NT$30 billion rent subsidy opens for applications on January 1, 2027; existing recipients need not refile

The application window runs from 9:00 a.m. on January 1, 2027 to 5:00 p.m. on December 31, 2027. Miaoli County Government said first-time applicants can submit applications online through the Construction and Planning Agency website, or go in person to the municipal or county (city) government where the rental property is located, or fill out the application form and mail it in with supporting documents.

On eligibility, the Miaoli County Government Department of Industrial and Commercial Development said applicants must be Republic of China nationals with household registration in the country, no one in the household may own a home, and the average monthly income per person must be below 3 times the minimum living expenses in the area where the home is rented. For newlywed households, or households with minor children (including unborn children), the cap is raised to 3.5 times the minimum living expenses.

Rental conditions also need attention. Miaoli County Government said the property must have a house tax registration and proof of lawful building status, and must meet residential use requirements; the lease may not be falsified, and the landlord or property owner may not be a family member or direct relative of the tenant.

On fraud prevention, the agency said it has linked household registration systems, tax systems and incarceration records for cross-checking, and payments are stopped immediately if a recipient's personal circumstances change and they no longer qualify. The agency has also required local governments to carry out legally mandated recovery of overpaid and fraudulently obtained subsidies arising after 2025. Ministry of the Interior statistics show that more than 66,000 rent subsidy overpayment cases have been recovered, amounting to about NT$500 million.

The Kaohsiung City Police Criminal Investigation Corps uncovered a case involving 27 people, including a Hualien man surnamed Liang, suspected of misusing others' personal data and forging lease contracts to apply for rent subsidies from the Kaohsiung City and Hualien County governments, fraudulently obtaining more than NT$1 million over 3 years. They have been referred for prosecution on suspicion of fraud, forgery of documents and violations of the Personal Data Protection Act.