Taoyuan Launches Subsidy for Minor Repairs on Old Apartments, Even Those Without Management Committees

(CNA, Reporter Yeh Chen, Taoyuan, 20th) Taoyuan City today announced the launch of Taiwan's first "Micro-Renovation Subsidy Program for Old Apartments." The program targets 4-to-6-story old apartment buildings that are over 30 years old and have not formed a management organization, offering a maximum subsidy of NT$100,000 per building. The application period will be open from tomorrow until October 31. During a municipal meeting this morning, Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng stated that the existing "Apartment Building Renovation Subsidy" requires applicants to have an established management committee. However, many old apartments have not yet set up a management organization but face urgent problems such as aging public facilities and pressing repair needs. Chang said that to improve the living quality in old apartments, the city has pioneered the "Micro-Renovation Subsidy Program for Old Apartments." The plan primarily targets old 4-to-6-story apartments over 30 years old without a management organization, subsidizing improvements to public facilities such as hallways, stairs, lighting, access control, water pumps, and surveillance equipment, while also assisting the community in establishing a management organization. Chang explained that while the Ministry of the Interior's "Old Building Life-Extension Project" focuses on larger-scale renovations like facade renewal and elevator installation, the city's "Micro-Renovation Subsidy Program" targets the essential daily needs and small-scale public facility repair demands of low-rise old apartments without management committees. He estimated that the program could help improve the living environment of 1,000 old apartment buildings over the next three years. Chang stated that the "Micro-Renovation Subsidy Program for Old Apartments" is announced today and will officially open for applications tomorrow until October 31. A dedicated service window and advisory consultants have been set up at the Department of Urban Development's Building Administration Office to provide a one-stop service. In the future, all buildings and old apartments, regardless of whether they have a management organization, will be able to receive support through various levels and scales of housing repair policies. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui)