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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

Reader question: Does owning a second home in Austria give me the right to live there?

Austria is a popular second home destination, but what rights do you get as a second home owner?

Published: 5 October 2021 16:25 CEST

Unfortunately, buying a second home in Austria will not give you the right to live there. Photo by Sangga Rima Roman Selia on Unsplash

Unfortunately, buying a second home in Austria will not give you the right to live there. Photo by Sangga Rima Roman Selia on Unsplash

Austria’s value as a holiday destination has seen it become a popular place for people wanting to buy a second home.

In fact, some Austrians – a majority it seems – would argue that buying a second home here is a little too popular, which may justify all of the restrictions which have been put in place.

As we tackled in our explainer on this topic, buying a second home is restrictive even for Austrian citizens, let alone people living abroad.

READ MORE: How can I buy a second home in Austria?

What rights do I get as a second home owner?

Provided you have purchased the property in a legal fashion, you will accrue various rights as a second home owner in Austria.

If it is designated as a ‘second home’ (Zweitwohnsitz), you will be allowed to live in it for all or part of the year, or to rent it out.

If it is designated as a ‘fully managed’ property, you will be able to live there for a maximum of five weeks per year and it will need to be rented for the rest of the time (or left vacant).

Will owning a second home give me special residency rights?

Unfortunately for non-citizens and non-residents, buying a home does not generally confer any additional rights with regard to residency.

If you are an EU citizen, then you will be able to live in Austria under freedom of movement rules.

EXPLAINED: How to apply for a residency permit in Austria

If you are not – and that, remember, includes UK citizens – then you will usually only be able to spend time in Austria under the 90/180 rule.

This means that you can spend a maximum of 90 days in Austria out of 180 consecutive days.

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'Haushaltsversicherung': How does Austria's home insurance work?

Austrians are certainly obsessed with insurance coverage, and one of the most popular and common ones is known as the “Haushaltsversicherung”—if you don’t have it already, you have certainly heard of it. Here’s what you need to know about household insurance.

Firstly, this insurance covers damages to “all movable objects within your own four walls,” as Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK) explains. This includes furniture, carpets, and electrical appliances. It would also cover damages caused by fire, storms, water, burglary, and glass breakage.

Certain types of insurance, such as private liability insurance or mandatory dog liability insurance, are almost always combined with household insurance—another reason why the Haushaltsversicherung is so popular in Austria.

READ ALSO: What kind of insurance do I need to have in Austria?

However, there are enormous differences in premiums and benefits, so experts suggest you check precisely what you need before taking out insurance. The AK also says you should talk to an insurance advisor to learn more about your specific case and needs, particularly if you have any valuables in your home.

Additionally, they said: “It makes sense to check your policy every few years to ensure that you are properly insured. This guarantees that the sums insured and the risks included are up-to-date and sufficient”.

What should I keep an eye on when reviewing policies?

Of course, different companies have their own offers, and they are often highly customisable to fit your apartment and lifestyle—some things you need to be aware of, though.

Certain policies are tied to the size of your apartment, while others will have a lump sum regardless of the size of your place. Policies also usually differ depending on whether you live in an apartment or a house.

While most insurance will cover glass breakage (such as when a hail storm breaks your window, for example), some might have it as an add-on (wahlweise mit Glasbruch).

You may also add other types of insurance to your household insurance, the most common being mandatory dog liability insurance (Hunde-Haftpflicht), legal insurance (Straf-Rechtsschutz), and sports insurance.

READ ALSO: Should I take out insurance before skiing in Austria?

It’s worth it to read each policy, but you should know some common clauses beforehand. For example, insurance often won’t cover burglary costs if your house has not been properly secured and locked. This might seem obvious, but since door knobs don’t open from the outside without the key, people often leave their homes, especially for short errands, and don’t lock the doors all the way. Insurance and safety experts recommend you get in the habit of locking your home doors.

It’s also important to check if your insurance will pay you “Neuwert” or “Zeitwert” in case of damage.

A Neuwert means the insurance will pay for a replacement object, regardless of how old the stolen or broken one was. However, many insurance policies still contain the so-called “Zeitwert”, something like “current value”, so you wouldn’t receive an amount that could pay for a new product. Instead, a loss of value of around 10 percent per year could be expected for most objects.

What should I do if there is damage to my home?

If you see any damage to your home from burglary, accident or other types, you need to notify your insurer immediately and report the damage you have suffered.

The insurance conditions usually stipulate a maximum period of three days for reporting a claim in property insurance. The Chamber of Labour also recommends that you send a written notification of the claim (preferably by registered mail, they add).

“Make a list of all items that have been destroyed or lost and enclose it with your report to both the insurer and the security authorities”, they said. And, of course, in the event of fire burglary or robbery, always inform the fire department or police authorities.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: The Austrian insurance for if you get sued – or want to sue someone

How long does the insurance last, and how much does it cost?

The insurance term is usually specified in the counteract. In general, though, you can terminate it after the third year with one month’s notice if the contract has not already expired.

If you move house or move abroad, you can terminate your household insurance contract. You can cancel the insurance the day before the move begins (preferably by registered letter).

If you do not exercise your right of termination, the insurance will remain valid during the move and in the new home.

Regarding prices, they can be as low as a few euros a month (such as insurance specifically tailored to students living in shared flats) to several hundred a month if you have a large place with plenty of valuables or include several add-ons.

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