Job Discussion Forums

[embrown22]

Hello everyone,

I'll be arriving in Taiwan in a few weeks and I was wondering about employer-provided housing stipends. Are schools still offering subsidies or this no longer part of the deal? Do Taipei schools offer more or less housing assistance than those in the country?

I'd appreciate any help!

Thanks,

Eric

[Aristotle]

It is strongly recommended that you come to Taiwan on your own and arrange housing after you arrive. Stay in a hostel or hotel until you find work, then get a room or an apartment.
Please read this,
http://www.geocities.com/taiwanteacher2002/Success.html
Good luck.
A.

[embrown22]

Yes, I do plan on doing my own job hunting. The whole recruiter scheme sounds rather absurd.

I was just wondering what to expect from a deal. I have a general idea of the pay range, working hours, taxes, and VISA process, but I still don't know what's up with accommodations.

I remember that about a year ago most offers came with free housing or a stipend, and I was just wondering if that was still the case or if this had fallen out of practice.

Thanks,

Eric

[Ki]

Most benefits which existed a year or two ago have been stripped away now. Contracts cease to contain any benefit to the employee except a basic salary or wage. Any benefits such as holidays, sick leave or bonuses no longer exist in many contracts. Of course, not all schools have erradicated these. They are negotiable despite the employer's insistence otherwise.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

OP,

In Korea and Japan I was given a minimum of between 10 and 12 paid vacation days per contract.

In Taiwan I didn't get any paid vacation at the school I worked for.

If you want free housing you should consider a job in Korea.
You might be able to get some free housing in rural areas. I had a buddy that was hired to teach high school full time in a rural area and got housing thrown in - a nice, big, furnished apartment which I saw photos of.

Generally, no free housing for most English teachers in Taiwan.
Rent's cheap anyways, so it won't break you to rent a small apartment $8,000 - $12,000 per month with a 2 - 6 month deposit.

[clark.w.griswald]

In my opinion free, employer provided housing should be avoided. In accepting such accomodation, you are placing yourself in a very uneviable position should the working situation at the school sour.

It if far easier to leave a job when you have your own housing. Living in employer provided housing means that not only do you need to find a new job, but you need to find a new place to live, too. Considering that in some circumstances the employer may only give you a day or two to vacate, you may find yourself rushed into taking some less desirable accomodation out of neccessity to have a roof over your head.

Don't be fooled into thinking that employer provided housing is free. It's not. You can be sure that the math has been done, and the cost of providing the house has been factored into the salary offered. Basically, if the school didn't have to cover the cost of the housing, then you would get more in your pocket each month.

The accomodation stipend is a much better idea if you can get it. You can choose to live wherever you want, and if you spend more than the stipend then you can cover the difference with your own money. Most schools will help you with finding a place and communicating with the landlord etc, and the biggest downside to all of this is that you will have to pay the bills by yourself.

I agree with others that free housing or even housing stipends are very rare these days. Generally, the only schools that offer these are the big international or private schools, or the small independants in tiny rural towns. Best to just negotiate the highest wage that you can, and then put this money towards housing. If you budget to spend about NTD10-15,000 per month on housing and bills each month, then you should be on the mark (less outside of Taipei).

[DirtGuy]

I see figures of 8 - 12 and 10 - 15K per month for housing and related bills. Are these numbers for renting your own apartment by yourself? What if you rent a room in house or apartment? What sort of numbers should one expect?

Thanks.

[clark.w.griswald]

My figures are on the higher side of what I am sure most people would quote. This is for a number of reasons:

1. I am based in Taipei, and Taipei is the most expensive place to live. You can get some pretty cheap places in Taipei County, which is just across the river from Taipei, and some of these places are serviced by the MRT. Taipei is like a big urban sprawl, and except for the rivers, the distinction between Taipei County and Taipei city is not that clear. Taipei County is not like a rural area, nor is it distant from the city, it is just the 'suburban' area of Taipei.

2. I tend to think that most foreigners want a nice place to live. I am not talking about gated security and swimming pools, but just clean secure places. There is plenty of cheap stuff out there but you get what you pay for. Some of the really cheap places are pretty dank.

3. Furnished places are of course more expensive than non-furnished. Furnishings are generally pretty basic, but save you a lot in the short term if you don't have to buy furnishings.

4. I tend to include utilities in my estimates. For all intents and purposes they are a living expenses and should really be factored in to rental expenses.

Share accomodation is of course cheaper than renting a place for yourself. You could probably expect to be able to get a room in downtown Taipei from anywhere from NTD5,000-10,000. Less in other areas and other cities.