To promote transparency in the rental housing market, the Ministry of the Interior presented a report on "Enhanced Measures for Rental Market Transparency" during the ministry meeting on August 15, led by the Department of Land Administration and the Statistics Department. Deputy Minister of the Interior Dong Jianhong noted that summer is the peak season for student rentals, and the ministry has prioritized the analysis of 478,000 rental contracts from the rent subsidy program. The ministry has also released actual rental statistics for areas surrounding 140 universities and colleges nationwide. This initiative aims to help students and parents choose rental properties with reasonable rent. Dong Jianhong also reminded students renting off-campus to take advantage of the "NT$30 Billion Central Government Rent Subsidy Expansion," as the government is committed to easing the financial burden of renting.
The Ministry of the Interior stated that the rental statistics for areas surrounding universities are based on valid rental subsidy contract data as of March 31, 2024, covering the main administrative districts (townships, cities, and districts) of 86 universities and colleges nationwide. The data provides quartile statistics to help students understand the local rental price distribution. This information is available for download on the Department of Land Administration’s website under the "Rental Housing Ordinance Section" (https://www.land.moi.gov.tw/chhtml/news/89).
University Area Rental Statistics (Northern Region). (Photo / Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior’s official website)
The Ministry of the Interior explained that the quartile rental statistics are calculated by arranging all rental contract samples within an administrative district in ascending order by rental price, dividing them into four parts, and using the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles to represent the low, middle, and high distribution of rental prices within the district. For example, in the East District of Hsinchu City, where National Tsing Hua University and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University are located, there are 4,417 rental contract samples. The 25th percentile rent is NT$6,000, meaning that 25% of the contracts have rents below NT$6,000. The 50th percentile (median) rent is NT$7,500, and the 75th percentile rent is NT$11,000, indicating that 75% of the contracts have rents below NT$11,000.
University Area Rental Statistics (Hsinchu East District). (Photo / Courtesy of the Ministry of the Interior’s official website)
Dong Jianhong further stated that this is the first time the Ministry of the Interior has used rent subsidy data for analysis and public release of university area rental statistics. In the future, the ministry will regularly publish rental statistics for administrative districts across the country and explore further statistics on different rental types based on the sample size and completeness of regional data, providing more detailed information. Additionally, the ministry will invite local governments, industry associations, experts, scholars, and related organizations to hold discussions on transparency in the rental market, aiming to gradually promote information transparency while protecting personal data privacy.
Dong Jianhong also reminded that to reduce the financial burden on renters, the "NT$30 Billion Central Government Rent Subsidy Expansion," originally planned for four years, will be extended until 2026. Those who need to apply can do so online or via paper applications. For inquiries, please call the consultation hotline at (02) 7729-8003 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday to Friday, or visit the "NT$30 Billion Central Government Rent Subsidy Expansion Section" (https://pip.moi.gov.tw/V3/B/SCRB0102.aspx) for more information.
