New Japan desk for our corporate services department

I am delighted to be heading Benham and Reeves Estate Agents’ new Japan desk – an important addition to our Corporate Services department. I know it will be a useful service for our many Japanese clients and I’m really excited to be a part of this exciting venture.  But before I tell you about what we offer clients, first I’d like to introduce myself to you. Originally from Tokyo I’ve been living in the UK since 2001. After completing my Masters degree I moved into the property industry and spent 13 years working as a lettings negotiator for a Japanese-owned agency before joining Benham and Reeves Estate Agents earlier this year. So most of my career has been spent in lettings and I hope you will find my experience helpful.

Tailor-made property finding service for Japanese clients

My aim is to offer our Japanese clients a truly bespoke property-finding service for when they move to London. Relocating to a new country can be a complex process – and confusing if you don’t know the country or the language very well. It takes a while to get to know London properly – and decide which part you’d like to live in. It’s a large city with many different areas, in reality it’s a series of villages that have come together over the years, and so each has its own distinct character. These range from traditional areas that retain their village-like feel such as Hampstead – to the gleaming skyscrapers of Canary Wharf which have a feel of a mini-Manhattan about them. And of course, prices vary dramatically from area to area. I can guide you through the areas which will best suit your lifestyle, finding properties within your budget.

Finding the right home in London

Before you even leave Japan I’ll get in touch to talk through your requirements when it comes to location, type of property and budget. I’ll find out about other priorities such as schools for your children and how long you would like your commute to the office to be. I will be your main contact so you can talk to me, in Japanese if that’s easier, about all the issues and concerns you may have. When you’ve found the right property, I’ll liaise with other parties to handle all the paperwork for you. I’ll organise the tenancy agreement, arrange for your deposit to be registered with The Tenancy Deposit Scheme and ensure you’re aware of any other legal requirements. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, I’ll be on hand to explain everything to you, ensuring your move to London is as simple and stress-free as possible.

Help with the paperwork

And of course, I’ll be there at check-in to ensure you have all the information you need about the property. Later on, I will help with renewing your tenancy if you wish to do so – or helping you find a new home if you would like to try somewhere different.

How can we help?

The majority of our clients are corporate or professional tenants so we are experienced at meeting the needs of busy executives, from China, Japan and Hong Kong to the US, the Middle East and Asia. So if you are a professional moving to London from Japan, or an organisation which sends staff to London on secondment, then please get in touch to discuss how I can help. I’m based at Fulham Reach in Hammersmith but I have access to our entire portfolio of rental properties across London, from Ealing and Brentford in the west, to Hampstead, Highgate and Colindale in North London, the City, Canary Wharf and Greenwich in East London, the exciting new Nine Elms area south of the River Thames and of course, the prestigious prime central London areas of Knightsbridge and Kensington.

You can call me on 020 8600 0962 or direct on my mobile on 07572 679711. Or email me at yoshi@brlets.co.uk. I look forward to working with you.