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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 INSURANCE

How can I get an appointment with a physiotherapist in Austria?

If you are recovering from an injury, experiencing pain, or simply aiming to improve your physical function, visiting a physiotherapist is a good idea. Here is what you need to know about physiotherapy in Austria.

Published: 23 April 2024 11:02 CEST
How can I get an appointment with a physiotherapist in Austria?

Physiotherapy can be the key to improving mobility, managing pain, recovering from injuries, and optimising overall physical function. Many people will need such services at some point in their lives.

If you need a physiotherapist in Austria, you can choose between going to one who is contracted with your insurance company (Therapeut mit Kassenvertrag) or to a so-called elective therapist (Wahltherapeut). For both options, you will need a referral from a general practitioner, such as your family doctor (Hausarzt), if you want to access the service for free (with your e-card) or get a reimbursement for your treatment.

Physiotherapy through your health insurance company

If you want to go to a physiotherapist without having to pay for it, you can try to find a suitable physiotherapist who is contracted with your insurance company. 

Physiotherapy is free of charge if your therapist is contracted with large public insurance companies such as the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), Insurance Institution for Public Employees, Railways and Mines (BVAEB) or Social Insurance Institution for the Self-Employed (SVS).

These insurance companies settle directly with their contracted therapists and you do not need to pay anything out of pocket. However, accessing this kind of free treatment can sometimes be hard, as those with the most urgent needs are prioritised, which can result in long waiting times for appointments. 

Here you can find a list of physiotherapists who work privately but still have a contract with ÖGK, sorted by regions within Austria.

Physiotherapist of your choice

If you want to go to a therapist that is not contracted with your insurance company, you initially have to pay for the treatment yourself.

Once your treatment is completed and the treatment costs have been paid in full, you can apply to your health insurance company for reimbursement by submitting your confirmation of payment. Here you can find information on which other documents you may need to submit.

However, you will not be reimbursed the full amount. For example, with ÖGK, you usually receive about 80% of what contracted physiotherapists would get from ÖGK. If you are insured with SVS and BVAEB, the percentage is similar.

If you have another type of insurance, such as a private one, it is a good idea to check with them what their specific insurance covers.

Going to a physiotherapist can improve your quality of life. Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Where do I find a suitable therapist?

There are plenty of ways to find the right physiotherapist that fits your needs. Sometimes your family doctor may have a recommendation, or perhaps a friend can suggest one. If you prefer to explore on your own and consider more options, you can search for a therapist online.

Websites such as physioaustria offer useful search functions where you can find therapists based on specific criteria, such as specialisation or insurance contracts. You might also find physiotherapie.at helpful for your search.

READ MORE: Everything foreigners need to know about the Austrian healthcare system

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