From April 1, the benchmark rents will probably be adjusted to inflation – the demands of the SPÖ, FPÖ and the social partners to suspend them again have so far been unsuccessful. One million Austrians are threatened with a rent increase – including 400,000 Viennese.
The law stipulates that the benchmark rents will be increased accordingly every two years if the inflation rate is above three percent. In the previous year, this regulation was suspended for a year, which means that a particularly large jump is imminent this year – the guide value rents will be increased by six percent and the category rents by 5.5 percent.
“Housing must be affordable and must not become a luxury,” said Pamela Rendi-Wagner in February (eXXpress reported). With the increase, an 80-square-meter apartment in Vienna would become 360 euros more expensive per year, and in Vorarlberg as much as 550 euros.
However, the Chamber of Labor sees the fundamental possibility that the Rent increase now in April, but a decision will be made later that would reverse the price increase again from May. However, it remains to be seen whether there is the political will to do so.
