Taiwanese-Japanese YouTuber Couple in Rental Dispute Over Water Damage

Popular YouTubers Sato and An face legal battle after early lease termination due to severe water leakage in their Taoyuan studio.

In a recent online video, the Taiwanese-Japanese YouTuber couple, Sato and An, who boast over 100,000 subscribers, shared their rental experience in Taoyuan, Taiwan, highlighting a dispute with their landlord.

The couple rented a property in Zhongli, Taoyuan in 2023, intending to use it as a leathercraft studio. However, they claim the property suffered from severe water leakage and structural issues. Despite their requests, the landlord allegedly refused to address the problems. Consequently, Sato and An decided to terminate their lease early.

Despite agreeing to a handover, the landlord failed to appear, according to the couple. They subsequently mailed the keys and sent a registered letter. However, the landlord then filed a lawsuit, seeking nearly NT$800,000 in unpaid rent and penalties related to the early lease termination.

An stated that the landlord claimed not to have received the keys and filed multiple lawsuits, including claims for property encroachment and unpaid rent. She expressed confusion over the calculation of the claimed amount. To protect their rights, they reported the landlord for fraud, but the case was closed without charges. They now feel unprotected by the legal system.

The couple hopes their experience will serve as a warning to other renters. They also urge renters to investigate a potential landlord's litigation history before signing a lease.

Local politician, 黃瓊慧 (Huang Qionghui) accompanied the couple to file a complaint with the Taoyuan City Consumer Protection Officer. The Chief Consumer Protection Officer, 彭新澍 (Peng Xinshu), stated that the Consumer Dispute Mediation Committee will offer expert legal advice to the couple, aiming to minimize their losses, as the case is already under judicial review. The landlord, however, declined to comment, and referred 黃瓊慧 (Huang Qionghui) to focus on local services.