Taiwan Apartment Rental Guide
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Loading... - Feng Siong
- 18 Oct 2022
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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.
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æ±): 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 (é„°å±…): 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 (å°å©): 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. Also if you live on a higher floor, the neighbors below may complain about the noise kids make jumping or running.
Utilities:
· Beware of natural gas cans (桶è£ç“¦æ–¯) 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.
