The Austrian capital has a system in which most properties remain in state hands. However, there are also private rentals.
The value of leases has positioned itself as one of the main concerns for residents of major European cities.
The increase in rental prices in recent years, notably led them to organize demonstrations in certain metropolises.
Among the factors cited as presumed responsible for this scenario are: mass tourism, rare public offering, vulture funds and platforms facilitating the rental of residences like Airbnb.
The situation led to it being increasingly difficult to access housing .
However, if we compare with the majority of European capitals, there is one which is characterized by maintaining a more economical rental model .
It is about Vienna, the capital of Austria .
What does the cheap rental model look like in Vienna?
A Cuban woman who lives in the city with her husband and two daughters aged 10 and 25, Daysel Rodríguez, told BBC that in the Austrian city, “renting is much cheaper” .
“Rents in places like Barcelona are higher than here, butthere is a big difference “, accurate.
They have lived in Vienna for 8 years. Currently They rent a 90 square meter house, with three bedrooms, a fireplace and “a very beautiful terrace” Rodríguez described.
“It’s an old building and that means the rent is limited. Because we must take into account the fact that these buildings are less efficient. But Even if the gas and electricity bill increases a lot, it still compensates. “, added her husband, Jorge Martínez.
According to the aforementioned media, These types of residences tend to be located in historic buildings so flexibility is generally not offered in terms of making changes to structures.
How much can it cost to rent accommodation in European capitals?
Rodríguez and Martínez’s family pays about $1,200 in rent per month which is equivalent to approximately $1,170,000 Chilean pesos.
The International Rental Index HousingEverywhere analyzes the price of 1 to 3 room apartments in 28 European cities in 11 countries .
For reference, a residence similar to the one they rent in Vienna It would cost around $2,000 in Paris (France) and around $2,200 in Rome (Italy). .
In Madrid, Barcelona (Spain) or Berlin (Germany), it could reach $1,650. .
At the same time, if we make the comparison with the European capital, Madrid residents spend on average 60% of their salary on paying rent .
Instead, The Viennese direct 20% to this area .
The apartment that Rodríguez and Martínez rent is located in one of the most exclusive areas of the city district 13.
They reported that The place is “spacious and calm” and that although it is located in a densely populated urban area, it also has several green spaces.
“The purchase is extremely expensive. It’s much cheaper to rent” commented Martínez.
“Vienna has a quality of life. Quality of life means having a large, bright house, with green spaces, in a city with job opportunities, with a rich cultural scene and working public transport wonderfully,” he added.
How Vienna’s cheap rental model works
According to the aforementioned media, In Vienna, most properties remain in state hands which promote the construction or renovation of social housing.
They also acquire land, collaborate with other associations and have a system of strong tenant protection and community involvement .
A spokesperson for the Vienna Housing Department told the BBC: “We believe that housing is a fundamental right, not a commodity” .
“Unlike many other cities, We didn’t sell our municipal housing stock in the 1990s. This helps us keep prices low. for rent,” he explained.
He said Vienna was a pioneer in providing affordable housing and this contributed to more than 60% of residents living in municipal and subsidized apartments throughout the capital .
The Vienna City Council stated that They have “420,000 subsidized apartments divided between ‘Gemeindewohnungen“Municipally owned (220,000) and cooperatives operated by the non-profit or for-profit sector (200,000). »
According to the BBChouses of this type have no term limit, deposit or commission, while once you have access to it, you can sublet it for up to 2 years .
Local authorities stated that Social rent is accessible to all residents who have lived in the city for more than two years .
It’s at that moment You can ask for the “yellow paper” .
Regarding the latter, Rodríguez explained that it is the document which “indicates that you reside and work in Austria” .
“To obtain it, they ask you for a series of conditions such as registration or income. When renting, when you present it, the owner knows that if he gave you this paper, it means that you followed a procedure and that he approved it (…) This gives you more credibility. To rent you need more things, but this document is a basis “.
What are the types of accommodation rentals in Vienna?
The capital of Austria has government-owned municipal housing and for-profit housing .
These have prices higher than those of social housing .
However, the values are significantly lower than those of the private market .
Researcher and doctor of spatial planning at TU Vienna University Selim Banabak told the aforementioned media that “he “It makes sense to have a large and very accessible nonprofit segment. » .
“But these are all factors that are not due to any recent policy. It is the result of an inheritance “.
With the latter, the specialist mentioned the fact that Vienna faced a population decline between World War II and the early 1990s. .
“So basically for a long time there was, let’s say, extra capacity within the city to accommodate to the people. »
According to Banabak, Vienna’s social housing system also allows private rentals to have lower prices compared to those of European cities which have other mechanisms.
Source: Latercera
I am David Jack and I have been working in the news industry for over 10 years. As an experienced journalist, I specialize in covering sports news with a focus on golf. My articles have been published by some of the most respected publications in the world including The New York Times and Sports Illustrated.
