Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

SKI

‘Avoid a second Ischgl’: Bavaria urges ski slopes to close across Europe over winter break

The premier of Bavaria on Tuesday said he planned to keep the Alpine slopes of his German state shut over the Christmas holidays to combat Covid-19 and urged European nations to follow suit.

Published: 24 November 2020 15:14 CET
'Avoid a second Ischgl': Bavaria urges ski slopes to close across Europe over winter break
Archive photo shows skiers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria. Photo: DPA

“We just can't have the classic ski holiday,” Markus Söder told reporters on the eve of crunch talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel and regional leaders on extending coronavirus restrictions.

Like other European countries, Germany is battling a second coronavirus wave and Söder said more needed to be done to bring down infection numbers.

READ ALSO: What will Christmas 2020 be like in Germany?

Many German and foreign holidaymakers flock to Bavaria and neighbouring Austria over the winter break to enjoy its pristine ski slopes.

Söder stressed that Germans thinking of simply crossing the border to ski on Austrian snow instead faced a 10-day quarantine upon return, since Austria is classed as a coronavirus risk zone.

“I would prefer to have a common agreement on a European level: no ski lifts open, no (ski) holidays anywhere,” said Söder, who has won praise for his handling of the pandemic so far and is often tipped as a possible chancellor candidate.

“If we want to keep the borders open we need a clear agreement on skiing. Otherwise things will get difficult.”

The goal, said Söder, was to avoid “a second Ischgl”.

The Austrian ski resort of Ischgl gained notoriety earlier this year after it became an early Covid-19 hotspot and infected tourists there helped spread the virus across Europe.

READ ALSO: Why has Bavaria been hit so hard in the coronavirus pandemic?

Member comments

  1. With appropriate safety measures there will be no further contamination. To keep the slopes closed it s a nonsense.

  2. Not agree. If you don t want to ski ( with all the benefits it brings), you are kindly requested to stay home

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

LIVING IN AUSTRIA

How can I move into affordable cooperative housing in Vienna?

If you are looking for affordable, high-quality housing with a community feeling in Vienna, applying for a Genossenschaftswohnung, cooperative housing, is a great idea.

Published: 5 February 2024 14:03 CET
How can I move into affordable cooperative housing in Vienna?

Vienna is considered the most liveable city in the world, and one of the reasons why is its affordable rents, which stand out when compared to rental prices in other European capital cities. Even though the concept of social housing is present all over Austria, its presence is strongest in the capital city.

In Vienna, it is not uncommon to hear about people living in gorgeous and spacious flats while paying less than the monthly rent of a room in cities like London or Paris. However, to be one of the fortunate tenants, you need to know the conditions.

READ ALSO: The essential articles to read if you are moving to Vienna

Genossenschaftswohnungen (cooperative housing) is one of the forms of social housing in the city, aiming to create affordable and high-quality housing for its residents.

The concept of Genossenschaftswohnungen

Cooperatives are spread all over the city and receive housing subsidies from the Austrian state, making affordable living for tenants possible. Cooperative flats are an option for anyone who wants to avoid privately financed rental flats, wishes to belong to a community, be part of decision-making, and cannot or does not want to buy a property.

A strong idea behind the concept of cooperative housing is to create social communities where members engage with each other and develop a sustainable living situation where everyone is involved in making decisions regarding the property.

Decisions are typically made collectively through voting, ensuring all residents have their voices heard.

READ ALSO: The verdict: How family friendly is Vienna?

As a member of cooperative housing, you live at lower running costs but have to pay a significant entry fee as a financial contribution (Genossenschaftsanteil) at the start of the tenancy. 

This payment serves as a form of membership fee and helps with funding the cooperative’s construction, land use, maintenance, and other related costs. The fee is usually reimbursed if the tenant decides to move out.

Requirements needed

To be eligible for cooperative housing, you need to fulfil specific requirements:

  • Depending on the number of people in the household, the annual net income can not exceed the following maximum limits:

One person: € 57,600

Two persons: € 85,830

Three people: € 97,130

Four people: € 108,420

Each additional person: plus € 6,330

  • You need to be over 18 years old when the contract starts.
  • It is necessary to be an Austrian citizen, EU citizen, EEA citizen or non-EU citizen who either has a residence permit or is a refugee under the Geneva Convention.
  • You need to have lived in Vienna for two years when you apply.
  • The financial contribution (Genossenschaftsanteil) needs to be paid. The amount varies but is typically around € 50-500 per square meter. If necessary, you can apply for a loan at MA 50, the municipal department that deals with housing in the city. 

How to apply

If you want to live in a cooperative flat, you need to make a reservation for the specific housing project you are interested in. You can do this online, but since the waiting lists could be long, your chances may increase if you remain persistent and express your interest in the community – knowing people who already live in the building you are interested in may also help as some contracts allow apartments to be “passed on” to a person chosen by the renter.

READ ALSO: How much does it cost to live in Vienna in 2024?

Usually, you have to fill out a form when you register before applying to a residence. Many cooperatives consider your income and living situation. They might prioritize your application if they find that you are in particular need of a flat, such as if you have a family, low income, or a disability.

Various websites offer cooperative flats in Vienna genossenschaften.immo and Wohnservice Wien are two of them.

SHOW COMMENTS