できる入居者として、アパートを丁寧に管理してきました。

wah-TAH-shee wah koh-reh mah-DEH sheen-RAI deh-KEE-roo nyoo-KYOH-shah toh-SHEE-teh, ah-PAH-toh oh teh-NEH-nee nee KAHN-ree shee-TEH kee-mah-SHEE-tah. I have been a reliable tenant and maintain the apartment carefully.
B

その情報は、大家と話す前の参考になります。

SOH-noh joh-HOH wah OH-oh-yah toh hah-NAH-soo mah-eh noh sahn-KOH nee nah-ree-MAHS. That gives me helpful context before I speak with the owner.
A

より長い賃貸契約で、条件もより安定したものを希望しています。

YOH-ree nah-GAI cheen-TAI kay-YAH-koo deh, JOH-ken moh YOH-ree ahn-TAY shee-tah MOH-noh oh kee-BOH shee-TEH ee-MAHS. I am hoping for a longer lease with more stable terms.
B

より長い契約を結ぶことをお約束いただけるなら、より見通しの立つ条件について聞いてみます。

YOH-ree nah-GAI kay-YAH-koo oh moo-SOO-boo koh-toh oh oh-yah-koo-SOH-koo ee-tah-dah-KEH-roo nah-RAH, YOH-ree mee-TOH-oh-shee noh TAH-tsoo JOH-ken nee TSOO-ee-teh KEE-teh mee-MAHS. If you can commit to a longer lease, I can ask about more predictable terms.
A

実際にどの条件が交渉可能なのか、説明していただけますか。

jeet-SAI nee DOH-noh JOH-ken gah koh-SHOH kah-NOH nah noh kah, seh-tsoo-MAY shee-TEH ee-tah-dah-KEH-mahs kah. Could you outline which terms are actually negotiable?
B

一般的な方針は固定されていますが、契約更新の条件には多少柔軟性があるかもしれません。

ee-PAHN-teh-kee nah HOH-sheen wah koh-TAY sah-reh-TEH ee-MAHS gah, kay-YAH-koo koh-SHEEN noh JOH-ken nee wah tah-SHOH joo-NAHN-say gah AH-roo kah-moh shee-reh-MAH-sen. The general policy is fixed, but the renewal conditions may have some flexibility.

Word by Word

契約 契約 means a contract or agreement, as in 契約更新 and 長い契約. It is used for an arrangement whose terms the parties agree to, especially in housing and other formal contexts.
更新 更新 means renewal in 契約更新 and 更新条件. It refers here to continuing the existing rental agreement for another period, and it commonly combines with the thing being renewed.
の の links 契約更新 to 通知 in 契約更新の通知, meaning a notice about the contract renewal. This particle commonly connects a modifying noun phrase to the following noun.
通知 通知 means a notice or notification, specifically the formal information received in 契約更新の通知. It is useful for referring to official information sent about a decision, change, or procedure.
を を marks 通知 as the direct object in 通知を受け取り, showing what was received. It commonly follows the thing directly affected by an action.
受け取り 受け取り expresses receiving in 受け取り、where receiving the notice leads into the next action. This connecting form is useful when one action is followed by another in the same sentence.
条件 条件 means terms or conditions, such as the provisions being discussed in 条件について and the rental terms under negotiation. It commonly refers to requirements or details that determine an agreement.
について について means about or concerning in 条件について. The に marks the topic of relation, and ついて completes the expression meaning that the discussion concerns that topic; it commonly follows a noun before an action such as discussing or explaining.
話し合い 話し合い expresses discussing something together in 話し合いたい. It presents a cooperative discussion rather than simply one person speaking, and it is useful when parties need to reach an understanding.
たい たい marks a desire to do the action in 話し合いたい, meaning the speaker wants to discuss the terms. It follows the action form and is useful for politely stating one’s own wishes.
と と marks the content of the speaker’s thought in と思っています. It links the desired action to 思っています, and it commonly follows a thought, statement, or intention that is being expressed.
思っ 思っ expresses thinking or feeling in 思っています, where the speaker presents an ongoing intention. This form connects to て before the polite continuing expression.
て て links 思っ to います in 思っています. Here it helps form an ongoing or continuing expression, and the same linking function is useful when joining parts of a verb expression.
います います shows a polite ongoing state in 思っています, so the speaker is currently holding that intention. It commonly follows a connected verb form to describe a continuing situation.
一緒 一緒 means together in 一緒に確認し, showing that both people will check the renewal jointly. It is commonly followed by に when describing doing something together.
に に marks the manner or relationship in 一緒に, giving the meaning together. In this use, it follows 一緒 to form a common expression for joint action.
確認 確認 means checking or confirming in 確認して, referring to examining the renewal terms carefully. It commonly combines with the item being checked, such as renewal conditions.
し し connects 確認し to the following action in 確認して、showing that checking comes before seeing whether adjustment is possible. It is useful for linking actions in a sequence.
調整 調整 means adjustment in 調整できる部分, referring to changing some terms to fit the parties’ needs. It commonly appears with an item or condition that can be adjusted.
できる できる means can or be possible in 調整できる部分, indicating that adjustment is possible. It commonly comes before the noun describing what can be done, here 部分.
部分 部分 means a part or aspect in 調整できる部分, referring to particular terms rather than the whole policy. It is useful when only some elements of an arrangement may be changed.
が が marks 部分 as the thing whose existence is being considered in 部分があるか. It identifies the possible item in the question of whether such a part exists.
ある ある means exist or be present in 部分があるか, asking whether there is any room for adjustment. It commonly follows が when referring to the existence of an option, item, or possibility.
か か marks uncertainty inside 部分があるか見てみましょう, meaning whether there is such a part. It commonly turns a clause into an embedded question rather than a direct question.
見 見 contributes the meaning of looking at or checking in 見てみましょう. Here it refers to examining the renewal situation, and it can be used when inviting someone to inspect something.
み み in 見てみましょう adds the idea of trying the action, so the speaker suggests trying to check whether adjustment is possible. It follows another action form and makes the suggestion sound like an attempt to find out.
ましょう ましょう makes 見てみましょう a polite suggestion to do something together. It is useful when proposing a shared action or inviting the other person to proceed.
私 私 means I or me in 私は, identifying the tenant as the topic of the statement. It is a standard way to refer to oneself in this formal conversation.
は は marks 私 as the topic in 私は, setting the tenant as the person being described. It commonly introduces what is true about the stated topic.
これまで これまで means until now or so far in これまで信頼できる入居者として, covering the tenant’s record up to the present. It is useful when summarizing an ongoing history.
信頼 信頼 expresses trust or reliability in 信頼できる入居者, describing a tenant worthy of trust. It commonly combines with できる to describe someone or something that can be trusted.
入居者 入居者 means tenant or resident in 信頼できる入居者. It refers to the person living in the apartment under the rental arrangement and is useful in housing-related formal communication.
として として means as or in the role of in 入居者として. と marks the role relationship, and して completes the expression that presents the person in that role; it is useful when describing conduct from a particular position.
アパート アパート means apartment in アパートを丁寧に管理してきました. It identifies the rented living space being maintained, and it commonly appears with actions describing care of a residence.
丁寧 丁寧 means carefully or thoroughly in 丁寧に管理してきました. With に, it describes the careful manner of maintaining the apartment and is useful for describing respectful or attentive handling.
管理 管理 means management or maintenance in 管理してきました, referring to taking care of the apartment. It commonly combines with the thing being managed, such as a property or facility.
きました きました in 管理してきました shows that the maintenance has continued up to now. It follows て and presents the action as a continuing record, with a polite past ending.
その その means that or the aforementioned in その情報, referring back to information just provided by the tenant. It commonly comes before a noun to identify something already known from the context.
情報 情報 means information in その情報, referring to the tenant’s record and careful maintenance. It is useful for facts or details that help someone make a decision or prepare for a discussion.
大家 大家 means landlord or property owner in 大家と話す前. It identifies the person with whom the housing-office representative plans to discuss the renewal.
話す 話す means speak or talk in 大家と話す前, referring to discussing the matter with the owner. It commonly follows と when naming the person one speaks with.
前 前 means before in 大家と話す前, placing the preparation before the conversation with the owner. It commonly follows an action or event when expressing what happens beforehand.
参考 参考 means a useful reference or source of guidance in 参考になります. The information will serve as something the speaker can use when talking with the owner, and it commonly combines with になる to express becoming useful.
なり なり in 参考になります means serve as or become, showing that the information will be useful as a reference. It is the connecting form before the polite ending and is useful in expressions describing what something becomes or serves as.
ます ます is the polite sentence ending in 参考になります and 希望しています. It makes the statement appropriate for a formal housing-office conversation and commonly follows the verb form at the end of a polite sentence.
より より marks a comparative increase in より長い and より安定した, meaning more or comparatively. It commonly appears before the quality being compared when describing a greater degree.
長い 長い means long in より長い賃貸契約, describing a rental contract with a longer duration. It commonly comes before a noun when the noun is being characterized by length.
賃貸 賃貸 means rental or leasing in 賃貸契約, identifying the contract as one for rented property. It commonly combines with 契約 in housing discussions.
で で links 賃貸契約 to the desired arrangement in 賃貸契約で、条件もより安定したものを希望しています. Here it presents the rental contract as the context or form in which the speaker hopes for stable terms.
も も means also or as well in 条件もより安定したもの, adding the terms to the request for a longer lease. It commonly marks an additional item that shares the same description or desire.
安定 安定 means stability or a stable condition in 安定したもの, describing terms that are less likely to change unexpectedly. It commonly combines with した when used to describe a noun.
した した in 安定したもの forms the description stable and completed in form before もの. Here it turns 安定 into a noun-modifying expression, so the desired item has stable terms.
もの もの means thing or one in 安定したもの, referring to terms of the stable kind without repeating the noun. It is useful when a previously mentioned item is understood from the context.
希望 希望 means hope or desire in 希望しています, expressing what the tenant wants from the renewed lease. It commonly appears in formal statements about a requested arrangement or preferred outcome.
結ぶ 結ぶ means enter into or conclude in 契約を結ぶこと, referring to entering into a longer contract. It commonly takes 契約 as its object in formal discussions of agreements.
こと こと turns 契約を結ぶ into a noun-like action in 契約を結ぶことをお約束いただけるなら. This allows the commitment to be treated as the thing being promised.
お約束 お約束 means a polite promise or commitment in お約束いただけるなら, referring to the tenant’s commitment to a longer lease. お adds a respectful tone to 約束, and the whole expression is useful when requesting a formal commitment.
いただける いただける expresses that the speaker may receive the other person’s favor in お約束いただけるなら, meaning if the tenant can kindly make that commitment. It is a polite way to frame a request for someone else to do something.
なら なら means if or in the case that in お約束いただけるなら. It sets the tenant’s possible commitment as the condition for the representative’s next action.
見通し 見通し means outlook or foreseeability in 見通しが立つ, referring to how predictable the future terms will be. It commonly appears with 立つ when a situation becomes predictable or prospects become clear.
立つ 立つ means become established or foreseeable in 見通しが立つ, so the outlook for the terms can be clearly anticipated. This expression is useful when discussing whether future arrangements can be predicted.
聞い 聞い means ask or inquire in 聞いてみます, where the representative will ask about possible terms. This form connects to て before the expression for trying an action.
実際 実際 means actually or in reality in 実際にどの条件が交渉可能なのか, emphasizing the terms that are genuinely negotiable. It is useful when distinguishing practical possibilities from general assumptions.
どの どの means which in どの条件, asking the listener to identify particular terms from among the available conditions. It directly modifies the noun that is being selected.
交渉 交渉 means negotiation in 交渉可能, referring to discussing terms in order to reach an adjustment. It commonly combines with 可能 to describe something open to negotiation.
可能 可能 means possible in 交渉可能なのか, asking whether negotiation is allowed for the terms. It commonly appears before the explanatory form のか when asking about possibility.
な な links 可能 to の in 可能なのか, allowing the description possible to modify the explanatory phrase. This form is used after this type of description before a noun-like or explanatory の.
説明 説明 means explanation or an account in 説明していただけますか, asking the housing representative to outline the negotiable terms. It commonly combines with する when someone explains information.
いただけ いただけ in 説明していただけますか is part of a polite request meaning could you kindly explain. It presents the listener’s explanation as a favor received by the speaker and connects to the polite ending.
一般的 一般的 means general in 一般的な方針, describing the policy as applying broadly rather than to a particular individual case. It commonly takes な before the noun it modifies.
方針 方針 means policy or guiding principle in 一般的な方針. It refers to the general rule that guides decisions, which is contrasted here with flexible renewal conditions.
固定 固定 means fixed or set in 固定されています, describing a policy that is not open to change. It is useful for stating that a rule or amount remains established.
され され in 固定されています contributes the passive state meaning that the policy has been fixed or set. It connects the fixed condition to ています, which presents that state as continuing.
多少 多少 means somewhat or to some extent in 多少柔軟性, limiting the amount of flexibility being suggested. It is useful when acknowledging a small or moderate degree without claiming a large change.
柔軟性 柔軟性 means flexibility in 柔軟性があるかもしれません, referring to the possibility that some renewal conditions can be adjusted. It commonly follows が when describing whether flexibility exists.
かもしれません かもしれません means may or might in 柔軟性があるかもしれません, presenting the flexibility as possible but uncertain. かも signals possibility, しれ forms the uncertainty expression, and ません gives it a polite ending; this is useful when avoiding a definite promise.

Grammar Points

〜てきました

大家として長く管理してきました。

OH-oh-yah toh-SHEE-teh nah-GAH-koo KAHN-ree shee-TEH kee-mah-SHEE-tah.

I have managed it for a long time as the landlord.

This form shows an action or situation that began in the past and has continued up to the present.

お〜いただける

安定した賃貸契約をお約束いただけると安心です。

ahn-TAY shee-tah cheen-TAI kay-YAH-koo oh oh-yah-koo-SOH-koo ee-tah-dah-KEH-roo toh ahn-SHEEN dehss.

I would feel reassured if you could promise a stable lease agreement.

A very polite way to ask whether someone can do something or make a commitment.

Japanese Vocabulary

確認する verb
kah-koo-NEEN soo-roo to check; to confirm 確認して
管理する verb
KAHN-ree soo-roo to manage; to maintain 管理してきました
契約更新 noun
kee-YAH-koo koh-SHEEN contract renewal
更新条件 noun
koh-SHEEN JOH-ken renewal terms; renewal conditions
参考 noun
sahn-KOH reference; useful information
条件 noun
JOH-ken terms; conditions
信頼できる adj
sheen-RAI deh-KEE-roo reliable; trustworthy
大家 noun
OH-oh-yah landlord; property owner
調整する verb
choh-SAY soo-roo to adjust 調整できる
通知 noun
TSOO-chee notice; notification
入居者 noun
nyoo-KYOH-shah tenant
話し合う verb
hah-nah-shee-AH-oo to discuss 話し合いたい

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

contract renewal

Show Answer契約更新

to check; to confirm

Show Answer確認して

to adjust

Show Answer調整できる

renewal terms; renewal conditions

Show Answer更新条件