It is a common sight in Japan to see houses or condominiums undergoing a spruce up. Covered in tarpaulins and wrapped in a steel cage of scaffolding, this state of affairs can last from just a few weeks to several months, depending on the scale of the renovations.
It is one thing when you are the owner of the building, since you presumably chose to renovate, with the inconvenience being offset by the satisfaction of the end result. However, what about a rental property, where the occupants may have no choice in the matter?
A group of residents from a community in Motoazabu in central Tokyo recently wrote to Lifelines about their plight. Their rental properties were sold to the Tokyu Land Corporation, one of Japan's major real estate groups. They say they were given a meager two weeks notice about renovations slated to last for many months.