What is the warranty period for the equipment included with the house, such as air conditioners and water heaters?

Hello! Regarding the warranty periods for appliances like air conditioners and water heaters after buying a property in Japan, this is indeed very important. The situation differs completely depending on whether you bought a new or a used property. Let me break it down for you.

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Overall, there are three main scenarios:

1. You bought a newly built house (新築戸建て / newly built detached house or 新築マンション / newly built condominium)
2. You bought a used property, and the seller is an individual (中古戸建て / used detached house or 中古マンション / used condominium)
3. You bought a used property, but the seller is a real estate company (中古戸建て / used detached house or 中古マンション / used condominium)

Let's look at each one.

1. Buying New Construction: The Most Comprehensive Warranty, Least Hassle!

If you bought a brand-new property, congratulations! Warranties are the least of your worries. You typically get "double coverage":

• Manufacturer's Warranty (メーカー保証)
  • This is the standard warranty that comes with appliances like air conditioners, water heaters, and dishwashers.
  • Warranty Period: Usually 1 year. Some specific components might have longer coverage, like an air conditioner's compressor being covered for 5 years. Check the manual for each product.
• Builder/Developer Warranty (売主のアフターサービス保証)
  • The construction company or developer selling you the property usually provides a comprehensive after-sales warranty covering the entire house, including its fixtures and appliances.
  • Warranty Period: Usually 2 years.
  • The Big Advantage: Within these 2 years, for any issue not caused by your own damage – whether it's a broken air conditioner or a water heater not producing hot water – you simply contact the developer. They handle contacting the manufacturer for repairs; you don't have to deal with it yourself. This is much more convenient than contacting manufacturers directly.

Summary: For new properties, the effective appliance warranty period is essentially 2 years, making it very worry-free.

2. Buying a Used Property (Seller is an Individual): This Requires the Most Attention!

This is the most common scenario and also the one with the most potential pitfalls. In Japan, when buying a used property from an individual seller, there's a crucial concept regarding included appliances called "Appliance Warranty" (設備保証).

• Core Principle: The default is "as-is" transfer (現状有姿渡し). This means the property and its contents are transferred in the condition they were in when you viewed them. The seller provides no warranty in principle.
• The "Appliance Warranty" Clause in the Contract: For fairness, modern sales contracts generally include an "Appliance Warranty" clause.
  • Warranty Period: Typically only 7 days after handover (引き渡しから7日間). Yes, you read that right – a mere 7 days!
  • Coverage Scope: Only covers "major functions." For example: the air conditioner must cool/heat, the water heater must produce hot water, the toilet must flush. Issues like noisy air conditioners, strange odors from vents, or minor cosmetic flaws are not covered. As long as the core function works, the seller has no liability.
  • What if it breaks within 7 days? If you discover within 7 days of handover that the AC doesn't cool or the water heater doesn't produce hot water, you must immediately contact your real estate agent! The agent will negotiate with the seller, who is responsible for repair or replacement. Once this 7-day period passes, any repairs become your own expense.

Your Golden Advice:

The very first thing to do after getting the keys to a used property is to test EVERY single appliance!

• Air Conditioner: Run it on full cooling and heating modes for at least 30 minutes each.
• Water Heater: Test the hot water at every faucet.
• Kitchen: Use the range hood, gas stove/IH cooker, and dishwasher.
• Bathroom: Test all functions of the bidet toilet seat (washing, drying, heating) and turn on the exhaust fan to listen.

Don't skip this! These 7 days are your only "grace period"!

3. Buying a Used Property (Seller is a Real Estate Company): More Reliable than an Individual Seller

Sometimes you buy a property that a real estate company has acquired, renovated, and is reselling. This situation is generally better than buying directly from an individual.

• Legal Requirement: Japanese law (宅建業法 / Real Estate Brokerage Act) mandates that if the seller is a licensed real estate company (宅地建物取引業者), they must provide at least 2 years of "Contract Non-Conformity Liability" (契約不適合責任, formerly known as "Defect Liability" / 瑕疵担保責任).
• Appliance Warranty Period: While this 2-year liability primarily covers major structural issues like leaks, many responsible real estate companies also offer warranties on included appliances that are longer than the "7 days" standard for private sellers. This could range from 3 months to 1 year, or sometimes longer. This will be clearly stated in the contract.

Summary: Buying a used property from a real estate company typically offers a longer appliance warranty period than buying from an individual. The exact length must be checked carefully in the contract.

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Summary

Hope this explanation helps! Buying property in Japan involves many details, especially with used properties – every word in the contract matters. Good luck!