To cater to the housing needs of disadvantaged groups and young people, in addition to promoting its social housing policy, the central government has introduced an expanded rent subsidy program for the period 2022-2026. The expanded program provides annual total rent subsidies of NT$30 billion (US$938.2 million) and loosens application requirements, thereby boosting the number of subsidized households from 120,000 to 750,000. With the size of subsidies given to each household also increased, the program will comprehensively ease the burden of rentals for young singles, newlyweds, childrearing households, and socially or economically disadvantaged households. This administration's social housing policy is the most expansive in history: it has the largest budget, assists the greatest number of households, contains the broadest eligibility criteria and provides the most generous rent subsidies.
Key points and complementary measures
■ Relaxed eligibility requirements: The maximum personal income threshold for rent subsidy applicants will be raised from 2.5 times to 3 times the average minimum monthly cost of living in their local area.
■ Subsidy amounts: Non-homeowning individuals or families with an income below a certain level are eligible to receive a monthly subsidy of between NT$2,000 (US$63) and NT$8,000 (US$250) per household.
■ Larger subsidies: Four target groups—single adults aged under 40, couples married for two years or less, households with minor children (including unborn children), and economically or socially disadvantaged households—enjoy between 1.2 and 1.8 times larger rent subsidies.
■ Easier application procedures: New households can apply online. Currently subsidized households can join the online system without reapplying.
■ Benefits for landlords: Landlords who lease residences to subsidized households can enjoy concessions on income tax, house tax and land value tax.
■ Fuller coverage for on- and off-campus rentals: Raise subsidies and loosen application restrictions for off-campus rentals for college and university students from disadvantaged households; and additionally provide on-campus accommodation subsidies for college and university students.