The first batch of "affordable housing" in Taoyuan City is expected to be 107 units.
In response to the "affordable housing" policy promoted by the Taoyuan City Government on its own, the Department of Land and Resources of the Ministry of the Interior stated that it has no objection, but pointed out that affordable housing is purchased by the public, but the property rights and land are entrusted to a third party, which means that the purchasing public does not fully obtain the property rights. In the past, land rights housing and use rights housing have given rise to sales disputes and controversies. Therefore, it is hoped that the Taoyuan City Government can think about it comprehensively.
In response to the Taoyuan City Government's public announcement that it hopes the central government can pass the "Taoyuan City Affordable Housing Construction and Management Autonomy Ordinance" as soon as possible, the Department of Land and Resources responded that the housing policy is for sale housing, not social housing, and is also different from the current national housing policy of "only renting, not selling". However, considering the differences in regional development and housing needs among counties and cities, it does not oppose this policy.
However, the Department of Land and Resources further reminded that this policy is for for-sale housing. People pay to buy it, but the property rights and land must be entrusted to a third party. In fact, the buyer has not fully obtained the property rights. In the past, there have been sales disputes and controversies arising from housing with land rights and housing rights. It is hoped that the Taoyuan City Government can comprehensively think about and establish countermeasures from the perspective of protecting people's rights and interests.
He Shichang, CEO of Xin Chuan Real Estate Think Tank, pointed out that "affordable housing" has good intentions and provides a new direction of thinking for Taiwan's housing assistance. However, if the policy provides a platform for people to seek resale, it will be difficult for the official to control the transaction flow and price of buyers and sellers, and cannot prevent the resale price from exceeding the purchase price. It should be withdrawn by the Taoyuan City Government before releasing any concerns about violations.
Huang Shuwei, Director of Colliers International Real Estate Owner Representative Services Department, pointed out that from the most conservative and stable legal basis, ownership is essentially a "Bundle of Rights" in law and economics, including use, income, disposal, exclusive and setting rights. However, if affordable housing is limited to owner-occupancy without income rights, and ownership is subject to trust contracts and trustees, resulting in a lack of room for people to freely dispose and set rights, leaving only highly restricted use rights and restrictions on specific transfer objects, and even relying on project mortgage loan assistance, this will not be consistent with the market economy principles of the most efficient flow of resources.
If we look beyond pure market economic principles, the policy will still face multiple fairness tests in the future: including how to maintain a relatively stable supply and management quality like social housing, and whether the original residents can regain new ownership when old buildings are rebuilt in the future. These are all challenges that the competent authorities must think deeply about.
