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HEALTH

Where have housing prices risen in Austria during the pandemic?

Despite the economic impact of the pandemic, housing costs have risen dramatically across Austria - particularly for houses with gardens. Here’s what you need to know.

Published: 23 February 2021 12:23 CET
Updated: 16 March 2021 13:54 CET
Where have housing prices risen in Austria during the pandemic?
Photo: SAUL LOEB / AFP

The economic impact of the pandemic has been as significant as it has been long. It is now the biggest economic crisis since the Second World War. 

One sector however has seen a dramatic spike in value – housing. 

Buying and renting have both increased in cost significantly in 2020 compared with 2019. 

READ MORE: Is it better to buy or to rent property in Austria? 

A study published by Austrian real estate platform ImmoScout24 showed a considerable rise in demand and cost for housing across the country. 

House prices rose by an average of 11.6 percent in Austria in 2020 – with demand increasing by 49 percent. 

The demand for apartments also rose by around 7.4 percent, while rents rose by five percent. 

Where has the demand for houses risen the most in Austria? 

The impact of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown has meant that homes with gardens are more popular than ever. 

“Although our current trend study shows that Austrians are basically satisfied with their living situation, the dream of owning their own house has become firmly entrenched for many in 2020,” said ImmoScout managing director Markus Dejmek. 

The demand has been greatest in the extended suburbs of Vienna and Graz, where urban residents have been looking to get a little more green space. 

The increase in house demand has also been felt in a number of other Austrian states. 

According to ImmoScout, demand has been particularly strong for second homes or holiday homes. 

The highest increase was in Carinthia, where demand grew by approximately 76 percent. 

In Lower Austria (63 percent), Styria (59 percent) and Burgenland (55 percent) demand also grew dramatically. 

Where have apartment prices risen the most in Austria? 

Housing and apartment prices also saw a spike across the country. 

Austria’s west saw the greatest increase in house prices, with apartment prices increasing by 18.2 percent in Tyrol, 13.2 percent in Salzburg and 12.1 percent in Vorarlberg. 

Apartments also became more expensive in 2020. Burgenland saw a cost increase of 17.1 percent for apartments, while prices rose in Styria (12.4 percent) and Lower Austria (10.2 percent). 

While costs in Vienna rose less sharply, this was largely because prices are already high in the capital. 

The price of apartments rose in Vienna by 7.4 percent to €5,340 per square metre, while the price for houses rose by 4.9 percent to €4,990 per square metre. 

“The expensive west with Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Salzburg again increased in price significantly in 2020. But the belt around Vienna also recorded considerable price increases in 2020,” Dejmek said. 

Rents also on the rise

Across Austria, rents rose on average 14 euros per square metre in 2020 – an increase of five percent on prices from 2019. 

Rents increased sharply in Vienna – by €15.8 per square metre (4.8 percent). 

Rents also rose in the west of the country. In Tyrol, there was an increase of €16 per square metre (5.1 percent). 

Tyrol remains the most expensive state in Austria to rent a property, while Vienna is the second most expensive. 

In Vorarlberg, there was an increase of 4.1 percent – or €15 per square metre, making it the third most expensive state for rentals in Austria. 

Rents declined in only one Austrian state – Burgenland, where they fell by 2.4 percent or €9.30 per square metre. 

Burgenland remains the cheapest state in Austria when it comes to rental prices, followed by Lower Austria where the costs are €11.20 per square metre (a 0.5 percent increase on 2019 prices). 

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HEALTH

What can we expect from the Covid situation in Austria this autumn?

The number of Covid infections has been rising in Austria recently. Austria's Health Minister Johannas Rauch has spoken out about what to expect this autumn and winter.

Published: 25 September 2023 17:12 CEST
What can we expect from the Covid situation in Austria this autumn?

During the Covid pandemic, Austria had tough restrictions that affected the population as hospitals struggled with a rising number of patients. 

Thankfully the situation is nowhere near as critical as it once was, although the number of Covid infections has been rising lately. 

Austria’s Health Minister Johannes Rauch, of the Greens, on Monday assured people that there was no reason to worry, although he raised concerns about the progress of Covid vaccinations in Austria. 

“We have a better overview today than a year ago,” said Rauch during a press briefing on the Covid situation, adding that this is due to Austria significantly expanding its monitoring system in recent months.

For instance, wastewater monitoring has been expanded to 48 sewage treatment plants, covering more than half of the Austrian population. Genomic sequencing evaluates wastewater samples as well as Covid tests from doctors in private practice and shows the circulating virus variants.

Rauch added that the government has a dashboard that provides “a precise overview of what is happening in the hospitals”.

The Health Minister said Covid was currently “trending upwards”, while other respiratory diseases have actually decreased.

Authorities are set to watch closely at what happens to the development of Covid and other viruses as the months get colder.

Hospitals won’t be overburdened

Rauch said authorities are optimistic that the Covid situation in hospitals will not deteriorate to levels previously seen. 

“From what we know now and how we assess it, we don’t expect an overload of hospitals,” Rauch said. “We have a good overview of what has been happening in the southern hemisphere this winter. These are indicators that we don’t currently have to worry about running into an overload situation.”

However, he pointed out that reports of people having to wait some time in Austria to get a Covid vaccination, which has been adapted to the new variants, are concerning. 

READ ALSO: What are Austria’s new Covid and RSV vaccine recommendations?

Rauch said Austria may follow other European countries and introduce Covid jabs in pharmacies to speed up availability. 

“In Austria, we have a large number of pharmacies that would be quite capable of offering this,” said Rauch. “If it doesn’t work in the general practice sector, we will organise it there.”

Austria has been recommending that people over 60 and risk groups get a Covid booster vaccine, the same advice as for the flu jab. 

However, when to get it should be discussed with your doctor, urged Rauch.

“Talk to your doctor about your personal time window, when is a booster vaccination necessary, due and appropriate,” he said. “Take advantage of this, get advice.”

On the topic of mask mandates, which were previously in force in Austria at different times in the pandemic, Rauch said at the moment mandatory face coverings are not being considered. 

However, it could return in certain areas. “There is the possibility for hospitals and surgeries to enact a mask requirement in their house rules, which must then be complied with,” said Rauch. 

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