Taipei City Plans to Sell Joint-Development Housing in Batches; Councilors, Civic Groups Urge Withdrawal
Civic groups and cross-party councilors protested Taipei City's plan to sell MRT joint-development properties to pay off debts, arguing it worsens housing justice. The city responded with a compromise to convert some units into social housing.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 15:36
- 🔍 Collected: April 10, 2026 at 16:00 (24 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 06:46 (230h 46m after Collected)
The Organization of Urban Re-s (OURs), Tsui Mama Foundation, the Social Housing Advocacy Consortium, alongside Social Democratic Party Taipei City Councilor Miao Poya, DPP Councilor Chien Shu-pei, and Taiwan People's Party Councilors Chen Yu-cheng and Huang Ching-ying, held a press conference at the city council to "strongly oppose the city government's sell-off of joint-development housing, eroding citizens' right to peaceful living."
OURs Secretary-General Peng Yang-kai said the city government proposed amending the municipal self-government ordinance on the lease and sale of public real estate for mass rapid transit system land development in late 2024 to relax regulations on selling joint-development housing. This proposal was blocked by the council and withdrawn by the city in May of last year.
He noted, however, that the city is now planning to sell the housing in batches, starting with 15 units at the MRT Zhonghe Senior High School station. This case will be sent to the council for discussion. He expressed concern that if passed, it could become a benchmark for selling off other such properties.
Sun I-hsin, convener of the Social Housing Advocacy Consortium, stated that the MRT Bureau's plan to sell the properties in batches is like changing from wholesale to retail. While the Urban Development Department continues to build social housing, the MRT Bureau is selling properties, which doesn't help Taipei's total social housing stock and contradicts Mayor Chiang Wan-an's policy of acquiring social housing through diverse means.
Chen Yu-cheng said these properties have advantages like convenient transportation. Given the staggering costs of renting and buying in Taipei, he believes they should be repurposed as social housing. Selling the 15 units at the Zhonghe station could cause Taipei's housing policy to collapse.
Huang Ching-ying estimated the market value of the 15 units at about NT$320 million. She pointed out that the MRT Bureau plans to dispose of around 285 units of housing and commercial offices this year, totaling roughly NT$14 billion. She believes selling these will only drive up housing prices.
Chien Shu-pei argued the city government lacks no funds, expecting over NT$40 billion in shared tax revenues, and should stop selling these properties. The MRT Bureau mentioned in a report last year that it would sell 3-bedroom-plus units located in New Taipei City, which she said contradicts Chiang Wan-an's childcare-friendly policies.
She suggested that while the city claims it needs to sell properties to cover self-liquidating MRT funds, the Urban Development Department could use its budget to buy them from the MRT Bureau, solving the problem.
Miao Poya called the plan short-sighted, making Taipei a "beggar sitting on a gold mine" unable to resolve housing justice. The 725 units planned for sale roughly equal the number of social housing units Chiang Wan-an pledged to build in three years. She suggested the Urban Development Department use the social housing fund to purchase them.
Regarding the suggestions, MRT Bureau Joint Development Office Director Yuan Ju-ying told the press they have noted the opinions. They will inventory units under 3 bedrooms in Taipei—estimated at over 100—which the Urban Development Department will subsequently buy at market price for social housing according to relevant ordinances.
In a press release responding to the demands, the MRT Bureau explained that according to the central government's approved financial plan, profits from disposing of these properties must be injected into MRT construction costs. Debts have accumulated to NT$158 billion, and rental income alone cannot cover the interest, making the sale necessary.
The Bureau stated it has adjusted its policy: currently rented 2-bedroom-and-under units will be retained for rent, and some under 3 bedrooms in Taipei will be bought back by the city as social housing to balance citizens' needs and debt repayment. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150410
OURs Secretary-General Peng Yang-kai said the city government proposed amending the municipal self-government ordinance on the lease and sale of public real estate for mass rapid transit system land development in late 2024 to relax regulations on selling joint-development housing. This proposal was blocked by the council and withdrawn by the city in May of last year.
He noted, however, that the city is now planning to sell the housing in batches, starting with 15 units at the MRT Zhonghe Senior High School station. This case will be sent to the council for discussion. He expressed concern that if passed, it could become a benchmark for selling off other such properties.
Sun I-hsin, convener of the Social Housing Advocacy Consortium, stated that the MRT Bureau's plan to sell the properties in batches is like changing from wholesale to retail. While the Urban Development Department continues to build social housing, the MRT Bureau is selling properties, which doesn't help Taipei's total social housing stock and contradicts Mayor Chiang Wan-an's policy of acquiring social housing through diverse means.
Chen Yu-cheng said these properties have advantages like convenient transportation. Given the staggering costs of renting and buying in Taipei, he believes they should be repurposed as social housing. Selling the 15 units at the Zhonghe station could cause Taipei's housing policy to collapse.
Huang Ching-ying estimated the market value of the 15 units at about NT$320 million. She pointed out that the MRT Bureau plans to dispose of around 285 units of housing and commercial offices this year, totaling roughly NT$14 billion. She believes selling these will only drive up housing prices.
Chien Shu-pei argued the city government lacks no funds, expecting over NT$40 billion in shared tax revenues, and should stop selling these properties. The MRT Bureau mentioned in a report last year that it would sell 3-bedroom-plus units located in New Taipei City, which she said contradicts Chiang Wan-an's childcare-friendly policies.
She suggested that while the city claims it needs to sell properties to cover self-liquidating MRT funds, the Urban Development Department could use its budget to buy them from the MRT Bureau, solving the problem.
Miao Poya called the plan short-sighted, making Taipei a "beggar sitting on a gold mine" unable to resolve housing justice. The 725 units planned for sale roughly equal the number of social housing units Chiang Wan-an pledged to build in three years. She suggested the Urban Development Department use the social housing fund to purchase them.
Regarding the suggestions, MRT Bureau Joint Development Office Director Yuan Ju-ying told the press they have noted the opinions. They will inventory units under 3 bedrooms in Taipei—estimated at over 100—which the Urban Development Department will subsequently buy at market price for social housing according to relevant ordinances.
In a press release responding to the demands, the MRT Bureau explained that according to the central government's approved financial plan, profits from disposing of these properties must be injected into MRT construction costs. Debts have accumulated to NT$158 billion, and rental income alone cannot cover the interest, making the sale necessary.
The Bureau stated it has adjusted its policy: currently rented 2-bedroom-and-under units will be retained for rent, and some under 3 bedrooms in Taipei will be bought back by the city as social housing to balance citizens' needs and debt repayment. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150410