Taiwan Apartment Rental Guide 台灣租屋常見問題

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Renting an apartment in Taiwan can be confusing and frustrating. As a long term rental tenant and expat in Taiwan I have lived in over ten apartments and have dealt with all kinds of problems, from bad landlords to noise to bugs. I feel like my experience can help other expats searching for apartments in Taiwan, so I have created this guide and FAQ to help people avoid the mistakes that I have made in the past, and have a pleasant rental experience in Taiwan.
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Tips for looking for an apartment:

Social Aspects:

• Take a Taiwanese friend, preferably one that looks old and intimating, and has some experience dealing with landlords. This can save you some trouble if your landlord is trying to trick you or hide problems with the apartment. Getting a second opinion is almost never a bad idea in these situations. 
• Be wary of bad landlords (惡劣房東): One of the main reasons for people moving in Taiwan is bad landlords. If your landlord charges you left and right for extra utilities, is invading your privacy, or doesn't fix/replace appliances as stated in the contract, you will want to move. To avoid this, talk about these issues before you sign the contract and avoid anything that will make your life uncomfortable in the future. This might mean bringing in a friend that speaks Chinese to help understand your future landlord. 
• Be wary of your future neighbors (鄰居): this is also one of the major reasons people end up moving. Some neighbors are really bad. Look out for neighbors that collect garbage/recycling items, are loud, unfriendly, or look dirty or shady in general. Ask around to see what kind of people live on your floor or in your building (or take a Chinese speaking friend to ask for you). If you live with many people on the same level separated by thin walls, this means you will hear lots of noise from them. Some of your neighbors may have weird habits like watching TV in the communal living room with no clothes on. Get as much info on the future neighbors as possible. Also in Taiwan, don't expect your neighbors to give you a welcome with a plate of cookies. Neighbors usually talk to each other very little if at all. 
• Living with children (小孩): If you plan to live with small children, or plan to have children in the near future, it would be good to find a place close to schools and parks (good schools and fun parks). You can find many high rises within walking distance to elementary schools and decent parks. Also being close to convenient public transportation would be good if your older kids plan to go to school on their own. 

Utilities:

• Beware of natural gas cans (桶裝瓦斯) these suck. They will run out of gas on you in the middle of winter, so you have to take cold showers whenever they run out. In my experience two people can go through a can a month. They are also more expensive because old men on motorcycles have to deliver them by hand to your house.
• Go with piped propane/natural gas (天然瓦斯); this will save you money and headaches.  I don't know why most landlords have not switched, I guess many of them are elderly people who take cold showers anyway.
• Beware of shared electricity meters or higher rates (沒有獨立電表). These mean that everyone on the building is using a shared meter, which is usually charged at the higher rate of 5 NT per KWT hour (the normal rate can be as low as 2 NT. this is because households that use more electricity are charged a higher rate}. If you landlord says that power is fixed at a certain price, you know that you do not have your own electricity meter, and chances are your landlord is making an extra buck in the process.
• Get a place with an individual electricity meter (獨立電表). With your own electricity meter, you can see exactly how much electricity you are using and how much the government is charging. Taipower will send you a bill in the mail every two months. No paying extra fees through your landlord, which means you will save money.
• Internet/TV: Internet and TV bundles are often sold for about 1000 NT per month. You may not want to watch Taiwanese TV, or maybe you want it for the overseas sports channels. If you don't want TV and want a cheap solution, use your phone's internet or a SIM card  with unlimited internet (about 400 NT per month) and connect it to a WiFi dongle. However if you need super fast internet you will likely need to pay for cable internet. Beware that companies like Chunghua Telecom will charge a 500 NT moving fee every time you move, which can be costly if you move a lot. In rural areas, fast internet may be harder to come by. Some landlords will also add Internet/TV into the rent but this could mean they are making an extra buck off of you. 
• Beware of management fees (管理費); some nicer apartment buildings will have a guard at the entrance of the building, which each apartment has to pay a monthly fee for. Some of these monthly fees can be pretty expensive, so you should take this into consideration. The nice thing about having a guard though is that besides security, they can also accept packages when you are not at home and help take out the garbage (sometimes).

Safety:

• Beware of fire hazards (火災隱患). Illegal roof structures, small rooms separated by only wooden boards, and old electrical systems are all signs of fire hazards. You don't want to risk your life or risk all your possessions getting burned. Avoid fire hazards. 
• Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning hazards (一氧化碳). Carbon monoxide poisoning is a widespread problem in Taiwan due to the common use of natural gas water heaters. Make sure your water heater is placed in an open area preferably outside. If not, it should have an exhaust pipe that connects outside. Also make sure there are working carbon monoxide monitors in the apartment. Carbon monoxide kills many innocent people in Taiwan every year. Avoid any apartment that is not carbon monoxide safe. 
• Beware of earthquakes (地震); Taiwan sits on the ring of fire and earthquakes are common. Buildings built before 1999 (before the 921 earthquake that killed thousands) may not be earthquake safe. Some apartments may have slanted floors or cracks due to earthquake damage!
• Beware of flooding (淹水): Taiwan has multiple Typhoons, and they main damage they cause is due to flooding. Usually in low lying areas the first floor is prone to flooding. Your car or scooter may also get flooded if left in an underground garage or on street level. You may consider getting some extra insurance for this. 
• Beware of air quality (空污): many places in Taiwan have poor air quality, such as industrial parts of Kaohsiung and Taichung. Large cities will see poor air quality especially in winter months. Rural areas, mountainous areas, and the east coast will have better air quality. You can reduce most of the PM 2.5 coming in your house if you live above the second floor. Or you can consider buying an air purifier. 
• Beware of top floor illegal structures (頂樓加蓋), these are usually cheaper than normal, legal apartments on lower floors. However, they are not safe because they are not built according to code (susceptible to fire hazards and not typhoon/earthquake safe), many of them have tin roofs that are hot in the summer and loud in the rain, and the utilities will be more expensive because they have to share with downstairs (expect double for utilities as compared to a normal apartment). Also, these could be torn down by the city at any moment.

Comfort:

• Higher floors are usually hotter (高樓層比較熱): Heat rises. In the summer, the top floors of apartment buildings can get really hot and are harder to cool down because of all the heat rising from below. However this may be a good thing in winter when it is colder. 
• Water pressure (水壓): Usually apartments higher up in an apartment complex have less water pressure, and apartments lower down have higher water pressure but toilets on lower floors are more likely to have problems. If you realize that your shower water pressure has suddenly dropped, this is likely because there are little rocks stuck in your shower-head from the water tank that need to be cleaned out (by using a needle or knocking it against something). 
• Beware of dirty tap water (自來水): Most of the water in Taiwan should be boiled or filtered before you can drink it. Some people claim that the water in Taipei or Taoyuan is clean enough to drink from the tap, but it may be contaminated from dirty water towers. Water in rural areas is usually very dirty. You can solve this by boiling your drinking water, using water filters, or using mineral water jugs.  
• Taiwanese buildings don't have internal heating (沒有暖氣): This is because the winter in Taiwan is short and doesn't normally get below freezing. But it does get cold from December to March in Taiwan, especially in the north. Some new A/C units have a heating function (暖氣), if not you can go out and buy a cheap heater. 
• Be aware of where the sun is shining: Concrete walls suck heat and don't let go easily. If your apartment has lots of windows or has windows facing the sun most of the day, your house can get overheated while you are gone and it could take a while to cool down. This means that you will have to pay more electricity for your A/C. On the flip side, this is good in winter time so your house can stay warm, especially since Taiwanese homes have no internal heating. 
• Beware of buildings with no elevators (無電梯) because no one wants to walk up six flights of stairs every day. Many old apartment buildings below seven stories do not have elevators (or parking spaces). Shipping large packages can also be more expensive if your building doesn't have an elevator. 
• Beware of bugs (蟲), Taiwan is a tropical/subtropical island, so you will likely encounter bugs such as ants, cockroaches, and mosquitoes in your house. If you have dirty neighbors, expect to see cockroaches often. If there are sources of water nearby, you may see many mosquitoes in your house that will keep you up at night. Leave food crumbs on the floor? Don't be surprised to see ants. On the other hand you can solve this problem by exterminating your house every few months. If you see Taiwan geckos, just know they are your friend, they eat bugs. 
• Look for convenient transportation (交通): If your apartment is not near an MRT, bus stop, or major road, it can be hard to go places. Most cities in Taiwan have bus stops everywhere. Also major cities have convenience stores on every street corner. Also you probably want to be closer to shopping centers and markets if you plan to cook at home.
• Beware of no parking (無停車位): many old apartment buildings have no parking spaces at all, and scooter parking is limited. If you live in the center of a large city there may not be any free parking on the street if at all. A car parking space in Taipei can be up to 4000 NT per month (but you for sure can find free scooter parking somewhere). You should consider this if you plan to buy a vehicle in the future. 
• Noise (雜音): Take a gander at your surroundings. Is the apartment near a busy street, train station, night market, temple, etc? If noise is an issue for you, consider moving to a quieter neighborhood. Temples are known to throw parades and launch fireworks at untold times. Also beware of construction/remodeling nearby.
• Furniture (家具): Many rental apartments in Taiwan include furniture. If you don't plan to stay in Taiwan for long, this might be a good option for you. However you should know that normally these apartments are more expensive.
• Appliances (家電): As with furniture, some apartments in Taiwan com with appliances, which means if something breaks you may have to pay for it, or wait for the landlord to replace it (which could mean going a week with no hot water, no washing machine, or no A/C). If your apartment has no A/C, then you will likely end up needing to buy an A/C unit because Taiwan summers are hot no matter where you are. Also note that most apartments. Please note that most furnished apartments only come with a bed, dresser, washing machine, hot water heater, gas stove, and A/C. Many do not have refrigerators or stoves. Do not expect to see ovens; most Taiwanese do not bake. Also do not expect to see dryers, most Taiwanese line dry their clothes.
• Beware of water leaks (漏水): Some buildings in Taiwan leak when it rains. This can be because it was not built properly or that the house is old. If you want to find out if a house leaks, an easy way to find out is to visit the house on a rainy day. Even if there is not leaking water visible in the house, if there is leaking water in the stairwell then you know there is a problem. 
• Beware of mold (發霉): Taiwan is a hot and humid place which means it is great for mold growth. Many old apartments may have mold on the ceiling or walls. In order to solve this problem, keep the windows open, keep the A/C running, or get a dehumidifier. 
• Beware of wall cancer (壁癌), this means that you will see a disfigured concrete wall (that looks like a tumor on the wall) which could mean high humidity, leaking water, or just that the apartment is old. 
• Taiwan is humid (台灣很潮濕): High humidity and hot temperatures means that food and other decomposable things will get moldy fast. Even books, clothes, and leather shoes will get moldy if you don't dehumidify your house or keep constant A/C running. 
• Be aware of concrete walls (水泥墻): 99% Taiwan apartments are made with concrete walls. This means you will not be able to hang stuff on the wall easily. Also Wifi may not work well between rooms. 
• Be aware that no one in Taiwan has carpet (沒有地毯): Basically all Taiwanese apartments have tile or wood floors. Carpet is usually only for wealthy individuals that can keep A/C running all the time. Taiwanese people like tile because it is cool in the summer, but in the winter it might be a good idea to get a rug because it will feel like walking on ice cubes. 
• Balconies (陽臺): Balconies are good because it gives you a place to do laundry. You can hang clothes there or put a washer and dryer there. If not, putting a washing machine in your bathroom will mean it will break down faster, and putting a dryer in your house will make your home that much more humid. 
• Fengshui (風水): Many apartments are built with Fengshui in mind, which means that the doorway is never directly facing another piece of furniture. Because of this, many apartments have huge wooden cabinets in front of the door, among other things. Many Taiwanese people care about Fengshui, but it also depends of the person; some people are more superstitious than others, and some people don’t care. But in general it is an important principle in Taiwan
• Garbage (垃圾): Unless you have a nice security guard or know an elderly person to help out, you will likely have to take out your own garbage. The garbage trucks usually come out at night and have a distinct Beethoven jingle (this can be a problem if you work at night). In Taipei and New Taipei, recyclables, kitchen waste, and normal waste are separate and you must use special plastic bags provided by the city. The rest of Taiwan throws all garbage out together. As mentioned above, things rot fast in Taiwan, so kitchen waste can get stinky and attract flies and bug fast. If you do not want to empty the garbage daily, you can consider storing kitchen waste in your freezer where it won't stink or rot. 

Other tips:

• Taiwan uses Ping, not square meters (坪), a ping is equivalent to 3.3 square meters or 35.5 square feet.
• Fourth floors (四樓): The fourth floors in Taiwan are often avoided because the word for four sounds like the word for death. For this reason some apartments don't have a fourth floor (skip from 3 to five). However, despite this many Taiwanese people still live on the fourth floor. 
• Stay within your budget (設定預算): the perfect apartment for your needs may be way more than you can afford. A good rule of thumb that I've heard is to not let rental expenses take more than 1/4th of your income. In the end you will probably end up picking a less than perfect apartment. You need to weigh the pros and cons of a few apartments and pick the best looking apartment for your budget. 
• Be aware your rent will probably not be tax deductible (租金無法抵稅): Even though there is a 120,000 NT tax deduction for rental expenses, 95% of individual landlords do not report their rental income to the tax office. Therefore they do not want you to claim your rent as a deduction. If you ask them, they will likely raise your rent to cover their added taxes. I do not recommend reporting your rental expense without their permission. 
• Beware of agent/broker fees (中介費): If you use an agent or realtor to find a house, just know you will have to pay them an extra finding fee when you start renting. 
• Repairmen/Plumbers (水電工): if something breaks in your apartment and the landlord doesn't fix it themselves, you will likely need to find a repairman to come. Things that often break are hot water tanks (熱水器) and washing machines. Labor in Taiwan is pretty cheap, so expect to see a bill of 300 NT or less for an inspection or service fee. Make sure that if your landlord provides appliances, it is written in the contract that they cover costs for repairs. 
• Some landlords will not rent to foreigners (沒辦法租給外國人): I have had some landlords hang up the phone on me because they could tell I was a foreigner. This is probably not legal, but it's not your problem. You do not want to deal with the landlord anyway, they will probably be a jerk to you anyway. Just walk away. Most other landlords will rent to foreigners. 
• Beware of fake posts online (虛假房源): fake housing posts are everywhere. If the post doesn't have photos of the inside, or looks too good to be true, you there may be a problem. Also, if someone died or was killed in a house, this will affect the price and the landlord is required by law to tell you beforehand. But they might try to hide this information. 
• Always always always always see the place in person! 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

Q: What are the best websites to find rental apartments in Taiwan?
Chinese:
591.com
House Fun
(pretty much every rental listing in Taiwan is in one of two websites above)
English:
Taipei Apartment Rental network
Taipei Apartment Rentals
Tip: If you are looking for apartments in English outside Taipei, consider asking a Taiwanese friend or rental agent for help. 
Tip: Listings in Chinese will usually be cheaper than listings in English. 

Q: What are the best relocation companies?
Santa Fe
People First

Q: How much is a one room bedroom in Taiwan?
Taipei: 8,000-30,000 NT per month
Hsinchu: 4,000-11,000 NT per month
Taichung:6,000-25,000 NT per month
Kaohsiung: 4,000-10,000 NT per month

Q: How much does a water bill cost in Taiwan?
A: For two people a water bill would be about 500-1000 NT for two months. 

Q: How much does a gas bill cost in Taiwan?
Canned gas: About 700 NT per tank (changed about once per month)
Piped gas: For two people who cook, 500-1200 NT for two months. 

Q: How much does an electricity bill cost in Taiwan?
A: For two people, 1000 NT in the winter and about 2500 NT in the summer for every two months. Rates get higher if you use more energy.

Q: How much are total utilities per month?
A: For two people anywhere from 1000 NT to 4000 NT total per month depending on how much gas/water/electricity you use.

Q: How much is internet/Wifi in Taiwan?
A: Average internet bills are around 600 NT per month. If you want a cheap solution, use a SIM card  with unlimited internet (about 400 NT per month) and connect it to a WiFi dongle.

Q: How much are management fees in Taiwan (管理費)?
A: Management fees can range from 500 NT for a cheap place to 3000 NT per month for a super fancy apartment complexes. The fee is a fixed amount based on the size of the apartment, usually 50-100 NT per ping per month. 

Q: Can you rent in Taiwan month to month?
A: Yes, but very few landlords will allow this. It might be better to stay at a hotel or Airbnb if you are only staying short term. For more information about booking accommodation in Taiwan, see our guide here. 

Q: What should I look out for when looking for an apartment?
A: See our tips above. 

Q: What are Taiwanese landlords like?
A: It really depends on the person. This is why it's important to pick the right landlord. I have had some great landlords that replace appliances super fast and give out new quality stuff. Others can be super slow and not want to deal with your problems. Others will try to cheat you with extra utility fees. Most are stingy with money. However overall Taiwanese landlords are nice people. 

Q: Do most rental apartments have furniture in Taiwan?
A: I would say yes. The ones that don't have furniture are cheaper. For more info see our tips above. 

Q: What kind of furnishings do most apartments in Taiwan have?
Expect to have a bed, dresser, small bathroom with toilet and only a wall shower right over the toilet, an A/C unit, and a water heater.
Not all apartments have a kitchen, stove, couches, or a washing machine, but most larger apartments do.
Pretty much no apartments supply internal heating, ovens, microwaves, dryers, or dishwashers. This is because Taiwan winters are short, Taiwanese people don't bake, they are afraid of microwaves, they line dry clothes, and they wash dishes by hand.

Q: What is the average size of an Taiwan apartment?
1 bedroom apartment: 8 ping (26 square meters, 284 square feet)
2 bedroom apartment: 15 ping (50 square meters, 534 square feet)
3 bedroom apartment: 25 ping (83 square meters, 890 square feet)
4 bedroom apartment: 35 ping (116 square meters, 1245 square feet)

Q: What is the best way to clean tile floors in Taiwan?
A: The best way I have found to clean a tile floor is with a good vacuum, one that scrubs on the surface. 

Q: What is the best way to clean mold in Taiwan?
A: For normal bathroom mold, bleach should do the trick. 

Q: Is the water safe in Taiwan?
A: Filter or boil water in Taiwan, or buy bottled water. It is not safe to drink from the tap. Taipei has the cleanest water (meaning it requires the least filtration), while more rural areas are hit and miss.

Q: How am I supposed to cook in Taiwan with no oven/microwave?
A: Most Taiwanese use rice cookers and gas stoves for all cooking. You can buy an inexpensive small oven or microwave if you really need one. 

Q: Are rental payments tax deductible in Taiwan?
A: In practice, no. Even though there is a 120,000 NT tax deduction for rental expenses, 95% of individual landlords do not report their rental income to the tax office. Therefore they do not want you to claim your rent as a deduction. If you ask them, they will likely raise your rent to cover their added taxes. I do not recommend reporting your rental expense without their permission. ​

Q: What can I expect from a typical Taiwanese rental?
A: Because land is scarce on this small island with 24 million people, most rentals in Taiwan are apartment high rises. Houses are made of concrete. There are no yards. Most do not have carpet. Many will have a guard that will help to get your mail and provide security.

Q: What is the typical security deposit (押金) for apartments in Taiwan?
A: 1-3 months rent. This will be returned to you at the end of the contract, minus any damages you have caused to the apartment. 

Any more questions? Leave them in the comments below!

Be sure to check out our other FAQ guides to living in Taiwan here. 

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