“Access to community housing saves over 800 people from the threat of homelessness”

The City of Vienna’s special campaign has been running since July 1st to provide targeted support to people with expiring rental contracts who could lose their current apartment. 513 people have already been able to move into a permanent municipal apartment and over 300 are currently in the selection or viewing process for a municipal apartment. As part of the campaign, the City of Vienna is providing a total of 1,000 apartments with 1 to 3 rooms and unlimited rental contracts. The special campaign runs until the end of February 2025.

“Fixed-term rental contracts in the private rental sector mean an enormous burden for many Viennese. As a social property management company, Wiener Wohnen steps in where the private sector no longer provides living space under fair conditions. It is therefore very gratifying that the current special campaign has already helped hundreds of Viennese and given them access to permanent municipal housing. “But it also shows that a reform of Austrian tenancy law is urgently needed – towards a modern and fair system for tenants and landlords,” emphasizes Vice Mayor and Housing Councilor Kathrin Gaál.

The background to this initiative is the increasing problem caused by fixed-term tenancies, which is posing major challenges to more and more people. As a recent study shows, fixed-term rental contracts are increasing rapidly in the private sector. While 93 percent of private rental contracts were open-ended 20 years ago, this is only 44 percent of newer contracts concluded in the last three years. The proportion is even higher for new rentals. An evaluation by the City of Vienna’s Tenant Help Center has shown that 70-80 percent of private rental apartments in old buildings advertised online are only available for a limited period of time.
A third of Viennese people with a fixed-term rental agreement do not know whether they can continue to stay in their apartment. Around 12 percent fear that they will have to move out against their will once the fixed-term period expires.

Registration at the Vienna Housing Advisory Service

The special campaign from Wiener Wohnen in cooperation with Wohnberatung Wien is aimed at all Viennese residents with fixed-term rental contracts that expire within the next six months and who are looking for a 1 to 3-room apartment. Even people who would not normally be entitled to a municipal apartment can take part in the campaign, provided they meet some criteria analogous to the Vienna Housing Ticket: a minimum age of 18 years, two years of continuous main residence at a Vienna address, Austrian citizenship or equivalent and clarified family relationships (spouses and people who live in an established and registered partnership can only submit an application together). In addition, the maximum income limits apply according to the Vienna Housing Promotion and Renovation Act (WWFSG).

If you have any questions, you can contact the Vienna Housing Advisory Service directly and visit the website www.wohnberatung-wien.at inform in advance. (Ending)