Legislature's Initial Review Passes Bill to Extend Real Estate Application Deadline for Religious Groups to 6 Years

(CNA, Reporter Kao Hua-chien, Taipei, 18th) The Legislative Yuan's Internal Administration Committee today reviewed the draft amendment to Article 5 of the "Interim Act for the Handling of Real Estate Registered in the Name of Natural Persons by Religious Groups," passing an extension of the application deadline from 4 to 6 years. The bill will subsequently proceed directly to the second and third readings. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) stated its support for extending the deadline and will actively assist religious groups in processing the attribution of real estate rights in the future. In a press release, the MOI announced that the Legislative Yuan's Internal Administration Committee today passed the draft amendment to Article 5 of the interim act, extending the application deadline from 4 to 6 years, with the bill moving directly to the second and third readings. The MOI stated that the interim act helps religious groups handle issues of real estate registered under borrowed names. Since its implementation, over 900 religious groups have applied for real estate rights attribution, completing over 1,000 property title changes and 2,200 property restriction registrations. The MOI noted that religious groups that have not yet applied face more complex issues, including non-compliant property rights, disagreement from the registered owner, lack of intention to apply, or dysfunctional organizational operations. These cases require more time for guidance and document preparation. Therefore, to protect the property of religious groups, the MOI supports the legislative amendment to extend the deadline. The MOI emphasized that it will collaborate with local governments in the future, using a single-window, dedicated project service approach to help clarify and resolve issues for individual cases that are willing to apply but are more complex. It urged religious groups to seize the application period and actively handle the real estate ownership verification to protect their own rights and interests. For any questions, religious groups are advised to contact the consultation windows of local governments or check the National Religion Information Network of the MOI (URL: https://religion.moi.gov.tw/Institution/List?ci=0&cid=9). (Editor: Lin Hsing-meng) 1150518