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Two injured after Vienna shootings

Police were in a shoot-out with an armed burglar in Floridsdorf on Monday evening after catching him and an accomplice breaking and entering a business in Helene-Richter-Gasse, not far from the border with Lower Austria.

Published: 24 February 2015 07:07 CET

Two injured after Vienna shootings

Police at the scene of the shoot-out in Floridsdorf. Photo: APA

Witnesses reported seeing a massive firefight at around 7.45pm, with at least ten shots fired.

One of the burglars, a 47-year-old Austrian man, was critically injured after being hit twice in the upper body and once in the leg.

It has since emerged that he is a convicted double murderer who was sentenced to life in prison for killing a policeman and a drug dealer in 1989.

He was released in 2009 after a psychologist classified him as harmless.

Police spokesman Paul Eidenberger said that he fired two shots at the police, who then pursued him through a housing estate.

After shooting and injuring him police approached him as he lay on the ground and he threatened to detonate a hand grenade.

However, the officers overpowered him and seized a gun and the grenade. None of the officers involved were injured. The man's 63-year-old accomplice did not resist arrest.

The injured man was taken to Vienna General Hospital and is reported to be in a coma, but doctors said his life is no longer in danger.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a 31-year-old Serbian man is in a critical condition after being shot in front of a Billa supermarket in Liesing on Monday evening at about 6.30pm in Purkytgasse.

A police spokesman said that a fight broke out among two men over a USB stick. One man shot the other at close range with a handgun and then ran off, leaving the seriously injured man lying on the ground.

Police tracked the gunman with helicopters, using thermal imaging. They surrounded a house but the man was able to escape.

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'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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