Taipei: The Legislative Yuan has passed amendments to the Housing Act, mandating that at least 20 percent of social housing units be reserved for newlyweds within their first two years of marriage and families with minor children.

According to Focus Taiwan, the amended law requires the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) to establish a social housing registration platform to track demand and unit types. This platform is intended to serve as a foundation for future social housing development plans. The platform must integrate with local government social housing registration systems, enabling data sharing for nationwide planning.

Previously, the law stipulated that at least 40 percent of social housing units be allocated to economically or socially disadvantaged groups, without specific provisions for newlyweds. Families were also required to have two or more minor children to qualify for priority consideration. The amendment aims to promote transparency by requiring authorities to regularly collect, analyze, and publish rental market data, including rental prices per unit of floor area.

Additionally, the amended law introduces Article 19-1, which states that up to 50 percent of social housing units in annual development plans should adhere to the government lease-and-management model. Article 20-1 requires authorities to consider local population trends and housing conditions when drafting or reviewing urban plans to assess social housing needs and allocate land accordingly.

In a news release, Interior Minister Liu Shyh-fang stated that the amendments reflect a consensus across party lines on enhancing housing support for newlyweds and families with children. She emphasized that the social housing registration platform will provide public access to nationwide rental information and assist authorities in continually improving social housing policies.