For the ARGE home, the current political discussions on the future of housing subsidies show a questionable tendency: in budget negotiations at the federal and state level, one-sided relocation towards subject promotion is increasingly being discussed- i.e. on individual grants such as residential aids.
This focus is justified with tense budgets and the reaction to heavily increased rents. However, a pure subject promotion falls short from the perspective of the ARGE home: Without targeted property promotion, the public sector loses the possibility of strategically controlling residential construction – spatial, socially and qualitatively.
Long -term control only possible with property promotion
The stable, socially balanced housing market in Austria has been based on the successful interaction of property promotion and housing community for decades. This model has created over a million affordable apartments – prize -bound, without speculation and without ongoing subsidies.
In contrast to subject promotion, which has a reactive and income -dependent effect, the property funding can be strategically controlled and politically budgeted. It enables targeted priorities:
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affordable living space in growth regions / metropolitan areas
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Housing supply in rural areas
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Climate -friendly and energy -efficient new construction and quality renovation
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Social mixing and care of special target groups
“Subject funding can react to price developments, but do not initiate any construction projects, do not close any regional supply gaps, set no standards and does not secure long -term price connection. It causes running costs – without permanent structural effect.” ARGE explains the chairwoman Isabella Stickler.
Object funding is earmarked and sustainable
Object funding offers planning security – both for the public sector and for the property developers. It is politically fixed, manageable budgetable and strategically applicable. Only object promotion creates the prerequisites for financed apartments that – without ongoing subsidies – are permanently among the cheapest rents in the market.
This means that every euro of property funding triggers social added value for decades – controlled, paid and sustainable.
A current WiFo report confirms: The housing community acts as a protection against rental price shocks- especially in economically tense times- the property funding is a stabilizer and control instrument.
Obwoman Isabella Stickler: “If you want affordable living space, you need more than individual subsidies. He needs a taxable system with clear consideration – just as the property funding in combination with non -profit organization has been successfully offering for decades. Without you, Austria not only loses affordable apartments, but also control of its residential building policy.”
Experiences at home and abroad give rise to caution
There are discussions about a purely subject -oriented funding policy not only in Austria. In several countries – such as Germany or Great Britain – a withdrawal from property promotion has led to a massive decline in affordable new construction in recent decades, while at the same time the expenses for residential aids have increased significantly. These funds often flow into the private rental sector, without social binding or return to the general public.
Vorarlberg provides a current example, where construction activity drops despite the continued high demand for living space (around 2,800 units per year). The announced reduction in property promotion could further tighten the tense situation on the housing market.
The importance of housing subsidies for employment, apprenticeships and regional added value is also referred from the economy. In this economically sensitive phase, a withdrawal from the funding would be a signal with negative consequences for living space supply and construction economy.
Therefore, the ARGE home to the decision -makers in the federal and state governments appeals not to leave the proven housing policy course. Subject funding can be a sensible addition – but not a substitute for strategic property promotion.