萬國法律事務所

The Rental Housing Market Development and Regulation Act came into effect on 27 June, 2018 and stipulates that the rental housing market must make five reforms. These reforms are (1) strengthening landlord and tenant rights and obligations across-the-board, (2) establishing systems for the businesses of rental housing management (“RHMB”) and rental housing subleasing (“RHSB”), (3) obtaining taxation preference by authorizing profession managers to handle tax returns, (4) encouraging individuals to apply mediation gratis, and (5) providing dispute resolution and consultation. Moreover, the Government has stated, for the purposes of protecting consumer interests, people shall not participate in the RHMB and RHSB industries until and unless they have acquired a permit to do so from the relevant municipalities or cities.

The rental housing service business includes both RHMB and RHSB. The rental housing service business has established professional license systems, such as for inspecting rental housing spaces and fixtures to check for wear, tear, and damage, collecting rents, managing security deposits, handling day-to-day maintenance, mediating disputes, and dealing with other matters related to rental housing management, according to Chang Chih-Hsiang, chief of the Department of Land Administration.

Additionally, engaging in the rental housing service business requires one to obtain a special industry license. Businesses must now apply for permits and complete corporation registration in order to engage in this business. Finally, he stated, a rental housing service business now cannot start operations before (1) depositing a guarantee bond for operations, (2) completing its corporation registration, (3) employing rental housing managers, and (4) joining the trade association in the jurisdiction where the business has registered.