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VIENNA

What you need to do when you first move to Vienna

Moving somewhere new can be challenging, and as a new resident in Vienna, there are certain things you need to do to settle in. Here we take you through them.

Published: 5 March 2024 17:05 CET
What you need to do when you first move to Vienna
Photo by Dan V on Unsplash

Vienna has been awarded the title of the most liveable European city for many years and is home to Austrians and people worldwide. If you are considering moving to the Austrian capital, there are certain things you need to do before and upon arrival.

Obtain a permit if you are a non-EU/EEA citizen

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you will need a permit to live and work in Austria. There are different types of permits available depending on your purpose of relocation. If you plan to study in Austria, you can apply for a student visa, and if you are seeking employment, you will need to find a job with an Austrian employer for a position that cannot be filled by an EU/EEA citizen.

Other permit options include the family reunification visa, which is applicable if you have family members living in Austria. Alternatively, you may qualify for the so-called specialist visa if you possess certain specific skills or expertise needed in the Austrian labour market.

READ ALSO: When do Austrians think an immigrant is successfully integrated?

Find accommodation

Finding a place to stay before arriving in Vienna is a good idea. It might be challenging to secure long-term accommodation remotely, but you can also find short-term rentals in Vienna while you continue your search.

For short- and long-term options, you can explore rental listings on websites such as Willhaben, Immobilienscout24, or WG-Gesucht, join Facebook groups, or contact real estate agents. Additionally, you can consider temporary housing options such as Airbnb while you search for something more permanent.

After living in Austria for a while, you can apply for social housing (Gemeindebau) if you meet specific criteria, such as earning below a certain income threshold. Social housing offers flats with lower rents subsidised by the state. Furthermore, you can also join a waiting list for a “Genossenschaftwohnung,” a form of cooperative housing where you share space and maintenance costs with others and where the state also subsidises the flats.

READ ALSO: How can I move into affordable cooperative housing in Vienna?

Find a job

Another good idea is to find a job as quickly as possible, as this is the most effective way to integrate and ensure economic stability.

Once you are eligible to work in the country, update your CV according to Austrian standards, and if you know German, translate it. You can find job openings through various platforms and social forums such as LinkedIn, StepStone, karriere.at, and Indeed Austria.

Another helpful step is registering as an unemployed job seeker with the Public Employment Service, AMS. This is not mandatory but might be beneficial since AMS can provide you with professional counselling from a personal advisor.

You may also receive recommendations for courses and job openings that match your profile.

Register your residence

If you move to Austria from another country or relocate to a new residence within Austria, you must register (anmelden) at your new address within three days of moving in. You can do this at any Residence Registration Service Centre (Meldeservicestelle) in Vienna; there is usually one in each district.

It is a good idea to book the registration appointment online. At the time of your appointment, documents such as your passport and the residence registration form (Meldezettel) need to be presented.

The registration form must be signed by you and the person who owns or rents the place you live in. Address registration is free of charge.

READ ALSO: How can foreign nationals bring their family members to Austria?

Open a bank account

First of all, you have to choose which bank you would like to open an account with. Austria’s most common and popular banks are Erste Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and Bank Austria.

To open an account, you must present certain documents, including the address registration form (Meldezettel), passport, and sometimes an employment or residence permit for non-EU citizens. Usually, the account is opened by scheduling an appointment at the bank. Alternatively, some banks offer online opening options.

You will be informed about different account types and services at the opening appointment. After choosing what suits you the best, your bank usually usually orders to your address, and the bank’s application services are installed on your phone.

READ ALSO: Do I need to open a local bank account when moving to Austria?

Get health insurance

If you are employed in Austria, you will be insured by the insurance fund that your employer uses. The most typical is the public health insurance fund Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) or Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS) if you are self-employed. If you are working for a company, your employer is responsible for registering you with the appropriate health insurance fund based on your type of employment. 

Contributions to public health insurance are deducted monthly from your salary, and coverage is provided through the Austrian social security system. Once enrolled in the system, you will receive a health insurance card (E-Card) by post, which you can use to access medical services.

As a student, you usually have to pay for your public health insurance yourself but to a subsidised amount of €69.13 (2024).

If you are considering private insurance, you can look at the healthcare packages from private funds.

READ ALSO: First steps: What to do when searching for a new job in Austria

Set up utilities

When setting up utilities such as electricity, gas, water, heating, and internet providers, doing some research is a good idea.

Prices and services can vary, so you need to find what suits you best. It can be beneficial to contact the utility providers to ask about available service plans and pricing while considering factors such as your household size, energy consumption habits, and budget.

The most common electricity and gas providers in Vienna are Wien Energie and EVN AG.

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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.

Published: 30 April 2024 11:29 CEST
'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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