Landlords are legally not permitted to increase rent or electricity prices during the lease period, the New Taipei City Land Administration Department said on Wednesday, advising renters that they can report improper price hikes to their local authorities or consumer protection agency.
The notice came after Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) raised household electricity prices by 3 to 10 percent starting from Monday last week.
Under Ministry of the Interior guidelines, landlords cannot request a rent increase during the lease period for any reason, department Director Hsiao Hsiang-chun (蕭湘君) said.
Photo: CNA
Failing to comply with a deadline for correction is punishable by a fine of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000, which can be successively imposed, she said.
If the lessee is responsible for the electricity bill, it should be categorized into summer and non-summer months, neither of which should exceed the maximum tier of monthly consumption as stipulated by Taipower, the department said.
No changes may be made once the lease is signed, but renegotiations may take place at the end of the lease period, it said.
Contracts signed before the change in electricity prices may not exceed NT$7.69 per kilowatt hour during summer months or NT$6.03 during non-summer months, it said.
Renters who face unreasonable fees may refuse to pay and report any conflict to their local land administration or consumer protection agency, it added.
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