Seoul City to Provide Repair Support for Rental Scam Victims... Up to 20 Million Won for Emergency Repairs

One-Third of Tenants Recognized as Victims Eligible
Full Coverage for Safety Management Costs
Up to 20 Million Won for Emergency Repairs of Common Areas

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide support for safety management agency fees and emergency repair costs to ensure that tenants of rental scam-affected homes do not experience inconvenience due to management gaps.

On January 23, the city announced that, in accordance with the 'Special Act on Support for Victims of Rental Scams and Residential Stability,' it will begin a safety management support program for homes affected by rental scams starting this month.

Tenants of affected homes will receive full support for the costs of agency services managing the safety of common facilities such as elevators and fire safety systems. For emergency repairs that are urgently needed to ensure safety and restore damages, up to 20 million won per household will be provided, depending on the number of households affected by rental scams. The 'fire safety management and elevator maintenance agency fees' will be provided according to the number of vacant households resulting from rental scams.

Applications are open for homes where at least one-third of all tenants have been officially recognized as victims of rental scams. Tenants may apply if the landlord is missing and unreachable, or if urgent repairs or safety measures are needed for common areas.

To enhance the effectiveness of the program, a single representative among the victims can apply on behalf of all. Previously, more than half of the co-owners had to agree to repairs, but if the landlord is missing, the requirement can be replaced with 'agreement from affected tenants' under the new support criteria.

Recipients will be selected through a document review and an on-site inspection by experts. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until September 30, and support funds will be granted if repairs are completed within 40 days of notification of approval. However, the program may close early if the budget is exhausted.

Choi Jinseok, Director of Housing at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "Until now, when landlords of rental scam-affected homes disappeared, it was difficult to take immediate action even if there was a risk of safety accidents due to malfunctioning common facilities. We will strengthen support so that tenants can live safely by assisting with the repair of essential safety facilities that must be managed in residential properties."