Taiwan Agency Clarifies Low Approval Rate for Tainan Old House Renovations

Concerns have been raised that Tainan, a city with a vast stock of aging buildings, is approving a disproportionately small number of old house renovation projects under a government initiative.

City councilors in Tainan have criticized the perceived low allocation for old house "lifespan extension" projects and the complexity of the application process. The city reportedly has over 550,000 houses older than 30 years. Media reports suggested that only about 18 single-family homes, 5 apartment buildings, and 48 structures for preliminary structural safety assessments would be subsidized.

However, the National Land Administration under the Ministry of the Interior has clarified these figures. Officials stated that the numbers cited were merely initial estimates provided by the Tainan city government during the planning phase and do not represent a ceiling for applications. The administration emphasized that the city government has the flexibility to adjust the allocation of funds within the approved central government subsidy based on actual applications, building types, and project needs.

“

Tainan has a huge number of houses over 30 years old. The government highly values the public's demand for improving the safety and living functions of old houses.

The agency assured that Tainan's current applications have not exceeded the approved budget. The National Land Administration will closely monitor the situation and is prepared to provide additional resources or adjust requirements as needed. They also highlighted that subsidies are available for structural safety assessments to help owners understand their buildings' seismic resilience and plan appropriate renovations or reinforcements.

To address concerns about complicated procedures, the central government has fully funded the establishment of "local service teams." These teams will offer one-stop services, including individual consultations, renovation advice, and assistance with documentation, to lower the application threshold. The policy aims to create safer and more livable environments by improving the safety and quality of life in older residential buildings.

“

The above are all estimated case volumes proposed by the Tainan City Government during the plan submission, not the upper limit set by the central government.