Like many other things, rental prices also vary greatly from province to province. The most expensive provinces are Voralberg and Tyrol. Of course, the prices also depend on whether you want to live in a city or a village, and on the infrastructure and public transport available in the town, as well as how far the nearest large city is.
IMPORTANT! If you are looking for an apartment, start looking months before the move date because the supply in Austria is not very large. In the big cities (Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck…) it is even more difficult to find a place if you target these cities; it’s not too much to say that you should start looking six months before the move!
Initial costs
- 3 month deposit +
- First month's rent +
- Through a real estate agent (very common) the real estate agent commission (Provision) is approximately one month's rent
The initial costs for the smallest property (30-35m2) in a cheaper area, probably not in the city center, are at least 2000 euros, but that’s the MINIMUM; a larger (80m2) apartment in a more frequented area can cost up to 5000-6000 euros.
- In addition to the above costs, you can expect to find a furnished or partially furnished rental (including kitchen furniture), which will likely significantly add to your budget even after you move in.
What can you expect and what should you pay attention to?
- The main tenant can ask you for a 6-month rent receipt (Lohnzettel) as proof that you can pay the rent.
- You should document the rental agreement in writing to avoid any future disputes.
- The rental fee is best paid by bank transfer, so it is easiest to prove that you paid it on time every month.
- The contract is for a longer term, usually 3 years, or for an indefinite period. In case of earlier termination, you have several options: you can look for a new tenant (Nachmieter) to take your place, or you can declare the termination at least 3 months before moving out after the 1st year has passed…etc. In this case, you will not incur any financial loss from early termination if you return the apartment in its original condition and receive the deposit back in the same way.
- It is advisable to take photos of the apartment’s original condition, the existing defects at the time, the condition of the furniture inside, and the handover of the keys. If you return the apartment in its original condition, the deposit will be refunded; you do not have to collect it again for your next apartment.
- The rental fee may include the total cost (Gesamtmiete) (garbage fee, water, gas, electricity), but these are usually charged separately; be careful before signing the contract!
- The gas, electricity… etc. must be billed under your own names, and you must register with the local service provider.
- In Austria there is the so-called „TV tax“, whose TV, radio and home internet are all required to be provided by this company. OBS You have to register with the municipality and pay a registration fee. The fee may also vary from province to province, approximately 25 euros per month. When you move into your new apartment, of course, the With a reportYou also need to submit a -t (address registration) form. The GIS sees these new registrations, so in the near future you can expect one of our employees to come over and check what devices you are using. They will take your data and then send the check to you.
- The rental contracts are governed by the so-called. Mietrechtsgesetz (MRG – Law on the establishment of rental relationships) regulates, in the event of any questions or problems, these regulations shall prevail.
- If you are not sure about the correctness of the rental agreement, you can use the Wohnservice Tenant assistance their service.
I would like to draw your attention to the following rental search sites: