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VIENNA

Reader question: Can Vienna and Lower Austria residents go shopping or get haircuts in other states?

Shops and hairdressers remain closed in Vienna and Lower Austria, but are open in other states. Can residents cross the border for a shop and a trim?

Reader question: Can Vienna and Lower Austria residents go shopping or get haircuts in other states?
Photo: JENS SCHLUETER / AFP

As of Monday, Burgenland broke from its eastern neighbours to end its coronavirus lockdown. 

Now, residents of Burgenland will not be restricted from leaving their homes during the day (from 6am to 8pm) like residents of other Austrian states. 

The 24-hour stay-at-home order stays in place in Vienna and Lower Austria until at least May 2nd. 

One of the major consequences is that non-essential shops along with close-contact services can again open in Burgenland. 

Despite the relaxation of the rules, residents of Vienna and Lower Austria are not allowed to make the short trip across the border to go shopping or to have their hair cut, get a tattoo or use other close contact services. 

While this was likely to be less of a problem previously – particularly as the distance from Vienna to a non-eastern state and back would take several hours – the trip to Burgenland is much shorter. 

On Monday, police in Burgenland said they would be conducting checks to stop people from entering from Vienna and Lower Austria. 

Am I not allowed to cross state borders at all? 

You are not prevented from crossing state borders if the reason you are doing so is “one of the necessary basic needs of life”. 

For Vienna and Lower Austria residents, this is the same rule that applies as to whether you can leave the house or not. 

More information on the necessary basic needs of life is available in the following article.

Austria’s coronavirus lockdown: Under what circumstances can I leave my apartment?

For instance, you may cross into another state as part of a hike or a walk, or you may visit a relative or partner in another state, provided you comply with the rules. 

However, haircuts, tattoos and shopping for non-essential goods are not considered as sufficient reasons to cross the border. 

What about food shopping or filling my car with petrol? 

Shopping for essential goods is still allowed during Vienna and Lower Austria’s hard lockdown – but unfortunately you cannot cross the border to do so. 

The police are likely to have some flexibility with this, for instance if the closest supermarket or petrol station is just across the border and you would have to travel further to do so in your own state, however taking a 45 minute trip to go to a grocery store in Burgenland when there’s one next to your house is likely to be seen as not part of the ‘basic needs of life. 

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RENTING

‘Betriebskosten’: What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Renting an apartment in Austria means you’ll have to budget not only for the rent, but other somewhat hidden monthly costs and expenses.

'Betriebskosten': What are the extra costs renters must pay in Austria?

Understanding operating costs or the specific expenses landlords or property agencies charge renters, is crucial for staying on top of your monthly payments when renting a place in Austria. These extra costs, known in German as Betriebskosten, are strictly regulated by Austria’s Tenancy Act. 

Here are the operating expensses that are chargeable to tenants, according to the MieterHilfe Public Association:

  • Water/wastewater and costs of leak testing, plus excess consumption due to burst pipes, but does not include disproportionate additional consumption for commercial operations;
  • Rubbish removal (and also clearing out floors and cellars);
  • Clearing out abandoned property;
  • Pest control, with costs such as extermination and periodic inspection or removal of pigeon droppings. Installation of pigeon screens is not included;
  • Sweeping fees (chimney sweep);
  • Electricity for lighting and communal facilities, such as the stairwell, but also replacement of light bulbs, fuses or switches;
  • Insurance premiums for fire, liability and water damage;
  • Insurance premiums for glass breakage and storm damage provided that more than half of the tenants have agreed to this being passed on;
  • Management fee (there is a set administration fee per square metre of usable space and building construction year)
  • House cleaning, including wages and social payments if there is a caretaker, plus materials; 
  • Public charges, unless there is a prohibition on passing them on – offsetting of property taxes is permitted;
  • Ongoing operating costs for communal facilities (lift, heating, playground, green areas, common rooms, etc.).

However, costs such as maintenance and repair work can never be charged under operating expenses.

The same goes for any ‘disproportionate additional costs or consumption due to commercial operations ‘, which refers to costs that are significantly higher than what would be considered normal for residential use or costs that are incurred due to the operation of a business within the rented property. 

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord – Who pays which costs in Austria?

Vienna’s association for tenants MieterHilfe has a calculator that uses average values to show whether the Betriebskosten you pay are comparatively low, medium or high. The association notes, however, that even low values could be considered unauthorised billing in some cases. In contrast, high values could be correct – the calculator only shows if you are paying too much compared to other properties in the city.

You can check the values HERE. You will need to know either the total usable area of the building or the usable area of the flat and the operating cost share—this information is usually shown in a payment statement you receive from property management. 

What if I believe I am being unfairly charged?

If you think you are paying too much, but the charges are legal – such as for water electricity etc, then you would need to raise this issue with property management. They could take measures to save on operating costs, such as replacing old light bulbs with more energy-efficient ones or setting lights to a timer instead of a traditional light switch, for example.

There are many possible reasons for high or low values, according to the City of Vienna. For example, you may pay comparatively low for water one year because of a small number of residents, while the following year, there are leaking sanitary facilities and a burst water pipe that raises costs.

Buildings with many communal areas and green spaces often tend to have higher operating costs, especially for water, electricity, and housekeeping. 

However, things are different if you think you are being unduly charged—that is, there are charges in the operating costs that do not belong there, such as unapproved construction repair.

READ ALSO: Renting in Austria – The key things foreign residents need to know

If you are unsure of the costs, there is a significant deviation from average prices for no particular reason, or you believe that you are being charged for something not legally admissible as an operating cost, you could have a free check carried out by MieterHilfe or a tenant protection organisation. 

If there is a suspicion of unauthorised billing that cannot be dispelled between tenants and the property management company, this will be clarified at the arbitration board. The arbitration board is an independent body that mediates disputes between tenants and landlords. It is a point of contact before the courts in case of difficulties or legal disputes, and its decision is legally binding.

Property management companies and landlords must settle the operating costs for the previous year by 30 June at the latest and disclose them to tenants. This deadline is set to ensure that tenants have sufficient time to review their cost statements and raise any concerns before the new rental year begins. All expenses must be itemised in the statement, providing transparency and allowing tenants to see exactly what they are being charged for.

They are obliged to provide tenants with a detailed summary of the statement and the invoice documents. If the operating costs per square metre exceed €2, a more detailed review is recommended, according to the City of Vienna.

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