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Today in Austria: A round up of the latest news on Monday

Find out what's going on in Austria on Monday with The Local's short roundup of the news.

Published: 3 May 2021 09:14 CEST
Tulips blossom in front of the Karlskirche in Vienna. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)
Tulips blossom in front of the Karlskirche in Vienna. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)

Widespread refusal of AstraZeneca vaccine, according to survey

A new survey by opinion pollster Peter Hajek suggests 73 percent of Austrians would refuse the AstraZeneca vaccine, amid doubts about the vaccine’s safety, the Kurier newspaper reports.

Around 31 percent would also refuse the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for similar reasons.

Around 27 percent consider it unlikely that they would get vaccinated against Covid-19 at all, with the willingness to get vaccinated is rising.

Explained: Can you choose which Covid: 19 vaccine to take in Austria? 

No more testing requirement for vaccinated people 

Vaccinated people will no longer need access tests after Austria opens up on May 19th. Legislation will be passed to this effect by The National Council later today, broadcaster ORF reports.

The broadcaster reports exemption is expected to come three weeks after the first jab.

UPDATED: How to register for the Covid-19 vaccine in your Austrian state

Over 50s can book vaccine appointments in Lower Austria

From today, people aged over 50 can register for a vaccine appointment in Lower Austria, broadcaster ORF reports. On Wednesday it will be the turn of everyone from the age of 40, and on Friday everyone from the age of 30. Next Monday, everyone over the age of 16 will be able to book an appointment.

READ MORE: Lower Austria first state to start vaccinating all members of the public

READ MORE: Covid-19 vaccines in Austria: When will I be able to book my appointment?

Vienna and Lower Austria end hard lockdown 

Vienna and Lower Austria have ended their hard lockdown on Monday, meaning the whole of Austria is under the same restrictions, with the exception of Vorarlberg, which has opened up restaurants and events.

The “hard” lockdown in Vienna and Lower Austria lasted more than a month. Now people in Vienna and Lower Austria can leave their homes without a reason and two households with a maximum of four adults can meet again.

Non-essential retail, hairdressers and other “body-hugging” services are also open again. Museums and zoos have opened up and there will be no outdoor mask requirement, broadcaster ORF reports. 

Company vaccines begin

Around 10,000 companies in Vienna have started vaccinations against the coronavirus today due to a collaboration between the City of Vienna and the Vienna Chamber of Commerce.

The companies involved were able to register here, nominate a vaccination coordinator and assign their employees to five different risk categories.

First are employees at increased risk of infection such as hospital cleaning staff, and people forced to travel for work, then employees with contact with members of the public, such as supermarket staff.

Workers in offices without “structural protection” are next and last are people who are not at risk from their work, broadcaster ORF reports. 

Seven day incidence at 154.5

The seven-day incidence, or the number of new infections with the coronavirus in the past seven days per 100,000 inhabitants, is 154.5 according to the AGES database. The number is still highest in Vorarlberg (235.4) and lowest in Burgenland (98.2).

Ibiza scandal inquiry continues

 The parliamentary inquiry into the 2019 Ibiza scandal is set to continue this week, centering around corruption allegations against former deputy chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache and others, according to the Kronen Zeitung.

Public prosecutors have reportedly not analysed the 19,000 private chats between Strache and members of the FPO due to a lack of resources. The OVP party has criticised the delays in the investigation.

READ MORE: Austrian far-right leader resigns over ‘Ibiza affair’

Slovakia PM to visit Vienna

Slovakia PM Heger is expected to visit Vienna on Tuesday to discuss bilateral relations with Austria as well as Austrian-Czech-Slovak relations, Die Presse reports.

The paper notes the main topic of contention between Heger and Austrian Chancellor Kurz is likely to be Austria’s desire to stop the construction of new nuclear power stations in neighbouring states.

Budget prospects ‘improving’ according to finance minister

Finance Minister Bluemel sees initial improvement in Austria’s state budget prospects, according to the Kronen Zeitung newspaper. Although revenue from tax and other sources is down 17 percent compared to the same time last year and state spending remains high due to COVID-19 aid programmes, Bluemel emphasised that consumption is rising, indicating increased consumer confidence.

ATX stock market  showing upswing

Austrian stock market ATX has been showing steady improvement since November, despite the pandemic’s effects on the general economy Der Standard newspaper reports. The upswing was initially based on the promise of coronavirus vaccines but now increasingly driven by a desire for high-dividend shares in a low-interest market.

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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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