Real Estate Expert Warns: Failure to Remove Ads by End of June Could Result in Fines Up to NT$300,000

The Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER) announced the results of its April business sentiment survey on the 26th, revealing that the construction sector's sentiment index hit a new low since December 2022. The real estate market is facing challenges due to multiple factors including credit restrictions and tariff policies, leading to a decline in home-buying confidence.
Amid this downturn, recent social platforms have seen a surge of reports from real estate agents. Expert He Shichang warned on Facebook on the 29th that the "Great Hunting Season" is approaching, urging agents to act quickly to avoid significant penalties. Many agents post property listings on social media like Facebook, but it's been noted that numerous listings come with "disclaimers". According to the Real Estate Brokerage Management Act, if advertised properties have already been sold but remain listed, agents could face fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$300,000.
However, lawyers emphasize that disclaimers do not exempt agents from responsibility; the best practice is to remove the ads. He pointed out that the Ministry of the Interior's Land Administration has decided in a meeting that all advertisements for sold properties must be removed. Therefore, fishing ads remain illegal, and there is no point in using ineffective disclaimers. Considering the volume of listings by agents, the Ministry has relaxed the enforcement period until June 30. If ads are not removed by then, enforcement actions will be taken. He urged agents to delete old posts immediately to avoid penalties, as the Great Hunting Season starts in July.