住宅法

This Act is enacted to protect citizens’ right to housing, establish a robust housing market, improve the quality of housing, and thus allow all citizens to enjoy suitable housing and a dignified living environment.

1The term “competent authority” in this Act refers to the Ministry of the Interior at the central level; the municipal governments at the municipal level; and the county (city) governments at the county (city) level.

2The duties of competent authorities at each level are as follows:

31. Central competent authority:

4(1) Formulate and implement housing policies and national housing plans.

5(2) Financial planning for national housing plans.

6(3) Subsidize, supervise, and assist housing affairs of municipalities and counties (cities).

7(4) Collect, analyze, and announce national housing information.

8(5) Research and establish housing policies, subsidies, market, quality and other related systems.

9(6) Establish basic housing standards.

10(7) Construct social housing.

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1The terms used in this Act are defined as follows:

21.Housing: Refers to a registered building with a doorplate that is occupied for habitation.

32.Social housing: Refers to housing and necessary ancillary facilities built by the government or by the private sector with subsidies from the government that is primarily rented.

43.Public welfare landlord: Refers to landlords or payers of taxes on houses that have not been initially registered for ownership and the ownership of which is unclear who rent their house to persons qualified for rent subsidy, or to social welfare organizations that sub-rent the house to persons determined by the municipal or county (city) central competent authority as qualified for rent subsidy.

1At least 40% of social housing units built by the competent authority and the private sector, calculated within the jurisdiction of each municipal or county (city) government, shall be leased to economically or socially disadvantaged persons. In addition, at least 20% shall be leased to families who have been newly wedded for less than two years or who have minor children. A certain ratio shall also be provided for persons whose permanent household registration is not located in the area but who have housing needs there due to schooling or employment. However, where the number of applicant families does not reach the foregoing reserved proportion, the remaining units shall not subject to such restriction.

2Economically or socially disadvantaged persons as referred to in the preceding paragraph means families whose total income divided by the number of members in the household and whose total family assets do not exceed certain standard thresholds announced by the competent authority and who meet one of the following:

31. Low-income or lower middle-income households.

42. Families in special circumstances.

53. Persons with two or more children who are minors.

64. Persons under the age of 25 who are unable to return home after being placed in a residential institution or foster family.

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1In order to allow all citizens to enjoy suitable housing and a dignified living environment, the central competent authority shall formulate housing policies with consideration to future environment developments, supply/demand in the housing market, affordability of housing, housing development issues, and cultural requirements of indigenous peoples, and submit the policies to the Executive Yuan for ratification.

2Municipal and county (city) competent authorities shall establish administrative goals for housing in accordance with the central housing policy and local development requirements, and formulate housing plans and financial plans, which shall be submitted to the central competent authority for future reference.

3The central competent authority shall formulate housing plans and financial plans based on the housing policy and with consideration to social and economic development, national land planning, regional development, industries, population, housing supply/demand, affordability, housing quality, financial condition of central and local governments, and the status of housing plans implemented by municipal and county (city) competent authorities, and shall submit the housing plans and financial plans to the Executive Yuan for ratification.

4The competent authority may implement housing plans in coordination with public land resources, urban planning, land development, urban renewal, financing, housing subsidies or other strategies.

5The ratio and distribution of economically or socially disadvantaged tenants in social housing provided by municipal or county (city) competent authorities shall be reported to the central competent authority each year for future reference.

1Competent authorities shall invite related agencies, private organizations, experts and scholars to form a housing advisory committee to jointly consult and deliberate on housing projects, evaluate the ratio and distribution of economically or socially disadvantaged persons, and assess social housing affairs; no less than half of all committee members shall be private organizations, experts and scholars.

2Regulations on the establishment of housing advisory committees shall be prescribed by competent authorities at each level.

1Competent authorities may establish housing funds to develop a robust housing market, provide housing subsidies, provide social housing, and improve the quality of housing environments.

2Sources of funding for the central housing fund are as follows:

31. Appropriated by the government according to budgetary procedures.

42. Income from disposal of the fund’s property.

53. Profits from building social housing.

64. Interest income from the fund.

75. Other income.

8Sources of funding for municipal, county (city) housing fund are as follows:

91. Appropriated by the government according to budgetary procedures.

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Competent authorities may establish or commission an organization or institution to handle housing related affairs.

1Competent authorities may formulate plans or subsidize mortgage interests, rent or renovation expenses based on its financial condition to help families or individuals with income and assets below the specified level to gain suitable housing. Types of subsidies are as follows:

21. Interest on loans for self-build house.

32. Interest on loans for purchasing house.

43. Rent.

54. Interest on loans for home renovation.

65. Simple home renovation expenses.

7Persons may only apply for one of the abovementioned housing subsidies or housing subsidies provided by other agencies each year. Persons receiving subsidies for home loan interest may not simultaneously receive two or more subsidies unless specially approved by the Executive Yuan; persons may only apply once for government subsidies for housing expenses within the specified number of years.

8For tenants with qualifications set forth in Paragraph 2 of Article 4 that have rented a house for at least one year before the amendment to this Act takes effect on December 23rd, 2016, applications for rental subsidy specified in Subparagraph 3 of Paragraph 1 are not limited by legal building in Subparagraph 1 of Article 1 and basic living standards in Article 13.

1For each family one member shall submit an application for the various housing subsidies specified in paragraph 1 of the preceding article; the family must satisfy one of the following qualifications:

21. Subsidies specified in subparagraph 1 or subparagraph 2 of paragraph 1 in the preceding article: Limited to families that do not own a house or families that have owned one house for less than two years.

32. Subsidies specified in subparagraph 3 of paragraph 1 in the preceding article: Limited to families that do not own a house.

43. Subsidies specified in subparagraph 4 or subparagraph 5 of paragraph 1 in the preceding article: Limited to families that only own one house.

5The order in which persons receive housing subsidies specified in paragraph 1 of the preceding article shall be based on rating results. Persons with the following conditions shall have higher rating weight; in the event two applicants have the same rating, the person with higher rating weight will be prioritized for subsidies:

61. Economically or socially disadvantaged persons.

72. Persons living below basic living standards.

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1Competent authorities shall take into consideration the housing market, population, and affordability when determining the subsidy amount and number of households that may receive subsidies for interest on loans for purchasing house.

2Competent authorities shall take into consideration the standard of rent in the area, income of the subsidized household, number of households or the condition of economically or socially disadvantaged persons, and affordability when determining the subsidy amount and number of households that may receive rent subsidies.

3The central competent authority shall complete the collection of rental data or prices, affordability, and calculation method for subsidy amount within two years after the amendment to this Act takes effect on December 23rd, 2016.

1Application qualifications, required documents, determination of ownership of only one house, determination of no houses owned or self-build house within two years, rating method, application procedures, review procedures, housing area, subsidy amount, term of subsidy, interest rate, continued subsidization and other matters associated with subsidies specified in subparagraphs 1 to 3 of paragraph 1 of Article 9 shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

2Application qualifications, required documents, determination of ownership of only one house, renovation items and facilities, rating method, application procedures, review procedures, subsidy amount, term of subsidy, interest rate, continued subsidization and other matters associated with subsidies specified in subparagraphs 4 or 5 of paragraph 1 of Article 9 shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

Besides subsidies for interest on loans for home renovation or simple home renovation expenses, the house of persons receiving government housing subsidies must reach the specified basic living standard in Article 40.

1Land value tax for the land of a self-build house of a person, who is receiving subsidies for interest on loan for self-build house, shall be calculated according to the rate for residential land for self-use.

2After land value tax for the said land in the preceding paragraph is approved to use the tax rate for residential land for self-use, in the event the self-build house is not completed within the period approved by the competent authority of building, the tax rate for regular land shall apply on the date the approved period expires.

3Application procedures for the first paragraph, procedures for changing tax rates in the preceding paragraph, and penalties for not declaring tax according to regulations shall be in accordance with regulations of the Land Tax Act.

1For public welfare landlords that lease their house to persons receiving rental subsidies from the competent authority or other agencies in accordance with this Act, their rent income shall be exempt from income tax. The amount of rent income exempted from income tax shall not exceed NTD 15,000 per house each month.

2Income tax exemption in the preceding paragraph shall be limited to five years. The Executive Yuan may extend the tax exemption period based on the actual situation six months before the period expires.

3The lease contract data signed by the public welfare landlord in accordance with the first paragraph may be used for tax reduction or exemption in the same item, but shall not be used as a basis for examining the rental income of the public welfare landlord.

1Municipality, county (city) governments shall levy house tax on the houses leased out by public welfare landlords according to the provisions of the House Tax Act.

2Municipality, county (city) governments may levy land value tax on the land of houses leased out by public welfare landlords according to the rate of residential land for self-use.

3The self-governance ordinance on the period, scope, standard, and procedures of tax preference in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the municipal, county (city) competent authority, and shall be reported to the Ministry of Finance for future reference.

4Tax preference in paragraph 2 shall be limited to five years. The Executive Yuan may extend the tax preference period based on the actual situation six months before the period expires.

5The lease contract data signed by the public welfare landlord may be used for levying house tax and land value tax of paragraphs 1 and 2, but shall not be used as a basis for examining the house tax and land value tax of the house and land in the aforesaid lease contract.

1Municipal and county (city) competent authorities shall periodically check the qualifications of persons receiving subsidies for rent or interest on loans for self-build house, purchasing house, or home renovation.

2In the event any one of the following conditions occur, the municipal or county (city) competent authority shall discontinue subsidies on the date of the occurrence, and shall recover subsidies received after the date of the occurrence, or repeatedly received subsidies for interest or rent:

31. Family members of the person receiving subsidies for interest on loans own two or more houses, or family members of the person receiving subsidies for rent own a house.

42. The application submitted contains falsified information.

53. The person is receiving two or more subsidies for interest on housing loans.

6To conduct qualification checks specified in paragraph 1, municipal and county (city) competent authorities shall create files on persons receiving subsidies after approving subsidies for rent or interest on loans for self-build house, purchasing house, or home renovation.

1The central competent authority shall establish a nationwide unified application and registration platform for use by persons who meet the qualifications set forth in Paragraph 1 of Article 25. With the consent of the applicant, such a platform may be interconnected to the relevant authorities in charge of the field concerned to access personal data of the applicant’s household members, including household registration, taxation, and social welfare information.

2The competent authority shall compile and analyze the data referred to in the preceding Paragraph periodically, including the distribution of supply, demand in terms of number of units, unit type mix, and required public facilities, as a basis for implementing future social housing plans. Such information shall be published on the websites of the competent authority.

3The application and registration platform established by the central competent authority under Paragraph 1 may be interconnected with the social housing registration platforms of municipal or county (city) competent authorities.

1Competent authorities may provide social housing via the following methods:

21. Construction.

32. Use a public building and its site.

43. Accept a donation.

54. Purchase a building.

65. Rent and manage a private building for sublease.

76. Provide incentives, guidance, or subsidies for house rental service providers specified in Paragraph 2 of Article 52 to rent and manage private buildings for sublease, or provide matchmaking and management services for landlords and tenants.

87. Change registration of land use and donations for bulk reward.

98. Other methods determined by the central competent authority.

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For social housing implemented pursuant to Subparagraph 6 of Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article, as a general principle, at least 50% of the total number of units under each annual plan shall be leased through private buildings for subleasing and management. Priority shall be given to subleasing such units to persons who meet the qualifications set forth in Paragraph 2 of Article 4 of this Act.

1Methods of the competent authority for constructing social housing are as follows:

21. Direct building.

32. Co-construction.

43. Set up superficies rights for private participation in building.

54. Participate in urban renewal with public land or building and gain a building and its site.

65. Other method determined by the competent authority.

1In the event a municipal or county (city) competent authority building social housing in accordance with this Act requires non-public use public land or buildings, the competent authority may proceed with appropriation.

2Income gained from the use of national land or buildings by the competent authority for providing social housing in accordance with this Act may be used for providing social housing, and shall not be bound by Article 7 of the National Property Act.

3If a competent authority, for the purpose of providing social housing in accordance with this Act, requires appropriation of non-public use public land or building with compensation, the competent authority may rent the land or building for a period prescribed by the central competent authority, and shall not be bound by the lease period set for the in Article 43 of the National Property Act. Land value tax and house tax during the lease period shall be paid by the competent authority, but shall be exempted for the construction period of the social housing.

4The competent authority may exchange land for neighboring pieces of land for overall planning. Where the abovementioned neighboring land is private property, land exchange shall not be bound by Article 104 and Article 107 of the Land Act.

When formulating, expanding, or conducting a comprehensive review of an urban plan, the urban planning authority shall take into account the local population development and housing conditions, and, in consultation with the municipal or county (city) competent authority, evaluate the demand for social housing and designate land required for such use.

1Municipality, county (city) governments may reduce or exempt land value tax and house tax during the construction of social housing.

2The self-governance ordinance on the period, scope, standard, and procedures for tax exemption in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by the municipal, county (city) competent authority, and shall be reported to the Ministry of Finance for future reference.

3During the operation of social housing specified in paragraph 1, rental income from spaces used to provide housing, long-term care services, services for the disabled, child-care services, and nursery, and service fee for house rental specified in Subparagraph 5 or 6 of Paragraph 1 and Subparagraph 4 of Paragraph 2 of Article 19 shall be exempt from sales tax.

4Tax preference in paragraph 1 shall be limited to five years. The Executive Yuan may extend the tax preference period based on the actual situation six months before the period expires.

1Competent authorities may provide incentives to encourage house rental services providers to provide social housing specified in Subparagraph 5 or 6 of Paragraph 1 and Subparagraph 4 of Paragraph 2 of Article 19.

2For house owners who lease their house to the competent authority or house rental service provider for sublease and management in accordance with Subparagraph 5 or 6 of Paragraph 1 or Subparagraph 4 of Paragraph 2 of Article 19, or have a house rental service provider provide matchmaking and management services to use the space for housing, long-term care services, services for the disabled, child-care services, or nursery, income tax on their rental income may be reduced according to the following conditions:

31. Rental income is exempt from income tax, but limited to NT$15,000 per house each month.

42. If the house owner cannot produce evidence of necessary loss and expenses for tax deduction, income tax on rental income shall be calculated at 60% of the rental income.

5Tax preference for rental income in the preceding paragraph shall be limited to five years.The Executive Yuan may extend the tax preference period based on the actual situation six months before the period expires.

6The lease contract data signed by the owner of the house in accordance with the second paragraph may be used for tax reduction or exemption in the same item but shall not be used as a basis for examining the rental income of the owner of the house.

A competent authority may apply to the competent authority of mid- to long-term financing or assist a private organization in applying for mid- to long-term financing if it deems the financing necessary for the construction, purchase, addition, reconstruction, or renovation of social housing.

1Tenants of social housing shall be families or individuals that do not own a house or has income and assets below the specified standard.

2Application qualifications, procedures, rent calculation, classification and charge, term and extension of rental, and other matters associated with tenants of social housing shall be prescribed by the competent authority.

3The central competent authority shall review and adjust the aforementioned basic housing standards every four years. shall take into consideration tenants' income, affordability, market situation, and fee-charging standards when calculating rent of social housing tenants, and shall periodically review rent calculation.

4The determination of rent in paragraph 2 is not applicable to Article 94 and Article 97 of the Land Act.

In paragraph 3 of the preceding article, where the social housing is provided in accordance with Subparagraphs 5 or 6 of Paragraph 1 or Subparagraph 4 of Paragraph 2 of Article 19, the competent authority may provide rental subsidies to tenants.

1A private organization that intends to build social housing shall submit an application form, business plan and related documents to the municipal or county (city) competent authority.

2The municipal or county (city) competent authority that processes the abovementioned application shall send one notification to applicants who did not submit all the required documents to submit missing documents within a specified time period. In the event the required documents are not submitted or the documents submitted do not meet requirements within the specified time period, the application shall be rejected.

3Municipal and county (city) competent authorities may invite related agencies or scholars and experts to consult on applications to build social housing; applications that meet requirements after review shall be approved.

4Municipal and county (city) competent authorities should complete review procedures within 90 days after receiving an application, but may extend the period by 60 days when necessary.

5Required documents, review items, approval, withdrawal or abolishment of approval, contents of the business plan, handling change in the approved purpose and other matters associated with applications to build social housing in paragraphs 1 to 3 shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

1Social housing built by a private organization may be a new building or an addition, reconstruction or renovation of an existing building on the same building foundation. Where the social housing is a new building, the building foundation shall meet one of the following requirements:

21. Total floor area of at least 500m2 in an urban planning district, and total floor area of at least 600m2 calculated based on building bulk specified in urban planning.

32. Type A building land or type B building land of at least 500m2 in non-urban district.

43. Type C building land, recreation land or special purpose land of at least 1,000m2 in non-urban district.

1Where a private organization requires non-public use public land or building for social housing, the public property management authority may rent or set up superficies for the land and provide preferential treatment. Constraints of Article 28 of the National Property Act shall not apply.

2The abovementioned preferential treatment for rent and setting up superficies shall be prescribed by the Ministry of Finance jointly with the Ministry of the Interior.

3Where there are fragmentary or narrow pieces of public land in the building foundation required by the private organization, the authority for sales of public land shall sell the land according to the announced current land value.

Municipal and county (city) competent authorities may subsidize interests on loans for new construction, addition, reconstruction, renovation, or purchase of social housing, partial construction expenses, operation and management expenses, or other expenses of private organizations.

1Municipal and county (city) competent authorities shall instruct the land administration office to specify “social housing” in the remarks column of the building registration book for social housing provided by a private organization. This article does not apply to social housing provided using the method in Subparagraph 4 of Paragraph 2 or Article 19.

2When the operator of social housing changes the use of the building, the operator shall settle the amount of preferential treatment and incentives, report the amount to the municipal, county (city) competent authority, and pay the amount in full. Only after arrangements are properly made for tenants of the social housing may the municipal, county (city) competent authority instruct the land administration office to cancel the annotation of social housing.

3The amount of preferential treatment and incentives in the preceding paragraph from after the date operation was approved to the date operation ended may be excluded.

4When ownership of social housing in paragraph one is transferred, the operator shall apply to the competent authority for approval; operators that change the building use shall handle affairs in accordance with paragraph two.

5The amount set forth in paragraph two and the preceding paragraph shall be paid to the competent authority to set up a housing fund; competent authorities that do not have a housing fund shall appropriate the amount to the housing fund of the central competent authority.

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1In the event social housing provided by a private organization will be discontinued for specific reasons, the operator of social housing shall make proper arrangements for tenants who are economically or financially disadvantaged. Where the operator is unable to make proper arrangements, the industrial competent authority of the municipality or county (city) shall provide assistance with arrangements. In the event the operator does not comply with requirements, the municipal or county (city) competent authority shall enforce the proper arrangement of said tenants. When necessary, the municipal or county (city) competent authority may take over the social housing.

2Procedures, time period, limitations of management right and property management right of the social housing being taken over, and subsidies to help make arrangements for tenants shall be prescribed by the central competent authority jointly with the central industrial competent authority.

1In order to improve the quality of public services where social housing is located, social housing provided by a competent authority or private organization shall reserve space for social welfare services, long-term care services, services for persons with disabilities, child-care services, nurseries, youth entrepreneurship, community activities, leisure activities, business activities, restaurant services, or other necessary facilities.

2Items and scale of necessary facilities in the preceding paragraph shall be announced by the central competent authority and published in the government gazette.

1Competent authorities or private organizations shall consider the physical and mental status of tenants, family composition and other necessary conditions when building social housing in order to provide suitable facilities or equipment.

2The abovementioned facilities, equipment, and social welfare services shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

1Social housing built by a competent authority may be managed by the competent authority or outsourced.

2Non-profit organizations may rent and operate public social housing and sublease to economically or socially disadvantaged persons specified in Article 4.

1Operators of social housing may provide cultural and recreational activities, community activities, restaurants, referral services and other services provided or introduced based on the needs of tenants independently or in cooperation with property management and related service industries, and may charge expenses for the services.

2Operators of social housing shall submit standards for the abovementioned expenses to the municipal or county (city) competent authority for future reference.

1A municipal or county (city) competent authority shall provide guidance, supervise and periodically evaluate operators of social housing by itself or through an agency (institution), school or organization, and shall announce evaluation results to the public. Incentives shall be provided to operators rated as excellent in evaluations.

2Regulations on the abovementioned evaluation and incentives shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

1In the event tenants of social housing have any one of the following conditions, the operator may terminate the contract of tenancy and retrieve the residence:

21. The tenant no longer qualifies for social housing.

32. The tenant leases or lends part or all of the residence to others.

43. The tenant reconstructs, makes an addition, builds an illegal construction, changes the original state of the residence, or uses it for any purpose other than residency.

54. Any other actions that violate the contract of tenancy.

6In the event a tenant falls into difficulty due to an emergency incident after the operator retrieves their residence, the operator shall notify the competent authority of social affairs to provide assistance.

1Municipal and county (city) competent authorities or related industrial competent authorities may provide subsidies or incentives for the construction, addition, reconstruction or renovation of houses with local, ethnic or historic features for the purpose of developing housing landscapes and features.

2Regulations for the abovementioned subsidies or incentives shall be prescribed by the municipal and county (city) competent authority or central industrial competent authority.

1In order to improve housing quality, the central competent authority shall establish basic housing standards based on social and economic development, public safety and health, and living requirements. Basic housing standards shall serve as a basis for housing policy planning and housing subsidies.

2The central competent authority shall review and adjust the aforementioned basic housing standards every four years.

3Municipal and county (city) competent authorities shall investigate the situation of households not meeting basic housing standards, and may establish guidance and improvement actions plans to ensure basic housing standards are met.

4The central competent authority shall subsidize municipal and county (city) competent authorities to carry out the inventory operations in the preceding paragraph.

1Municipal and county (city) competent authorities shall actively implement the following matters and include the matters in housing plans to improve housing quality:

21. Construction and improvement of barrier-free environment in residential communities.

32. Renovation and beautification of the roof, exterior wall, facilities and miscellaneous items of apartment buildings.

43. Residential community development consultation and technology provision.

54. Implementation of community empowerment, environmental reform, environmental conservation, or charging stations for electric vehicles.

65. Education and training for residential community organizations.

76. Matters implemented in coordination with housing plan objectives or specific policies.

87. Other matters deemed necessary by the competent authority.

In order to improve housing quality, the central competent authority may periodically organize housing environment improvement evaluations, incentives or competitions, and invite related agencies, experts and scholars to participate; results may be used as a basis for subsidizing housing plans of municipalities and counties (cities).

1In order to improve housing quality and clearly label housing performance, the central competent authority shall establish a housing performance evaluation system and encourage house builders or owners to apply for evaluation.

2Contents, standards, methods, encouragement measures, qualifications of evaluation institutions and personnel, and management of the abovementioned evaluation system shall be prescribed by the central competent authority.

1Evaluation institutes that conduct housing performance evaluations in accordance with paragraph 1 of the preceding article shall dispatch personnel to conduct on-site surveys and necessary tests. After completing an evaluation, the evaluation institute shall issue a housing performance evaluation report.

2When ownership of a house is transferred, the abovementioned housing performance evaluation report shall also be transferred to the house owner and the apartment building management committee or manager.

1Incentives may be provided to newly constructed houses that reach a specific standard in the housing performance evaluation, and the houses may be announced on related government websites.

2The competent authority may subsidize the evaluation expense of houses that reach a specific age.

3Houses that reach a specific age in the preceding paragraph will be announced by the central competent authority and published on the government gazette.

In order to promote barrier-free housing, the central competent authority shall establish regulations on design standards and incentives for barrier-free housing.

1Competent authorities shall periodically collect, analyze, and announce the following housing information to guide the development of a robust housing market:

21. Housing supply, demand, land, and transaction price in the house rental market.

32. Information on rental prices per ping in the residential lease market, categorized by housing type and building age, shall be compiled and presented using median and percentile measures. Priority shall be given to dwellings leased pursuant to Subparagraph 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 9 and Subparagraph 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 19.

43. Housing demand of economically or socially disadvantaged persons, and results of housing subsidy policy.

54. Living quality and conditions, housing environment risks, and living satisfaction.

65. Other necessary housing information.

7For the collection of housing information referred to in the preceding paragraph, government agencies (institutions) at all levels, as well as relevant industry associations and organizations in the fields of finance, housing investment, production, transaction, and use, shall cooperate in providing relevant statistical data.

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In order to stabilize the housing market, competent authorities may adopt necessary market regulation measures in districts with severe imbalance of housing supply and demand according to the analysis of market supply/demand information in the preceding article.

Competent authorities shall establish social housing information and announce the information on the internet.

Competent authorities shall encourage legal persons or individuals to provide market information on rental or purchase of suitable housing to economically or socially disadvantaged persons who do not own a house or are living in housing conditions urgently requiring improvement.

A housing construction company shall provide the required information specified in Paragraph 2 of Article 47 to the municipal, county (city) competent authority upon acquiring a building license and declaring that it will begin construction within 30 days.

1Competent authorities shall formulate rental housing development policies to drive the development of a robust rental housing market, and formulate short-, mid- and long-term plans for rental systems and professional services provided to the economically or socially disadvantaged specified in Article 4. The competent authorities shall provide rental housing market information, matchmaking services, professional management assistance, and dispute consultation services.

2The services referred to in the preceding Paragraph may be offered by house rental service providers. Regulations on the determination and incentives shall be prescribed by the central competent authority. With respect to cases involving the leasing of private housing for subleasing and management pursuant to Subparagraph 6 of Paragraph 1 of Article 19, the total amount of subsidies granted to lessors shall not be less than 2.5 times the amount allocated for matchmaking between lessees and lessors and for the management of such units.

Housing is a fundamental human right as described and interpreted by the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Human Rights Committee.

1No one may reject or interfere with the following actions of residence users:

21. Necessary barrier-free renovations of their residence or public space at their own expense.

32. Keeping a guide dog for persons with disabilities.

43. Legally using spaces, facilities, equipment and services in exclusive parts of their residence and non-exclusive public spaces.

1In the event the condition in the preceding article occurs, the residence user may file a complaint to the municipal or county (city) competent authority within one year of the event’s occurrence.

2When handling the complaint mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the municipal or county (city) competent authority shall invite the participation of no less than one thirds of representatives of socially or economically disadvantaged persons and social welfare scholars.

In the event a violator of Article 54 handled in accordance with Article 55, who is ordered by the competent authority to improve the condition within a specific time period, but fails to make improvement, a penalty between NT$100,000 and NT$500,000 shall be imposed for each violation.

In the event an operator of social housing violates Paragraph 1 of Article 32 by not making proper arrangements in coordination with the industrial competent authority of the municipality or county (city), and fails to improve the condition within the specified time period set forth by the municipal or county (city) competent authority, the municipal or county (city) competent authority shall impose a penalty between NT$60,000 and NT$300,000 on the operator.

The central competent authority as well as municipality and county (city) competent authorities that dispose, create a right in rem or lease public land and buildings for a period of over ten years in accordance with this Act shall not be bound by Article 25, Article 104 and Article 107 of the Land Act, Article 28 of the National Property Act and public property management laws of local governments.

1Before this Act takes effect, where the People with Disabilities Rights Protection Act or Public Assistance Act does not apply, housing subsidies already provided by the government or government directly built public housing that has not been sold shall continue to be implemented in accordance with the applicable law until interest subsidies is discontinued or sales is completed.

2Public housing already leased by the government, including tenant qualifications and lease procedures, before this Act takes effect shall continue to be applicable to the original law until the public housing is transformed into social housing or sold. Sales and lease of commercial and service facilities and buildings of public residential communities directly built by the government shall continue to be implemented in accordance with the original law until sales is completed.

1Where a public residential community directly built by the government that does not form a management committee or elect a manager in accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Apartment Buildings, management and maintenance of the community shall be handled in accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Apartment Buildings starting on the day this Act takes effect.

2Where the management and maintenance fund of a public residential community has a surplus or is not appropriated, the municipal or county (city) competent authority shall open a public fund account in the government treasury using the community name, and transfer the community’s management and maintenance fund into the account. After the community forms a management committee or elects a manager in accordance with the Regulations on the Management of Apartment Buildings and submits a report, the municipal or county (city) competent authority shall transfer funds in the account into the public fund account opened by the community.

1Where management office, basement, alleys, playground, grasslands and any vacant land other than statutory vacant land, and other facilities of public residential communities directly built by the government are included in the price of public housing and registered as public owned, the registration shall be changed to community co-owners and scope of rights calculated based on the ratio of individual ownership. Public facilities of urban planning not applicable to change of registration shall be registered as owned by the local government.

2The abovementioned individual ownership ratio shall be based on the ratio of the floor area owned by each individual to total floor area of the residential community. If the public residential community is located on multiple pieces of land, the individual ownership ratio shall be calculated based on the total floor area owned by each individual on all pieces of land to the total floor area owned by individuals on all pieces of land, or the municipal or county (city) competent authority may adopt a registration method beneficial to the community’s future development after taking into consideration the community’s special characteristics or by integrating residents’ requirements.

3The land administration office is not required to issue rights certificates for change of registration mentioned in paragraph 1; the scope of rights shall also be transferred in the event the main building is transferred.

1Where the management office, activity center and other facilities of a public residential community directly built by the government are purchased using a single community management and maintenance fund, but are not transferred to community co-owners or sold according to the decision of the community co-owners meeting before this Act takes effect, community users shall change the registration in accordance with the preceding article, or the facilities may be sold by the local government according to the decision of the community co-owners meeting; the funds acquired from sale of the facilities shall be transferred to the community as a public fund.

2Where the abovementioned facilities are jointly purchased by several community management and maintenance funds, the local government shall sell the facilities in accordance with relevant regulations. The funds acquired from selling the facilities shall be distributed to each community based on the ratio each community paid for purchasing the facilities and be used as a public fund.

3Registration may be changed for management offices, activity centers, and other facilities purchased by a community’s public fund in accordance with the preceding paragraph.

For persons that qualified as public welfare landlords in accordance with the Regulations on Guidance and Incentives for Private Organizations to Establish House Rental Service Platforms before the amendment to this Act takes effect on December 23rd, 2016, regulations before the amendment shall still apply.

The enforcement rules for this Act shall be enacted by the central competent authority.

This Act shall take effect on the date of promulgation.