Mitschrift

Searching for an Apartment

What types of housing are available in Vienna? Where can I find the right apartment for me? And what are the rental costs? In this StartWien video, we will take a closer look at searching for housing and the various types of accommodations available in Vienna.

In Vienna, you have a wide variety of housing options available, including:

Condominiums

Privately rented apartments

City-owned apartments

Cooperative apartments

If you are new to Vienna, your options are limited to privately rented apartments, condominiums, or townhomes for the time being. You can buy condominiums or townhomes, or choose to rent them out. Private apartments can be rented directly from individuals or through property management companies.

For those coming from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you can buy condominiums or townhomes without needing extra permits. However, individuals from non-EU countries will require an official permit in accordance with the Foreigners' Real Estate Acquisition Act (Ausländergrunderwerbsgesetz).

Housing offers can be found online, in newspapers, and through property management companies or real estate agencies. Depending on the facilities, apartments are categorized into four categories: A, B, C, and D. Category A is the best, while D is the worst, typically indicating a WC located in the corridor. Most apartments fall into categories A and B.

The Tenancy Act (Mietrechtsgesetz) establishes a guideline rent known as the Richtwertmietzins, which varies depending on the type of apartment, location, and facilities.

The Sánchez Family’s Apartment Search

The Sánchez family is new to Vienna and is looking for a rented apartment with space for their two children. They find suitable listings online and contact a real estate agent. After several viewings, they narrow their choices down to two options:

Choice #1:A 90 m² category B apartment in an old building in Vienna's 10th district for €810 per month. For old buildings, the Richtwertmietzins serves as the upper limit.

Choice #2: A completely renovated 80 m² new category A apartment in the 18th district for €1,100 per month. This option includes a location supplement (Lagezuschlag).

To estimate their total monthly costs, the Sánchez family adds fees for electricity and heating. They decide that one-third of their monthly budget will be their threshold for affordable rent. They also verify the guideline rent and location supplement using the Wiener Mietenrechner.

Although the category B apartment in the 10th district is larger, it has drawbacks regarding furnishings and room layout and lacks an elevator. Conversely, the apartment in the 18th district is smaller but comes at a higher cost due to its category A classification and location supplement. The shorter commute to work and proximity to a kindergarten and school, as well as access to a community garden, were significant factors in their decision.

Mr. and Mrs. Sánchez ensured that their cat, Pepe, was welcome, as there is no legal ban on pets in Vienna. However, they confirmed this with the landlords for peace of mind. Ultimately, the family opted for the more expensive apartment due to the convenience it offered.

Rent and Total Costs

As we have seen, the cost of private rental housing can vary significantly. The monthly rent consists of several components:

The net rent for the living space

Operating costs and public charges, such as waste collection, water, and cleaning

Expenses for communal facilities, such as elevators or heating systems

Costs for co-rented items, such as furniture or kitchen appliances

A 10% turnover tax on the rent

The sum of these costs constitutes the gross rent (Bruttomiete). It's essential to note that electricity, heating costs, internet, or cable are not included in this total.

Attention! Keep a close eye on the total rent, including all extra costs.

My tip:For support in finding low-income housing, contact the Wohnungsdrehscheibe of Volkshilfe Wien.

Municipal Housing

Those who have lived in Vienna for an extended period can apply for a city-owned apartment through the Wiener Wohn-Ticket. Renting a city-owned apartment from the City of Vienna offers several benefits:

Affordable rent

No deposit required

An unlimited lease agreement

To be registered for a city-owned apartment with the Vienna Housing Ticket at Wohnberatung Wien, the following requirements apply:

You must have Austrian or EU/EEA citizenship.

You should be granted asylum or have the residence title "Permanent Residence-EU."

You must be at least 17 years of age.

You must have been continuously registered at your current Viennese residential address for two years.

Once you receive the housing ticket, you must prove a valid reason (Wohnbedarfsgrund) for your application. Acceptable reasons may include:

Your current home is too small for your household.

Your housing needs have changed due to age or illness.

You require barrier-free housing.

Cooperative Apartments

Cooperative apartments can be rented from non-profit housing cooperatives. Typically, for a cooperative apartment, you will need to pay a **Finanzierungsbeitrag**, which is a financial contribution that varies based on the size, age, and location of the apartment.

My tip: You can apply for an equity replacement loan (Eigenmittelersatzdarlehen) from the City of Vienna to cover this financial contribution. This loan is repayable every six months, and if you move out, you can expect to get most of your contribution back. Many cooperative apartments also offer a purchase option.

You can find out more about the requirements for cooperative apartments from the respective cooperative or from Wohnberatung Wien.