• austriantimes.at
• croatiantimes.com
• romaniantimes.at
• salzburgtimes.at

Today

• Vienna - VESCC English Catholic Mass
• Vienna - Unknown Underground
• Vienna - Childrens Fun

© Alfred Nechvatal 2012

10. 12. 12. - 09:00

• more General News news
• RSS Feed General News

10. 12. 12. - 09:00

Price rise set for many in Vienna housing associations

By Matthias Loinig

The year 2013 is going to start off an expensive one for more than  2,500 people living in Vienna housing associations.

The reason is that building contracts that were signed 60 years ago will run out from the end of 2012.

Many of the buildings were built in the 1920s when there was widespread homelessness which resulted in the city of Vienna coming up with the idea of the genossenschaft - or housing co-operatives.

The first genossenschaft were built in 1922. A lottery was held to decide who would get the first properties. And by 1932 the first rental contracts between the community of Vienna and the newly founded housing co-operatives was signed.

These contracts were extended in 1962 and they now run out in 2012.

That means that people living in a housing co-operative are facing massive price rises under the new contracts.

The man in charge of the association "MGSSVÖ" that is fighting against the increases is Franz Xaver Ludwig.

He argues that the older housing cooperatives were effectively built by the former owners who finance them and then through their descendants investment and hard work were bought to the position that they are now in.

This was often done with private credits that still have many years to pay.

He said it was unfair that rents were often compared with other rental contracts were those staying there lived in new flats which they did not build themselves, which they had not financed themselves and which they had never renovated and in addition for which there were often given subsidies so that they could afford them.

Lawyer and rent expert Dr.Thomas Würzl said: "It is worth noting the side letter to the new building contracts. Under these the housing associations are obliged to do everything in their power to make sure the new higher rates apply to everyone in the housing association. That means anybody that doesn't agree will be forced to move out."

According to the documents seen by the Austrian Times - the price increases are 'not allowed' and are 'not agreed upon' and are against everything the principal of the housing co-operatives stand for.

City council officials meanwhile have said they do not understand why there is a problem over the increased rates and are pressing ahead with the plans.

Vienna Times

Related articles: Vienna focus

1. A night of glitz and glamour at Vienna Filmball 2013

   » Panorama 2013-03-18

   Glamour and glitz were out in force at the weekend as stars from Austria and further afield flocked over the red carpet into the Vienna City Hall for a night of awards, dance and partying!

2. Bonbon Ball crowns Miss Bonbon 2013!

   » Panorama 2013-02-11

   By far the sweetest event in the Vienna Ball season - the Bonbon Ball took place this weekend.

3. Demonstration to remain in front of Votiv Kirche

   » General News 2012-12-19

   Following lack of progress made by talks between representatives of the Church, the charity Caritas and refugee activists at the Votiv Kirche in Vienna, protesters are set to stay camped outside the building.

4. Man goes on supermarket axe rampage

   » General News 2012-12-19

   A supermarket worker and three supermarket customers were attacked by a man on the rampage with an axe in a supermarket in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

5. Runners caught short in Vienna Indoor Marathon

   » General News 2012-12-19

   Marathon runners who thought they'd clocked up record times were caught short when organisers confessed that the course wasn't long enough.

6. Underground rape suspect arrested in Graz

   » General News 2012-12-19

   A man accused of raping a 23-year-old woman on an underground line during rush hour in the Austrian capital has been arrested in Graz, Styria.

7. Woman stabs boyfriend in head then goes to bed

   » General News 2012-12-19

   A woman stabbed her partner in the head before going to bed after a row in her apartment in Vienna, Austria.

8. Parking permit zones to be extended

   » General News 2012-12-19

   Discussions are ongoing about making a park permit zone in the Vienna Districts of Hietzing and Währing from 2013 as a result of a knock on effect from surrounding districts.

9. Indoor pool in Vienna open after renovation work

   » Panorama 2012-12-18

   Vienna's indoor swimming pool the Amalienbad is open again after it was closed for renovations over the summer.

10. Price rise set for many in Vienna housing associations

    » General News 2012-12-10

    The year 2013 is going to start off an expensive one of the 2500 people living in Vienna.

Admont – where culture and nature meet
The region of Admont, in Styria, once a popular holiday destination for walkers and lovers of the great outdoors, is undergoing something of a revival.

Huge counterfeit money gang nicked
A money printing gang was busted after police carried out a series of raids on illegal printing factories.

Viennese museum displays bits of the moon
Three tests samples of moonstone are now on permanent display from NASA at the Natural History Museum in Vienna.

Elton John - Vienna concert tonight
Elton John is performing at the Stadthalle this evening.

Bathing ban remains on Donauinsel
Swimmers looking to escape the heat wave have been warned to avoid the Donauinsel because of possible infection.

Emergency doctors and security at the Donauinselfest
Security and emergency services will be working around the clock at the 30th Donauinselfest in Vienna this weekend as 200 acts take to the stage.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Better road security for the elderly
A two-day conference on "mobility and road safety in an ageing society" which kicks off tomorrow at the Palais Ferstel (Vienna) will look for measures to improve the security of road users over 60 years of age.

Heat causes damage to the West motorway
High temperatures have caused damage to the A1 "Westautobahn" motorway from Lower-Austria to Vienna.

Red Light Process starts again in Vienna
The so-called "Red Light Process" is being continued in the regional court in Vienna today.