USEFULTIP #1: It is often helpful for new students to write down a list of the names, addresses and phone numbers of relevant places (i.e. home and ICLP) in Chinese as well as in English and keep the list on their person during the first few weeks of classes. This will help to avoid any miscommunication while students are getting adjusted to their new housing situation.
Housing Options:
There are a variety of housing options available in Taiwan. Choices range from economical dormitory-style facilities to upscale apartments and even houses for rent . Many students choose to stay in temporary housing for the first week or so of their stay in Taiwan while they look for more permanent accommodations. While ICLP does its best to answer any questions that students may have, and provide resources for finding housing, ICLP is not able to provide students with housing directly or make hotel arrangements, etc. ICLP students are responsible for finding their own housing while in Taiwan. The process of finding suitable permanent living quarters varies depending on a student's requirements, but many students find that it is best to arrive in Taiwan at least 1-2 weeks before the start of the program in order to find housing and settle in before classes begin.
General Housing Guidelines:
The Taipei housing market moves very fast, and the demand for good housing is high throughout the year, so good apartments are often rented quickly. Still, new apartments are constantly coming onto the market, so with some patience and persistence, students usually find what they are looking for. Here are some basic things to keep in mind when searching for suitable housing:
(1) Make sure to check the bus/subway routes from a property to ICLP to determine the convenience of commute. Students should keep in mind that much of their time will be spent at school, so the easier the commute, the better.
(2) Students are advised to sign a contract and keep a copy in a safe place to avoid potentially costly misunderstandings. Most landlords will ask students to sign a one-year contract, but month-to-month agreements are also available. The ICLP office can help with any questions that students may have. We also advise students to check with classmates and program personnel (as to the cost, etc.) before making a final commitment or signing a contract.
(3) In Taiwan, the size of an apartment is measured in "Pings" rather than square feet. One Ping is approximately equal to the size of two tatami mats, (i.e. 6' X 6', or 36sq.ft.). For example, a 20 ping apartment is about 720sq.ft.
Methods of Finding Housing:
USEFULTIP #2: Having a local cell phone makes searching for housing in Taiwan much more convenient and effective. Students are advised to first obtain a cell phone before beginning the housing search. For more information on acquiring a cell phone, please see the Communications section in the student guide.
In Person:
There are several ways of finding permanent accommodations in Taipei. The most basic and cost-efficient way is for students to go in person to a neighborhood that they are interested in living in and read the apartment notices (usually printed on red paper on streetside community bulletin boards {公佈欄 (gong1bu4lan2)}, write down the appropriate telephone numbers, and then contact the landlord directly. This is the most economical way of finding housing because no third party agents are involved and students are often able to bargain for price if they are especially interested in a certain apartment. The downside of this method is that one often has to look at many different low quality apartments before finding a more suitable place. For students who are not as confident in their Chinese language abilities, it is probably best to ask a native speaker of Chinese for assistance with this task.
Cui Mama Foundation for Housing and Community Service:
崔媽媽 (Cui1 Ma1-Ma):
Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 3 Lane 269 #2-3 2nd Fl.
Service Hrs: M-F 1-5PM, 7-9PM
106臺北市大安區羅斯福路三段269巷2-3號2樓
http://www.tmm.org.tw
Cui Mama is an inexpensive housing search service for Taipei. Students wishing to use Cui Mama's housing information to assist them in their housing search have two options. One option is for a student to describe his/her basic requirements to the ICLP housing staff, who will then use ICLP's standing Cui Mama account to provide the student with a printed list of currently available housing. The second option is for students to go in-person to the Cui Mama office and sign up for an account (approx. NT$300 or US$9 as of June 2004). This option is recommended for students who are pressed for time, or those who want to perform their housing search during times other than ICLP's business hours.
Once a student has signed up for a Cui Mama account, he/she can continually use his/her personal log-in ID to enter the website and check the newest listings of apartments. Cui Mama also provides a lot of additional housing information such as recommendations of moving companies, etc.
On the Internet:
Another excellent way of finding housing in Taipei is to search on the Internet. There are several websites that have listings in English, and some include pictures. The following are three useful websites:
www.tealit.com
Tealit is a resource originally intended for foreigners coming to Taiwan to teach English. Tealit provides a lot of useful information about Taiwan and is also a good place to find classifieds for everything from housing to motorscooters to job listings. This is a very popular website, so apartments and other classifieds tend to turnover quickly.
http://forumosa.com/
Forumosa is another excellent resource for students living in Taiwan. Forumosa has forums on a variety of subjects relating to Taiwan, and is a good place for students to find resources or advice on many of the topics relevant to their stay in Taiwan. Forumosa also has classifieds for many things including housing.
http://www.tmm.org.tw
Cui Mama Foundation for Housing and Community Service. Please see explanation above.
http://www.taiwanted.com/
Real-Estate Agents:
For students who are willing to spend a little bit extra to find a suitable apartment, or those who are in a rush to find housing, real-estate agents can be a good choice. There are real-estate agencies房屋仲介(fang2wu1zhong4jie4) located throughout Taipei. Almost all real-estate agents operate on the same pricing structure. There is no fee to pay up front, but if you find an apartment, you must pay a commission to the agent equal to half of one month's rent. Because there are so many real-estate agencies in Taipei, it is best for a student to first decide which neighborhood he/she would like to live in, and then go to several real estate agencies in that neighborhood to begin the search. The agents will ask you to fill out a form (usually in Chinese) to help them understand what you are looking for in an apartment. It will help to be as specific as possible so that the agent will be able to introduce suitable properties in the area. Because there is no fee unless an apartment is found, it is often advantageous to work with several agents at once.
For those students with higher budgets or those interested in finding housing from abroad before coming to Taiwan, there are some real estate agencies geared towards foreigners and expatriates which may be able to help. These agencies often specialize in more expensive housing options, including fully furnished or even serviced apartments. These agencies often have pictures of each apartment available on the Internet for viewing. Students interested in this option may find a variety of these agencies available on the Internet by simply doing a keyword search for "Taipei apartments," or "expatriate apartments Taipei."
Temporary Housing
Many students require temporary accommodations for the first week or so of their stay in Taiwan. There are a number of temporary housing options, ranging in cost and convenience. Full information will be available at the ICLP office. If you need to make arrangements for temporary housing prior to your arrival, the following information may be helpful:
International House (I-House) 國際學舍 (Guo2ji4xue2she4):
102, XinPo 1st St., Xindian City, Taipei County, Taiwan
台北縣新店市, 新坡一街102號
Tel: 886-2-2910-3117
Fax:886-2-2910-3346
Email:ih102@ms16.hinet.net
The International House 國際學舍(Guo2ji4xue2she4), or "I-House" is in 新店(Xin1dian4), about 20 minutes by car from ICLP, or about one hour by bus. It is located in the low hills outside the city, amidst cleaner air and beautiful scenery. The I-House provides minibus service on a high frequency schedule to the nearest city bus stop, where students may then catch a direct bus to National Taiwan University. In the mornings, direct minibus service is available to a stop near ICLP.
The cost of the various types of rooms−both the daily rate and the long-term rate−is very reasonable by Taipei standards. Reservation requests may be faxed or emailed to the I-House in advance.
The I-House will also provide transportation from the airport for NT$700 (about US$25) for the first person, and an additional NT$100 per each additional person. There is no easy public transportation from the airport to the I-House. Reservation for airport pick-up with the I-House may also be faxed to them. Be sure to include your arrival time and flight number. Airport pickup reservation should be made well in advance.
YMCA 青年會 (Qing1nian2hui4)
19 Xu Chang St. 許昌街 19 號
Tel: 886-2-2311-3201
Fax: 886-2-2311-3209
E-mail: ymcahtl@ms17.hinet.net
E-mail: ymcahtl@ms17.hinet.net
Air-conditioned, with bath, phone and TV in most rooms. Located near Taipei Main Station in downtown Taipei. 20-35 minute bus ride to ICLP. Single rooms NT$1430 (approx.USD$45) per night [student rate: NT$1300 (approx. US$40)], doubles NT$1650 (approx. US$50) including service charge and tax. There is a 10% discount for students with ID. Prices vary with size of room, air conditioning, etc. The YMCA is conveniently located near the terminus of the airport bus that runs from CKS Int'l Airport to Taipei Main Station, and frequently has rooms available on short notice.
Besides these establishments, there are other cheaper options that many students have used. For example, any of the youth hostels listed in the Lonely Planet's Guide to Taiwan have been reported as being quite adequate, provided that one is not too "picky" about cleanliness. The most popular of the Lonely Planet hostels seems to be "Happy Family." They provide a discount for those who stay for an extended period of time. For safety's sake, students staying at one of these establishments may want to consider leaving their valuables in the ICLP office or in their student locker at ICLP .
Housing Costs:
For information regarding housing and other costs, please see the Money Matters section below.
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