Disability Discrimination Housing Independent Living Intellectual disabilities Japan

Osaka Woman With Intellectual Disability Refused UR Housing, Raising Rights Questions

A 60-year-old woman with an intellectual disability in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, was denied a UR rental apartment despite having spent more than a year preparing to live independently with support from a local nonprofit, prompting concerns that the agency’s requirement for a co-resident family member constitutes discriminatory treatment. The woman had practiced living alone in an NPO-rented unit, staying several nights a week and managing household tasks with periodic help from care workers. As The Mainichi Shimbun reported on November 15, disability-rights advocates argue that imposing conditions not required of non-disabled applicants contradicts national policy encouraging people with disabilities to move from institutions into community-based housing.

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by Michael Gillan Peckitt
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By Barrier Free Japan

November 16 2025

OSAKA – A 60-year-old woman with an intellectual disability in Hirakata, Osaka Prefecture, was denied a rental contract by the state-affiliated Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) after applying to live alone, raising concerns among disability-rights advocates that existing housing rules may amount to discrimination.

The woman, who has long lived with her younger brother, visited the UR Hirakata Sales Center in December 2024 to secure an apartment after her brother’s upcoming marriage required her to move out. According to supporters, she had spent more than a year preparing for independent living. With assistance from local nonprofit Personal Support Hirakata, she practiced staying in a studio apartment rented by the group, spending two to three nights a week there while receiving regular visits from home-helpers and managing household tasks.

Despite this preparation, UR refused her application, citing a requirement that certain applicants must have a co-resident family member. The woman’s supporters argue that she is capable of living alone with periodic assistance, and that such requirements are not imposed on non-disabled tenants. As The Mainichi Shimbun reported on November 15, advocates say the rule creates a barrier to community-based living that contradicts government efforts to transition people with disabilities away from institutional settings.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which oversees UR, has previously indicated that imposing a co-residence condition solely on people with disabilities may constitute discriminatory treatment. Lawyers working in the field likewise warn that such criteria conflict with the principles of Japan’s Act for Eliminating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities.

Local disability-support groups say the case highlights a broader problem. Although national policy calls for expanding community living options, individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities continue to face difficulties securing accommodation in both public and private rental markets. Some fear that without reforms, people capable of living independently with support will be pushed back toward group homes or institutional facilities.

The woman has expressed her intention to continue seeking an apartment that will allow her to live on her own while receiving necessary assistance.

1 comment on “Osaka Woman With Intellectual Disability Refused UR Housing, Raising Rights Questions”

  1. Pingback: Osaka Woman With Intellectual Disability Refused UR Housing, Raising Rights Questions [Podcast Episode] – Barrier Free Japan

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