Real Estate Brokerage Act

宅地建物取引業法（たくちたてものとりひきぎょうほう）

A licence and rules of conduct for businesses that buy, sell or exchange land for building (宅地) and buildings or act as agent or intermediary in their sale, exchange or lease, so that dealings are fair and buyers and others are protected.

Text in force since
Promulgated
Articles: 201
Amendments on the way: 0

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What this law does

Anyone who wants to carry on the real estate brokerage business (宅地建物取引業) needs a licence (免許): from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism if it will have offices in two or more prefectures, or from the prefectural governor if its offices are all in one prefecture. The licence lasts five years and must be renewed, and it must be refused to an applicant within the grounds Article 5 lists — among them bankruptcy without restoration of rights; a sentence of imprisonment (拘禁刑) or heavier, or a fine for listed offences, where five years have not passed since it was served or the person ceased to be subject to it; being a member of an organised crime group, or having left one less than five years before (暴力団員等); a revocation for fraud or serious breach within the last five years — or whose application has a false entry or leaves out an important fact. Without a licence, a person may not carry on the business, present themselves as doing so, or advertise for it.(Art. 3(1), Art. 3(2), Art. 3(3), Art. 5(1), Art. 5(1)(i), Art. 5(1)(ii), Art. 5(1)(v), Art. 5(1)(vi), Art. 5(1)(vii), Art. 12(1), Art. 12(2)) (the provisions it rests on)

Read the full overview

In advertising a sale, exchange or lease, and on receiving an order, a broker must make clear whether it will act as a party, as agent or as intermediary (取引態様の別). When hired to broker a sale or exchange (媒介契約), it must without delay hand the client a document, with its name and seal, stating the terms — among them the price, whether the client may also hire other brokers, the contract's term and cancellation, and the fee — and the same applies to a contract to act as agent. An exclusive brokerage contract (専任媒介契約) lasts at most three months, renewable only at the client's request for up to three months at a time; the broker must register the property with a designated listing organisation (指定流通機構) within the period an Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省令) sets and report on progress at least every two weeks (every week where the client may deal only with a buyer the broker finds), and a term contrary to these rules is void.(Art. 34(1), Art. 34(2), Art. 34-2(1), Art. 34-2(1)(ii), Art. 34-2(1)(iii), Art. 34-2(1)(v), Art. 34-2(1)(vii), Art. 34-2(3), Art. 34-2(4), Art. 34-2(5), Art. 34-2(9), Art. 34-2(10), Art. 34-3(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Before a contract to buy, exchange or rent land or a building is concluded, the broker must have a real estate transaction specialist (宅地建物取引士) explain the important matters (重要事項) about it to the person who is to acquire or rent it, handing over a document that states them. The matters include at least the registered rights over the property; restrictions under the City Planning Act, the Building Standards Act and other laws that a Cabinet Order (政令) lists; water, electricity, gas and drainage; money to be paid besides the price or rent, and what it is for; cancellation; and agreed damages or penalties. The specialist must show their specialist's card (宅地建物取引士証) when explaining, and put their name on the document.(Art. 35(1), Art. 35(1)(i), Art. 35(1)(ii), Art. 35(1)(iv), Art. 35(1)(vii), Art. 35(1)(viii), Art. 35(1)(ix), Art. 35(4), Art. 35(5)) (the provisions it rests on)
Once a contract is concluded, the broker must hand a document stating its terms to the other party, to the person it acted for as agent, or to each party where it acted as intermediary. For a sale or exchange this must be done without delay, and the document covers among other things the parties, the property, the price and when and how it is paid, when the property is handed over and when registration of the transfer is to be applied for; for a lease it covers among other things the rent and when and how it is paid, and any other money to be paid, with its timing and purpose. A real estate transaction specialist must put their name on the document, and with the recipient's consent its contents may instead be provided by an electronic method that an Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省令) sets.(Art. 37(1), Art. 37(1)(i), Art. 37(1)(ii), Art. 37(1)(iii), Art. 37(1)(iv), Art. 37(1)(v), Art. 37(2), Art. 37(2)(i), Art. 37(2)(ii), Art. 37(2)(iii), Art. 37(3), Art. 37(4), Art. 37(5)) (the provisions it rests on)
The fee (報酬) a broker may receive for acting as agent or intermediary in the sale, exchange or lease of land or a building is the amount the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism sets and publishes in a public notice (告示); the Act leaves the amount to the Minister. A broker may not receive more, and must display the Minister's amounts where the public can see them at each of its offices. Demanding an unreasonably high fee is also prohibited.(Art. 46(1), Art. 46(2), Art. 46(3), Art. 46(4), Art. 47(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where the broker is itself the seller, a person who offered to buy, or signed a purchase contract, somewhere other than the broker's office or another place that a joint Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Cabinet Office (国土交通省令・内閣府令) names may withdraw the offer or cancel the contract in writing — unless they made the offer at such an office or place and signed elsewhere. The right ends once eight days have passed since they were told, in the way that Order sets, of the right and how to use it, or once they have taken delivery of the property and paid the whole price. The withdrawal takes effect when the writing is sent; the broker may not claim damages or a penalty for it, must promptly return the earnest money and other money it received, and any term less favourable to the buyer than these rules is void.(Art. 37-2(1), Art. 37-2(1)(i), Art. 37-2(1)(ii), Art. 37-2(2), Art. 37-2(3), Art. 37-2(4)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where the broker is itself the seller, it may not receive earnest money (手付) of more than two-tenths of the price. Agreed damages and penalties for cancellation over a breach may not add up to more than two-tenths of the price, and a term that goes further is void for the excess; and whatever kind of earnest money was paid, the buyer can cancel by giving it up and the broker by actually offering double, until the other party has begun performing the contract, with any term less favourable to the buyer void. A term on the seller's liability where the property does not conform to the contract in kind or quality (契約不適合) that is less favourable to the buyer than Article 566 of the Civil Code (民法), a separate Act, provides is forbidden and void — except a term setting the period that Article provides for at two years or more from delivery.(Art. 38(1), Art. 38(2), Art. 39(1), Art. 39(2), Art. 39(3), Art. 40(1), Art. 40(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Before starting business, a broker must lodge a security deposit for operations (営業保証金), of an amount a Cabinet Order (政令) sets for its main office and each other office, at the official depository () nearest its main office, and notify the authority that licensed it. Anyone who dealt with the broker in the course of its business, other than another broker, can be paid from that deposit for a claim arising from the deal. When the broker stops — its licence expires, lapses or is revoked, among other cases — the deposit can be taken back only after a public notice gives such claimants at least six months to come forward, unless ten years have passed since it became returnable.(Art. 25(1), Art. 25(2), Art. 25(4), Art. 25(5), Art. 27(1), Art. 30(1), Art. 30(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
A broker that belongs to a real estate transaction guarantee association (宅地建物取引業保証協会) need not lodge the security deposit once the association's repayment services (弁済業務) have begun, but must lodge it within one week if it leaves. Anyone who dealt with a member in the course of its business, including before it joined, other than a broker, can instead be paid from the association's deposit, within a limit based on the amount the member would otherwise have lodged, once the association has certified the amount. When a member leaves, the association must give public notice of a period of at least six months for such claimants to come forward, and cannot certify a claim not made within it.(Art. 64-13(1), Art. 64-15(1), Art. 64-8(1), Art. 64-8(2), Art. 64-11(4), Art. 64-11(5)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where the broker is itself the seller, it may not receive advance payments (手付金等 — money paid toward the price between the contract and handover) until it has had their repayment guaranteed by a bank or other body, or covered by guarantee insurance, and has handed the buyer the document proving it; for property not still under construction, the money may instead be held by a designated custodian (指定保管機関), with a pledge in the buyer's favour. None of this is needed once the transfer to the buyer has been registered or the buyer has registered ownership, or while the total received is no more than 5% of the price for property still under construction, or 10% for other property, and no more than an amount a Cabinet Order (政令) sets. If the broker has not taken these measures, the buyer may withhold the payments.(Art. 41(1), Art. 41(1)(i), Art. 41(1)(ii), Art. 41(4), Art. 41-2(1), Art. 41-2(1)(i), Art. 41-2(1)(ii), Art. 41-2(5)) (the provisions it rests on)

Article 1 states the law's own purpose

LicenceReal estate transaction specialistExplanation of important mattersContract documentCooling-offBrokerage feesBrokerage contractProtection of advance payments

201 664 346 67 98

Amendments

A Japanese law is changed by another law or order that rewrites it — an . No amendment to this law is waiting to come into force. Its amendment history is below. The amendments this site has read the changes of are on this law's amendments page, provision by provision, in Japanese and English.

27 amendments already in force

1 April 2026
The text on this site
Act Partially Amending the Act on Special Measures concerning Salaries, etc. of Educational Personnel of Public Compulsory Education Schools, etc., etc.
公立の義務教育諸学校等の教育職員の給与等に関する特別措置法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 June 2025
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Penal Code, etc. (extract)
刑法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整理等に関する法律　抄
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2025
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
19 June 2024
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
25 May 2024
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2024
Act Partially Amending the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, etc.
金融商品取引法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 February 2024
Act Partially Amending the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, etc.
金融商品取引法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 June 2023
Act Partially Amending the Payment Services Act, etc. to Establish a Stable and Efficient Funds Settlement System
安定的かつ効率的な資金決済制度の構築を図るための資金決済に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
17 June 2022
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Penal Code, etc.
刑法等の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整理等に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
10 June 2022
Act Partially Amending the Payment Services Act, etc. to Establish a Stable and Efficient Funds Settlement System
安定的かつ効率的な資金決済制度の構築を図るための資金決済に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
18 May 2022
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2022
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 November 2021
Act Partially Amending the Act on Sales, etc. of Financial Instruments, etc. to Improve Convenience for and Provide Protection to Users of Financial Services
金融サービスの利用者の利便の向上及び保護を図るための金融商品の販売等に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
30 September 2021
Act Partially Amending the Act on the Promotion of Long-Life Quality Housing, etc. for Improving the Quality of Housing and Developing an Environment for Smooth Transactions
住宅の質の向上及び円滑な取引環境の整備のための長期優良住宅の普及の促進に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
26 May 2021
Act on the Development of Related Acts for the Promotion of Reform to Enhance Regional Autonomy and Independence
地域の自主性及び自立性を高めるための改革の推進を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
19 May 2021
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts for the Formation of a Digital Society
デジタル社会の形成を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
12 June 2020
Act Partially Amending the Act on Sales, etc. of Financial Instruments, etc. to Improve Convenience for and Provide Protection to Users of Financial Services
金融サービスの利用者の利便の向上及び保護を図るための金融商品の販売等に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 May 2020
Act Partially Amending the Payment Services Act, etc. to Respond to the Diversification of Financial Transactions Accompanying Advances in Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の進展に伴う金融取引の多様化に対応するための資金決済に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2020
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code
民法の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整備等に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2020
Act Partially Amending the Income Tax Act, etc.
所得税法等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
14 September 2019
Act on the Development of Related Acts to Rationalize Measures concerning the Restriction of Rights of Adult Wards, etc.
成年被後見人等の権利の制限に係る措置の適正化等を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
14 June 2019
Act on the Development of Related Acts to Rationalize Measures concerning the Restriction of Rights of Adult Wards, etc.
成年被後見人等の権利の制限に係る措置の適正化等を図るための関係法律の整備に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
7 June 2019
Act Partially Amending the Payment Services Act, etc. to Respond to the Diversification of Financial Transactions Accompanying Advances in Information and Communications Technology
情報通信技術の進展に伴う金融取引の多様化に対応するための資金決済に関する法律等の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2018
Act Partially Amending the Real Estate Brokerage Act
宅地建物取引業法の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 December 2017
Act Partially Amending the Act on Specified Joint Real Estate Ventures
不動産特定共同事業法の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
2 June 2017
Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code
民法の一部を改正する法律の施行に伴う関係法律の整備等に関する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov
1 April 2017
Act Partially Amending the Real Estate Brokerage Act
宅地建物取引業法の一部を改正する法律
The text after this amendment, on e-Gov

Who it applies to

It applies to

Anyone who carries on the real estate brokerage business (宅地建物取引業): as a business, buying, selling or exchanging land for building (宅地) or buildings, or acting as agent or intermediary in their sale, exchange or lease. Land for building is land used as the site of a building, and also other land in the use zones of the City Planning Act apart from land used for roads, parks, rivers and other public facilities that a Cabinet Order (政令) lists; leasing appears in the definition of the business only as something arranged as agent or intermediary. A person licensed to carry on the business is a real estate broker (宅地建物取引業者), and one whose licence has expired, lapsed or been revoked, or its general successor, is still treated as one so far as needed to complete transactions under contracts it made.(Art. 2(1)(i), Art. 2(1)(ii), Art. 2(1)(iii), Art. 12(1), Art. 76(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Real estate transaction specialists (宅地建物取引士): people who have passed the examination a prefectural governor holds, registered with the governor who held it — which needs practical experience of the length an Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省令) sets, or ability the Minister recognises as equal — and been issued a specialist's card. They must do their work fairly and in good faith as experts in land and building transactions, and show the card to anyone in a transaction who asks. A broker must have, at each office and each other place such an Order names, the number of full-time adult specialists that such an Order sets.(Art. 2(1)(iv), Art. 16(1), Art. 18(1), Art. 22-2(1), Art. 15(1), Art. 22-4(1), Art. 31-3(1)) (the provisions it rests on)

3 more

A broker's employees and other staff: the broker may not let them work without a certificate showing they are its staff, which they must show to anyone in a transaction who asks, and they must not reveal secrets learned in helping with the business, even after leaving, unless there is a legitimate reason.(Art. 48(1), Art. 48(2), Art. 75-3(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Bodies the Minister designates: property listing organisations (指定流通機構) with which exclusive listings must be registered, guarantors and custodians of advance payments (指定保証機関, 指定保管機関), and real estate transaction guarantee associations (宅地建物取引業保証協会), whose members are brokers.(Art. 34-2(5), Art. 51(1), Art. 63-3(1), Art. 64-2(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
A guarantee association must take up a complaint from a member's customer about that member's dealings: advise the complainant, look into the matter, and tell the member of the complaint and ask it to deal with it promptly. Where it considers it necessary, it may ask the member to explain, in writing or in person, or to produce documents, and the member may not refuse without a legitimate reason.(Art. 64-3(1)(i), Art. 64-5(1), Art. 64-5(2), Art. 64-5(3)) (the provisions it rests on)

It does not apply to

The State and local governments (国及び地方公共団体): none of the Act's provisions apply to them.(Art. 78(1)) (the provisions it rests on)

Special rules and exceptions (5)

In transactions between two brokers, Article 33-2 (the ban on selling property the broker does not own) and Articles 37-2 to 43 do not apply — among them cooling-off, the caps on agreed damages and earnest money, the limits on warranty terms, the protection of advance payments, and the rules on instalment sales.(Art. 78(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where the buyer or tenant is itself a broker, the broker must still deliver the Article 35(1) or 35(2) document, with a specialist's name on it, but no specialist's explanation is needed. A broker is not owed the Article 35-2 explanation of where the deposit is held, and cannot be paid from a broker's security deposit or a guarantee association's deposit.(Art. 35(6), Art. 35(7), Art. 35-2(1), Art. 27(1), Art. 64-8(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
A trust company licensed under the Trust Business Act (信託業法), a separate Act — other than those a Cabinet Order (政令) names — needs no licence and is outside the licence provisions (Articles 3 to 7, 12, 25(7), 66 and 67(1)). It must notify the Minister before carrying on the business, and is otherwise treated as a broker licensed by the Minister.(Art. 77(1), Art. 77(2), Art. 77(3)) (the provisions it rests on)
A registered investment corporation (登録投資法人) whose assets an authorised broker manages, and a special business operator (特例事業者) under the Real Estate Specified Joint Enterprise Act (不動産特定共同事業法), a separate Act, are also outside the licence provisions and treated as licensed by the Minister, but without Articles 31-3, 35, 35-2, 37 and 48 to 50 — the duties to keep specialists at offices, explain important matters, deliver the contract document, and keep staff certificates, books and signs.(Art. 77-2(1), Art. 77-2(2), Art. 77-3(1), Art. 77-3(2)) (the provisions it rests on)
A broker authorised by the Minister to be entrusted with transaction decisions and act on them as agent or intermediary (取引一任代理等) under the contracts Article 50-2(1) lists — asset-management contracts with an investment trust or investment corporation, and entrustment contracts under the Act on the Securitization of Assets and the Real Estate Specified Joint Enterprise Act, separate Acts — is freed, for that work, from the rules on brokerage and agency contracts (Articles 34-2 and 34-3). Toward the other party to those contracts, it need not deliver the Article 35(1) and 35(2) document or give that explanation, give the Article 35-2 explanation, or deliver the Article 37(2) document.(Art. 50-2(1), Art. 50-2(1)(i), Art. 50-2(1)(ii), Art. 50-2(1)(iii), Art. 50-2(2)) (the provisions it rests on)

How it is enforced (8)

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or the governor who granted a broker's licence may give it instructions (指示) where it has harmed or is likely to harm people it deals with, has acted unfairly, or has broken this Act, and may order it to suspend all or part of its business for up to one year for listed breaches — among them Articles 35, 37, 46(2), 47 and 47-2. A governor may do the same to a broker licensed elsewhere, for business done in that prefecture. An instruction or suspension is given only after a hearing (聴聞), which is held in public, and a suspension is published in a public notice.(Art. 65(1), Art. 65(2), Art. 65(2)(ii), Art. 65(3), Art. 65(4), Art. 69(1), Art. 69(2), Art. 16-15(5), Art. 70(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
The licensing authority must revoke the licence where, among other things, the broker obtained it by fraud; becomes bankrupt without restoration of rights, is sentenced to imprisonment (拘禁刑) or heavier and five years have not passed since the sentence was served, or is a member of an organised crime group or left one less than five years before (暴力団員等); has not started business within a year of the licence or has stopped for a year or more; or has committed a ground for suspension in especially serious circumstances or broken a suspension order. It may also revoke the licence where the broker has not reported lodging its deposit within one month of a reminder, breaks a condition of the licence, or cannot be located and does not come forward within 30 days of a public notice. A hearing for a revocation under Article 66 is held in public, and the revocation is published; Chapter 3 of the Administrative Procedure Act (行政手続法), a separate Act, does not apply to a revocation for a broker who cannot be located.(Art. 66(1), Art. 66(1)(i), Art. 66(1)(vi), Art. 66(1)(viii), Art. 66(1)(ix), Art. 5(1)(i), Art. 5(1)(v), Art. 5(1)(vii), Art. 25(6), Art. 25(7), Art. 66(2), Art. 67(1), Art. 67(2), Art. 69(2), Art. 16-15(5), Art. 70(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
The governor with whom a real estate transaction specialist is registered may give them instructions, and bar them from a specialist's work for up to one year, where for example they let another person use their name as a specialist or act dishonestly or grossly improperly in that work. The governor must delete the registration in listed cases, such as a registration or card obtained by fraud, or especially serious circumstances.(Art. 68(1), Art. 68(2), Art. 68-2(1)) (the provisions it rests on)
Where it is necessary to ensure the business is run properly, the Minister may require anyone carrying on the business, and a governor anyone carrying it on in the prefecture, to report on it, and may send officials into its offices and other places of business to inspect books, documents and other items. Failing to report, reporting falsely, or refusing or obstructing an inspection is punishable by a fine of up to 500,000 yen, and where a company's representative or staff do this in its business, the company is fined as well.(Art. 72(1), Art. 83(1)(v), Art. 83(1)(vi), Art. 84(1), Art. 84(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
Carrying on the business without a licence, obtaining a licence by fraud, letting another person carry on the business under one's name, or working in breach of a suspension order is punishable by imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to three years or a fine of up to 3 million yen, or both. Where a company's representative or staff do this in its business, the company can be fined up to 100 million yen. Presenting oneself as a broker or advertising for the business without a licence, or letting another do so under one's name, is punishable by a fine of up to 1 million yen.(Art. 79(1), Art. 84(1), Art. 84(1)(i), Art. 12(2), Art. 13(2), Art. 82(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
Intentionally withholding or misstating important matters — such as those Articles 35 and 37 list — when soliciting a contract, or to stop a customer withdrawing, cancelling or enforcing a claim, is punishable by imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 3 million yen, or both. Demanding an unreasonably high fee is punishable by up to one year or 1 million yen, or both; receiving more than the Minister's fee amount, by a fine of up to 1 million yen. False or exaggerated advertising carries up to six months or 1 million yen, or both, and failing to deliver the Article 37 document a fine of up to 500,000 yen.(Art. 47(1)(i), Art. 47(1)(ii), Art. 46(2), Art. 79-2(1), Art. 80(1), Art. 82(1)(ii), Art. 32(1), Art. 81(1)(i), Art. 83(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
A broker and its staff, when soliciting a contract, may not give a definite judgment that misleads a customer into thinking a profit is certain, or intimidate a customer to make them contract or to stop them withdrawing or cancelling; breaking this is a ground for an instruction or a suspension. Inducing a contract by lending the earnest money or otherwise giving credit for it, and unreasonably delaying registration, handover or payment, are punishable by imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to 1 million yen, or both.(Art. 47-2(1), Art. 47-2(2), Art. 65(1), Art. 65(2)(ii), Art. 47(1)(iii), Art. 44(1), Art. 81(1)(i), Art. 81(1)(ii)) (the provisions it rests on)
Several rules take effect directly between the parties, without any official. A term less favourable to the buyer that breaks the cooling-off rules, or that restricts the right to cancel by giving up the earnest money or offering double, is void; agreed damages and penalties are void above two-tenths of the price; and terms contrary to the limits on warranty terms, on cancelling instalment sales, and on exclusive brokerage contracts' term, listing and reporting are void. A buyer may also withhold advance payments the broker has not protected as Articles 41 and 41-2 require.(Art. 37-2(4), Art. 38(2), Art. 39(2), Art. 39(3), Art. 40(2), Art. 42(2), Art. 34-2(10), Art. 41(4), Art. 41-2(5)) (the provisions it rests on)

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Where the translation comes from

798
445
116not translated

The Ministry of Justice's translation is shown only where the Japanese it translates matches the law in force today. Everywhere else the English is a machine translation, marked on the paragraph itself.

Only the Japanese is the law, and no lawyer has reviewed the machine translation.

Sources

Everything this page rests on

e-Gov (Digital Agency)宅地建物取引業法 — the text in force from 2026-04-01Original
e-Gov (Digital Agency)宅地建物取引業法 — revision historyOriginal
Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of JusticeReal Estate Brokerage Act — Ministry of Justice translationOriginal
Machine translation, not official
Written for this site with AIEnglish titles of amending laws, written for this site
Written for this site with AIDescriptions of each law, written for this site
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