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CHRISTMAS

Posting Christmas presents from Austria? Here’s what you need to know

As we head into another Christmas season impacted by the pandemic, here are the details you need to know when sending post throughout Austria and overseas.

Published: 18 November 2021 10:50 CET

Posting Christmas presents from Austria? Here's what you need to know

Make sure your Christmas gifts make it in time to go under the tree. Photo: Jenna Hamra/Pexels

To make sure a parcel arrives in time for Christmas in Austria, domestic parcels should be posted by December 21st for regular post, or by December 23rd with the express service.

When sending a parcel to another European country the deadline is December 15th.

And for gifts going outside Europe, the deadline is December 13th.

Within Austria, letters and cards should be sent by December 20th for economy post and by December 22nd with priority post.

READ MORE: Austria’s best Christmas markets for 2021 (and the Covid rules in place)

To send letters and cards to another country in Europe, the economy post deadline is December 12th and for the rest of the world it is December 8th.

A full list of dates and destinations can be found at the Austria Post website.

Post offices in Austria are open during Christmas week from December 20th to December 23rd and the opening hours are 8am to 6pm. On December 24th, all branches are open from 9am to midday.

Austria Post is warning that Covid-19 restrictions could lead to delays and advises customers to send any post as early as possible to ensure it arrives in time for Christmas.

Sending post to the UK post-Brexit

The UK is no longer a member of the EU, which means an increase in prices when sending some packages, and occasionally a requirement for extra forms.

The cost of sending a letter to the UK has not changed as the country is considered as “the rest of Europe”.

But parcels have been moved from Zone 1 to Zone 2, so these prices have increased.

For example, before Brexit, it would cost €16.28 to send a 2kg parcel from Austria to the UK. Today it costs €20.58.

Also, parcels need a customs form to be filled out, all Post Express International items being sent to the UK now require a commercial invoice.

READ ALSO: Martinigansl and more: 11 delicious Austrian dishes you need to try

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Can I get out of a rental contract in Austria?

In Austria, the rental market is highly competitive, with apartments often staying on rental platforms for short periods due to high demand and limited supply. This, coupled with brief apartment visits (sometimes with other prospective tenants) and the pressure to secure a place, can lead to hasty contract signings.

Understanding your withdrawal rights is essential in such a market.

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

If you signed a rental contract and then realised you don’t want the place, you might feel stuck in your contract. Austria does have really strict rules on contracts, so that “anyone who signs a rental offer makes a binding declaration that they wish to rent the apartment at a certain rate”, Austria’s Tenants Association says.

The real estate agent will also remind you that you cannot leave your contract, as you signed a contractual agreement (“verbindliches Angebot“, which means a binding offer). But what exactly are your rights then?

It’s all about timing

Basically it’s very tricky and almost impossible to back out after signing a rental contact in Austria.

According to Austria’s Chamber of Labour (AK), Austrian law is on your side – but only in a particular case.

Under a consumer law that applies to all types of contracts, including rental agreements, you are protected against potential pressure from real estate agents and property owners. If you view an apartment and sign an agreement on the same day, you have the right to withdraw from the contract within the week. Furthermore, if the estate agent fails to inform you of your right to cancel, you can withdraw from the contract within one month.

READ ALSO: Shopping in Austria – What are your consumer rights when purchasing goods?

The Tenants Association is more critical and explains that withdrawal is only possible within the “narrow” limits of the Consumer Protection Act. “If you as a consumer submit your contractual declaration on the same day that you viewed the apartment for the first time, you can withdraw from your contractual declaration in writing within one week.”

If the offer was not signed on the day of the very first viewing, though, there is no right of withdrawal in Austria.

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

If you have the right to do so, the most effective way to withdraw from a rental contract is to do it in writing, preferably by a registered letter, as explained by the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK). This not only provides a clear record of your intent but also empowers you to navigate the legal aspects of the process with confidence.

If you signed the offer after the viewing, you don’t have the right to withdraw from the contract you signed. In that case, you could ask for a mutual agreement termination, seeking an amicable termination option with the landlord. Otherwise, you’d be bound by the contract, which in Austria usually means you’d have to stay for one year in the apartment and give three months’ notice before leaving.

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