Best alternatives to Rent591 in English - Find apartments in Taiwan without the language barrier

Published 13 hours ago

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If you’ve already searched for apartments in Taiwan, you’ve probably found Rent591. It’s the biggest local rental platform, but there’s one big issue for many foreigners: the website is almost entirely in Chinese. For a lot of people, “Rent 591 Taiwan English” is really just a cry for help: “I want the same amount of choice… but in English.”

In this guide, we’ll present the best English-friendly alternatives to rent 591 – starting with Taiwan Housing, a platform designed from day one for foreigners and English speakers.

Why Rent591 is hard to use If you don’t read Chinese

591 is extremely popular with local owners and agents, but it has several drawbacks for newcomers and non-Chinese speakers:

No English interface – almost all filters, descriptions and instructions are only in Chinese.
Communication barriers – most landlords and many agents expect Chinese messages or calls.
Account friction – you often need a local phone number to complete the registration and contact process.
Scam awareness – if you can’t read the contract or listing details, it’s harder to spot red flags.

If you want to understand the market in more detail first, you can also read:

1. Taiwan Housing – The English-Friendly alternative to 591

Taiwan Housing is a bilingual platform built especially for foreigners, international students and English-speaking locals. The interface is in English and Traditional Chinese, so you can search comfortably even if you don’t read Chinese.

You can:

Search apartments and rooms for rent across Taiwan in English.
Filter by city, budget, size, type of home and more.
See photos, key details and descriptions clearly.
Contact agents or owners through an English-friendly platform.

👉 Start here:

Browse apartments for rent in Taiwan (English interface)

Because the website is fully bilingual, it also helps reduce misunderstandings. For example, you can double-check details like deposit, management fee, minimum rental period, or whether pets are allowed.

Before you contact a landlord or agent, it’s a good idea to read some essential guides to renting in Taiwan:

2. Other alternatives to Rent591 in English

Facebook housing groups

Facebook has many housing groups for Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and other cities. Most posts are in English or a mix of English and Chinese, and you can message owners directly. However:

Listings are not standardized and can disappear quickly.
It’s harder to compare prices and locations.
There is usually no verification of the landlord or agent.

Tealit & other classifieds

Tealit and some older expat websites still have rental listings in English. They can be useful if you’re a student or looking for shared accommodation, but the selection is limited compared to modern platforms.

Short-Term options: Airbnb, Booking.com and Co.

If you’re new to Taiwan, one strategy is to book a short-term stay first and then search for a long-term rental once you’re on the ground. Platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com are fully available in English, accept international cards and are easy to use, but monthly costs are usually higher than a normal lease.

Comparison: Rent591 vs. English-Friendly alternatives

Platform	English Support	Verified Listings	Direct Owner/Agent Contact	Ideal For
Taiwan Housing	✅ Full English & Traditional Chinese	✅ Focus on quality & expat-friendly listings	✅ Yes, through the platform	Foreigners, expats, international students, English speakers
Rent591	❌ Chinese interface only	✅ Huge number of listings	✅ Yes, but usually in Chinese	Local Taiwanese users who can read Chinese
Facebook housing groups	✅ Many posts in English	❌ No verification	✅ Direct chat with owner/tenant	People comfortable with informal arrangements
Tealit & similar classifieds	✅ Mostly English	❌ Limited control or verification	✅ Direct contact details	Students, teachers, shared rooms
Airbnb / Booking.com	✅ Full English	✅ Platform-reviewed properties	✅ Messaging via platform	Short stays, first month in Taiwan, flexible travellers

Important things to know before you rent in Taiwan

No matter which platform you use, the rental rules and habits in Taiwan might be different from what you’re used to. To avoid unpleasant surprises, make sure you understand:

How deposits work and when you can get them back.
What’s written in your lease (even if it’s in Chinese).
Which extra fees you might need to pay (management fee, garbage, utilities, etc.).
Which documents you need and whether you can rent without an ARC.

These guides can help a lot:

Can I also list my own room or apartment?

If you’re already renting a place and want to sublet a room or share your apartment, make sure you’re allowed to do it according to your lease.

This article explains the rules and risks in more detail:

Can I list a room for rent if I’m a tenant (not the owner)?

Conclusion: you don’t need to struggle with 591 in Chinese

Rent591 is powerful, but if you don’t read Chinese it can be stressful and confusing. The good news is that there are now solid alternatives in English, especially Taiwan Housing, which is designed to make the search process much easier for foreigners.

You can browse listings, compare prices across cities and contact agents or owners directly in English, while also using the guides above to protect yourself from scams and misunderstandings.

👉 Start your search here:

Find apartments for rent in Taiwan (English-friendly)