TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — As the government increases rental subsidies in Taiwan, some renters are concerned that rental prices are subsequently rising.
Housing market trends analyst Li Tong-rong (李同榮) noted that rents have consistently increased regardless of whether housing prices have risen or fallen over the past decade, according to CNA. Li attributed the issue to policy errors, stating that rent subsidies indirectly benefit landlords who raise rents.
The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) responded that if a landlord raises rent because a tenant applies for rent subsidies, the tenant can file a complaint. If the landlord refuses to make corrections, they can be fined up to NT$500,000.
The ministry approved more than 620,000 households for rent subsidies, which it described as providing substantial care and support for renters, especially young people and newlywed families. After inspecting 500,000 leases, the ministry found that 6% had rent increases following the subsidies.
The MOI stated that the rental subsidy policy restricts applicants' qualifications based on income and rental ceilings. It explained that concerns about rising rent prices mostly affect newly-built houses rented by tenants with higher incomes, who are not the primary target of the subsidies.
To expand support for renters across all groups, the ministry plans to increase the number of rental subsidy households to 750,000 starting in 2025. It also pledged to combat the black market and stabilize rental prices by publishing rental statistics and improving operations.
