Taipei City Government

To ensure traveler safety, Taipei City Government Department of Information and Tourism (TPEDOIT) Commissioner Chien Yu-yen led joint spot checks with officials from police and fire departments at illicit daily rental suites near Ximending and Hangzhou North Road neighborhood.
The inspection team found travelers staying at these lodging alternatives without license. Owners of the property will be fined between 90,000 and 150,000 NTD starting January 12.
One of the rental suites inspected on Hangzhou North Road divided its basement into 13 rooms while occupying public spaces such as electrical and fire facilities. Tens of students and tourists were found to be staying in these tiny basement rooms. This rental suite is clearly illegal as it violates safety standards.
Commissioner Chien emphasized that Taipei residents are friendly to tourists and welcome foreign visitors. Therefore, TCG has to “crackdown” on these dangerous “underground” rental suites that are not equipped with evacuation passage. TPEDOIT urges the owners of these non-registered rental suites to make improvements that comply with fire safety codes.
Chien also commented on a daily rental suite near Ximending area. The affordable lodging has 6 beds in one room and supposedly fitted with a neighborhood watch system linked to the police network. However, the security system is actually defunct and the evacuation passage is blocked by a locked door.
However, noting that the friendliness of local residents plays an important role in attracting foreign visitors, she urged the central government to assist responsible property owners in legalizing their daily rental suites.