Airbnb and Japan’s Recruit Group are entering into t partnership it has been learned.
Recruit Group operates the website Suumo, which posts real estate and housing information. It is one of Japan’s largest real estate information sites with over 6.2 properties listed. Should rental properties posted on the site remain empty despite the company’s efforts to find a tenant, Recruit will help property owners lease their rooms for minpaku (apartment sharing).
Joining forces with Airbnb, who has operations in 190 countries, is expected to energize the Japanese minpaku business.
The private lodging business law, which sets rules regarding minpaku, is set to take effect in June. The law sets the maximum number of operating days at 180 days per year, thereby making it impossible to conduct minpaku businesses throughout the year.
Recruit and Airbnb plan to support minpaku operators including advise them on how to operate the business under the laws, ordinances and regulations pertaining to condominiums and others, and sign contracts with an agency in charge of managing and cleaning up rooms to let.
Airbnb has more than 4 million registered properties worldwide.
