After the lease ends, the tenant has already moved out.
But their household registration is still registered at your property?
Or the company registration address is still using your house?
This situation is very common in practice and often makes landlords uneasy:
- Will it affect my taxes?
- Could my address be misused?
- Can I handle this myself, or do I have to track down the tenant?
These are exactly the kinds of problems that trouble many landlords the most—yet they often don’t know where to start.
Don’t worry. The law has already anticipated these situations, and landlords do not need to bear the risk on their own.
Let’s start by looking at what the law says, step by step.
What Does the Law Say?
Mandatory Provisions to be Included in and Prohibitory Provisions of the Standard Form Rental Housing Contract:
“Upon termination of the lease relationship, the landlord shall promptly settle rent and related fees as agreed, and jointly complete the inspection and handover of the property and its fixtures with the tenant. The tenant shall return the leased residence to the landlord and remove household registration or other registrations.”
✨ Plain explanation: The government’s standard residential lease already clearly sets out what both parties must do when a lease ends.
When the lease relationship ends, it is not enough for the tenant to simply move out. The landlord must settle the relevant fees, and both parties should complete the inspection and handover of the property and its fixtures together.
More importantly, when returning the property, the tenant is required to remove household registration or other registrations. This is not an additional demand by the landlord, but an obligation expressly stated in the standard lease.
⚖️ Legal Source: Ministry of the Interior – Residential Lease Standard Contract Regulations
Household Registration Act, Article 50, Paragraph 1:
“Where an entire household has moved away from the registered address and fails to apply for relocation registration within the statutory period, and notification is not possible, the household registration authority may temporarily transfer the household registration to the authority itself upon application by the property owner, management authority, or local government, or even without an application.”
✨ Plain explanation: If a tenant has in fact moved out of the rental property but has not completed household registration relocation, the law does not simply ignore the situation.
Where the statutory conditions are met, the property owner may apply to the household registration office for handling.
The office will notify the tenant to complete the relocation within a specified period. If the tenant still does not comply, the household registration will be temporarily transferred to the registration office, rather than remaining permanently at the landlord’s address.
⚖️ Legal Source: Household Registration Act, Article 50 – Law.moj.gov.tw
Business Registration Act, Article 29:
“After registration, where an investigation by the competent authority finds no indication of actual business operations, and the property owner proves that the premises were not leased.”
✨ Plain explanation: If someone uses your property address to register a company or business but there is no actual business activity,
and the landlord can prove that the property was not leased for such purposes,
then under the law, the registration does not reflect a genuine business location.
In other words, landlords do not have to silently bear the risk of their address being misused.
⚖️ Legal Source: Business Registration Act, Article 29 – Law.moj.gov.tw
What If the Tenant Has Moved Out but Household Registration Is Still There?
This is the most common situation landlords encounter, and also the one most often misunderstood.
Many people assume that:
- the tenant must be found in person,
- the tenant must agree, or
- the landlord can only wait indefinitely.
None of these assumptions are correct.
As long as it can be confirmed that the tenant has actually moved out, the landlord may apply to the household registration office where the property is located under Article 50, Paragraph 1 of the Household Registration Act.
Typical procedure:
- Prepare documents proving that the lease has ended and the tenant has moved out.
- Apply to the household registration office where the property is located.
- The office notifies the tenant to complete the relocation within a specified deadline.
- If the tenant still fails to comply, the household registration is temporarily transferred.
👉 This is a lawful administrative process, not a private or forced action by the landlord.
What If a Company or Business Registration Is Still Using Your Address?
Another situation that often makes landlords even more anxious is when:
- the company is no longer operating,
- the lease ended long ago,
- yet the address continues to be used.
The key issue comes down to one question:
Is there actual business activity, and did you lease the property for registration purposes?
If the answer is no, Article 29 of the Business Registration Act applies.
Practical steps:
- Report the lack of actual business activity to the competent authority.
- Provide proof that you did not lease the property for registration use.
- Cooperate with the investigation, after which the registration may be revoked.
👉 The same approach applies even if the address was used without authorization.
Three Common Misunderstandings Among Landlords
❌ Misunderstanding 1: If the registration is not removed, the landlord must bear legal liability
→ Not necessarily. The key is whether the legal procedures are followed.
❌ Misunderstanding 2: The tenant must personally handle everything
→ Not required. Under qualifying conditions, landlords may apply directly.
❌ Misunderstanding 3: Once a company is registered, nothing can be done
→ Incorrect. If the statutory requirements are met, revocation is legally possible.
🦍Related Read: Can Tenants Register Their Household in Taiwan?
💃Related Read: Rental Handover Matters! How to Document Property Conditions and Avoid Disputes in Taiwan
🏙️Related Read: What Is the Move-Out Inspection Process in Taiwan?
🦖Related Read: What Does “Return in Original Condition” Really Mean in Taiwan?
Conclusion: When the Tenant Leaves, the Registration Should Leave Too
Unremoved household or company registration may look troublesome, but in most cases the problem is simply not knowing how the law works.
As long as you follow the proper legal procedures, these issues are solvable—without confrontation.
Remember one sentence:
When the tenant leaves, the registration should leave too. If it doesn’t, the law will take care of it.
