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RENTING

Renting in Austria: How much can the landlord ask for as a deposit?

There are a lot of upfront costs when renting in Austria, and one of them is the 'Kaution' or deposit. Even though you should get it back at the end of your tenancy, it's worth making sure you're not being overcharged.

Published: 27 January 2022 08:34 CET
Updated: 7 November 2023 12:28 CET
Apartment
You might be happy for your apartment to be on the high side, but not the deposit. Photo: Dimitry Anikin/Unsplash

When you rent your Austrian apartment, there are a few costs to expect, including the rent itself, the estate agents’ commission or Provision, and the deposit or Kaution. Of these, the deposit is the one that should be returned to you at the end of the tenancy.

The deposit is the fee paid by the tenant to the landlord as security against any damages. This means the landlord can keep it if you fail to pay your rent, or if you cause any damage to the apartment. 

There is no law that says a tenant must pay a deposit, and if you do, it needs to be agreed in your rental contract — legally, the landlord is not able to ask you for a deposit after you’ve signed the contract. But it’s very rare that you won’t be asked for one upfront!

READ ALSO: How much can estate agents charge in commission?

There are legal limits on how much they can ask for, so don’t get ripped off.

The usual deposit is three months’ gross monthly rent.

That means three times the sum of your rent (Gesamtmiete) plus VAT (MwSt in German, 10 percent of the rent) plus operating costs (Betriebskosten). The latter covers things like waste disposal and maintenance of common areas.

Three months’ rent is by far the most common level of deposit you’ll see, but by law, the landlord is allowed to charge up to a maximum of six months’ rent. If you are charged more than three months’ rent as a deposit, it’s worth asking your landlord why, and seeing if you can negotiate a lower fee. It might help if you have documents to prove you’ll be able to pay the rent on time, such as a fixed employment contract or positive references from previous landlords.

READ ALSO: The vocab you need to understand apartment ads

To go higher than six months’ rent as a deposit, they need a special reason, for example if there is extremely valuable furniture in the apartment.

Even if your rent is increased during your tenancy, your landlord can’t demand extra money to ‘top up’ the deposit (making it equal to three months’ gross rent at the new figure) unless you agree to this in writing.

If you’re moving in somewhere that already has furniture and/or appliances like a washing machine, you may need to pay a one-time fee for these, called the Ablöse, which is not a deposit — it means that you then own the furniture.

READ ALSO: How to find out if you are paying too much rent in Vienna

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For members

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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