A central government program that expands rental subsidies to NT$30 billion (US$1 billion) will officially open for applications starting Friday. Premier Su Tseng-chang on Thursday received a Ministry of the Interior briefing on the program and attended the program's launch ceremony.
The program features the largest budget, widest household coverage, most lenient eligibility requirements, greatest increases in subsidy benefits and easiest application procedures ever for a program of its kind, the premier said. He hopes it will lighten the burden of rentals for young singles, newlyweds, childrearing households, and socially or economically disadvantaged households, and also noted that the program fulfills the government's promise to share the fruits of Taiwan's economic growth with the people.
The government not only hopes to provide higher subsidies to more renter households in need via easier procedures, the premier continued, but also encourages landlords to do good by embracing the program's beneficial housing measures. Simply by participating in the program, landlords can apply the preferential tax rates reserved for self-use property to their land value tax and house tax, as well as receive income tax exemptions of NT$15,000 (US$505) on rental income per month per household. The program is thus a win-win for both renters and landlords.