TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) Thursday (May 30) on his Facebook announced that a new set of guidelines protecting renters would go into effect on Saturday (June 1).
On Thursday morning, Su announced on Facebook and LINE that new renters' rights regulations would go into effect on June 1 in order to better safeguard the rights of renters in Taiwan.
The key new guidelines are as follows:
1. Rental deposit must not exceed two months.
2. Landlords must not prevent tenants from moving their household registration.
3. Landlords must not overcharge for electricity.
Su then asked readers to share the good news with their friends and relatives to "help everyone feel more secure as they work hard [to make a living]."
The Department of Consumer Protection on Feb. 25 announced that the "Residential Lease New System" (住宅轉租新制) would go into effect on June 1. The law stipulates new regulations regarding deposit, water and electricity charges, and repair responsibilities, and if the contract is not in accordance with the regulations, the tenant may request an amendment or refuse to sign the lease in order to protect their rights and interests.
In order to prevent disputes over excessive utility fees or deposits, the maximum deposit may not exceed "a total of two months of rent." The deposit must be returned to the tenant upon the expiration of the lease term or termination of the lease contract.
If the contract stipulates that the electricity bill should be borne by the tenant, the cost should not exceed the "maximum level of electricity consumption per hour in summer" in order to avoid excessive charges on the part of the landlord.
In the case of repairs, damage to the dwelling should be repaired by the landlord, but in the case of damage caused by the tenant, the landlord is not responsible for repairs.
The maximum penalty for landlords who violate the new renter law is NT$300,000.
