The non -profit construction associations (GBVS), which have recently managed over 1,000,000 apartments, can look back on a challenging year 2024. “The construction work dropped again in 2024. With 14,000 completions, we have a minus of 9% for the previous year and a minus of 16% on the 10th average,” said association chairman Klaus Baringer. The reasons for this are the high construction costs, the lack of affordable land, the decline in residential building funding and the still high interest rates. But also legal interventions such as the 3rd and the 4th tenancy law inflation revival law (former December 2023, the latter March 2025) make an urgently needed investments. “The numbers speak a clear language: the construction work has dropped for the second time in a row. Instead of promoting new buildings, two rental lids are withdrawn from the non -profit residential construction,” explains Baringer.
Future effects of political interventions
Because alone due to the rental cover of the 4th MILG (suspension of the value protection in the basic rent and the EVB), the non -profit construction associations will lose around 150 million euros in the next three years that would have to be used for new construction and maintenance according to the cost recovery principle of the WGGS. “This money therefore lacks new buildings and the renovation of existing houses. This alone cannot be built every year,” emphasizes Herwig Pernsteiner, deputy association chairman. But that is only part of the effects: Already now the non -profit construction associations are the main affected people of the 3rd tenancy law enabling law (3rd MILG) from December 2023, which in the previous year the adaptation of the basic rent and the EVB. Both “rental cover” together lead to less revenues of 865 million euros in the period 2024-2027. This already has a direct impact on the renovation, preservation and energetic improvement of the buildings as well as on the new building of affordable apartments.
Regional development: inconsistent picture in the federal states
A methodological note in advance: All federal state information refers to the seat of the construction association, some construction associations also build residential buildings in other federal states. There is a special case this year in Salzburg and Vienna. The Salzburg GBVs built 1,450 units (2023: 570) in 2024, but there are 660 units of a Salzburg GBV in Vienna.
The completions 2024, in bracket completion 2023 and the change in overview:
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Burgenland: 730 (980 in the previous year -26%)
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Carinthia: 210 (410 in the previous year -48%)
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Lower Austria: 2,540 (3,860 in the previous year -34%)
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Upper Austria: 1,950 (2,190 in the previous year -11%)
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Salzburg: 1,450 (570 in the previous year + 155%*) adjusted 790 ( + 39%)
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Styria: 1,090 (1 250 in the previous year -13%)
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Tyrol; 1,620 (960 in the previous year +70%)
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Vorarlberg: 190 (290 in the previous year -35%)
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Vienna: 4,240 (4,880 in the previous year -13%*) adjusted 4900 (+0%)
*660 of the completions of Salzburger GBVs are located in Vienna
Refurbishment stable, the heating exchange continues to increase
In 2024, a positive development was recorded in the area of energetic renovation and heating exchange. “In 6,570 residential units, fossil heating systems were switched to climate -friendly alternatives – an increase of around 10 % compared to the previous year,” said Herwig Pernsteiner. In addition, the number of thermal renovations with 6,800 residential units is stable. These are primarily comprehensive modernizations that, in addition to energetic improvements, also include measures to access accessibility and substance protection. This makes the non -profit construction associations an important contribution to the implementation of the climate goals in the building sector and at the same time ensure the quality and affordability of the living space in the long term.
Outlook 2025: Low point in new construction work
“Unfortunately, a look into the future is always difficult, but the forecast for 2025 is reserved. The year 2025 is expected to mark a new low point in the new construction performance with 11,000 to 12,000 completions. However, the valley sole should be through. Building permits and expected groundbreaking cautiously point up so that a slight upward trend for 2026 is recognizable,” said Klaus Baringer. The forecasts show that measures are now urgently needed to boost the production of affordable apartments. Because investments in affordable apartments not only use the tenants, but also promote the economy, added value and employment. According to Statistics Austria (Input Output Table), every million euros in building investments lead to increased domestic production of around 1.9 million and secures 8 year -round workplaces.
“A construction economy package, as was indicated by the federal government, i.e. an out -of -thing from the crisis is the requirement of the hour. The non -profit construction associations are ready for the turnaround,” said association chairman Klaus Baringer.
Non -profit building associations
The 173 members of the association of non -profit construction associations are companies that provide apartments for wide districts of the population. They do not do this in a profit maximizing, but in a common good. Their business activity is regulated by the housing community law (WGG) and additional regulations. GBVs currently manage just over a million apartments, including 664,000 own rental and cooperative apartments.
You will find photos shortly: https://www.gbv.at/oeffentlichkeitsarbeit/Pressemitteilungen/