'Rental Management Leader' Zhaoji Faces Financial Crisis! Ministry Guarantees 'Social Housing Operations Normal': Will Hire Lawyers to Seek Compensation if Necessary

Zhaoji Group’s affiliated companies — Zhao Ji Investment and Ji Ju Xie Management Consulting — have encountered a financial crisis, drawing widespread attention. In response, the Ministry of the Interior stated late this evening (4th) that the two companies’ ongoing social housing rental management services continue to operate normally. The government will continue monitoring service delivery and payment statuses to fully protect tenants’ housing rights and landlords’ interests. If necessary, it will engage lawyers to implement risk control measures and legally seek compensation from the involved operators.

In a press release, the Ministry explained that following media reports about the operational status of 'Zhaoji Property Management' and 'Ji Ju Xie Rental,' it immediately instructed the National Housing and Urban Renewal Center to establish a special task force. This team has conducted a comprehensive review of both companies’ project operations, rent payment records, and service management practices, while also requesting explanations from the company executives. Preliminary findings indicate that all social housing rental management projects remain in normal operation. However, the head of Ji Ju Xie Rental has agreed to cooperate with the subsequent transfer of its rental management portfolio.

To ensure uninterrupted social housing rental management services, the Ministry will promptly convene meetings with the National Housing and Urban Renewal Center and 16 local governments — including six major municipalities — that have contracted these two companies. The goal is to ensure smooth coordination between central and local authorities, preventing any adverse impact on tenants’ housing rights. Additionally, the Ministry will assist relevant county and city governments in setting up dedicated hotlines as soon as possible to provide consultation services for landlords and tenants, along with information on case transitions. By timely activating transition mechanisms, it aims to ensure continuity of lease relationships and safeguard contractual and housing rights for both parties, allowing tenants to live with peace of mind.

Finally, the Ministry emphasized that it has directed the National Housing and Urban Renewal Center to engage legal counsel for risk assessment and legal preparedness regarding related cases. Should the operators fail to maintain normal operations or experience service disruptions in the future, the Ministry will collaborate with rental housing service associations across the six major cities and other industry players to pre-emptively respond and ensure seamless service handovers. When necessary, it will also legally pursue compensation from the implicated operators to protect public interest and the rights of both landlords and tenants.

Separately, the Taiwan People's Party legislative caucus held a press conference today, accusing Hua Jing-qun, Chairman of the National Housing and Urban Renewal Center, of endorsing Li Jian-cheng of the Zhaoji Group, enabling the group to easily receive tens of billions of dollars in government service fees — an allegation of favoritism toward Zhaoji Property Management. The National Housing and Urban Renewal Center strongly condemned these claims.

The Center clarified that since the first phase of social housing rental management, Zhaoji Property Management has primarily undertaken projects tendered by the six municipal governments under procurement laws. It only began participating in central-level social housing rental management projects executed by the Center itself starting from the fifth phase. Currently, about two-thirds of the social housing rental management cases handled by Zhaoji are managed under contracts awarded by the six municipal governments, while approximately one-third are under contracts awarded by the National Housing and Urban Renewal Center. The number of municipal government cases is twice that of central government cases — data that clearly refutes any claim of favoritism by the Center.

The Center further noted that during Mayor Ko Wen-je’s administration, Zhaoji Property Management was already Taipei City Government’s primary partner for social housing rental management and also served as a key collaborator for New Taipei City and Taoyuan City, providing stable services over many years without notable irregularities.

Hua Jing-qun stated that maintaining friendly communication with rental service operators facilitates smoother policy implementation and ensures operators fully understand legal and regulatory requirements — a standard practice for all policy implementers. He emphasized that his interactions with local rental service associations and operators have always been open and transparent, welcoming public scrutiny and feedback.

Hua also mentioned that he frequently enjoys hiking and walking, mostly doing so alone for personal freedom, occasionally accompanied by family or children. The only time he walked alongside Li Jian-cheng was during Pingdeng Village’s waterway walking event hosted by Zhaoji Group about two to three years ago.