TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), the head of the island's executive branch, unveiled a significant shift in housing policy Tuesday (May 13), announcing that the Ministry of the Interior (MOI, 內政部), the government department overseeing domestic affairs, will focus on rental accessibility rather than property ownership. The initiative centers on a new "marriage and childbirth housing" program designed to address demographic challenges facing the island nation.
During his appearance on the popular legal education podcast "Plain Law Movement" (法律白話文運動), Cho detailed how unmarried residents in government-supported housing programs would qualify for enhanced rental assistance when they marry or have children. The financial support escalates substantially, with subsidies growing by 50% for each new child born to participating families. Taiwan's administration has simultaneously created incentives for commercial developers to dedicate between 3% and 5% of various construction projects toward affordable housing initiatives.
The Premier highlighted his administration's commitment to rental market transparency through the publication of comprehensive regional pricing data intended to empower young tenants with accurate information. Cho specifically addressed a common concern by clarifying that property owners are prohibited from disguising rent increases as utility fee adjustments. He pointed to the government's implementation of mandatory standardized rental agreements that all property managers must utilize, creating uniformity in contractual terms across Taiwan's rental sector. ★