What is Social Housing?
Social housing consists of properties built or acquired by the government and rented out at below-market rents. The main goal is to provide safe, affordable housing for people who cannot afford adequate private market housing — including low-income families, young people, single-parent families, and others.
How Much is the Rent?
Social housing rent is typically 60%–80% of market rent, depending on the location, unit size, and the applicant's qualifications.
Example (Taipei City):
- Market rent NT$20,000 → Social housing rent approximately NT$12,000–NT$16,000
Who Can Apply?
Applicants are sorted by priority:
First Priority (reserved quota):
- Low-income and near-low-income households
- Persons with disabilities
- Adults aged 65 and above
- Single-parent families
- Families protected by domestic violence restraining orders
General Applications:
- No existing home ownership
- Meets income and assets requirements
- Registered or employed in the application county/city
How to Apply
- Watch for rental announcement notices from city/county governments or the Urban Renewal and Housing Agency
- Prepare: ID card, household registration booklet, income and assets documentation, proof of special status (if applicable)
- Submit online or in person
- Allocation by lottery or ranking order
- After selection, sign the lease and pay rent monthly
Key Information Platforms
- Ministry of the Interior Social Housing Information Portal: Consolidated nationwide social housing information
- Taiwan Social Housing: Find rental announcements by county/city
- Official housing bureau websites for each city/county
Important Notes
- Social housing uses fixed-term leases, typically 1–3 years, renewable per applicable rules
- Subletting or allowing others to reside in the unit is prohibited
- Rules vary slightly by county/city — refer to each rental announcement
- Units are limited; popular locations often have waiting lists