FPÖ Presents Package for Affordable Housing

The FPÖ has clearly criticized the housing policy of the federal government of ÖVP, SPÖ, and NEOS as well as the red-pink city government in Vienna. At a press conference on Thursday, the Freedom Party also presented their ideas for "affordable housing." Rent increases should largely be capped at two percent, and temporary rental contracts should be prohibited. Municipal and cooperative housing should primarily go to Austrians and EU citizens.

Harsh Criticism of ÖVP: "Patron Saint of Institutional Landlords"

FPÖ leader and club chairman Herbert Kickl primarily targeted SPÖ Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler. He suggested himself as the "patron saint of tenants." The fact that there is even a rent cap is probably due to Babler's participation in the government, Kickl said. However, the planned measures do not go nearly far enough: "This is anything but a breakthrough." He did not expect anything from the ÖVP in this area anyway, "because they are the patron saint of institutional landlords."

Changes in Full Applicability

Small landlords are to be exempt from the Freedom Party's proposal to cap rent increases at two percent and a ban on temporary contracts. These are those who rent out a maximum of five to seven apartments, explained Michael Oberlechner, FPÖ spokesperson for construction and housing.

Another proposal concerns the question of when an apartment falls under the full applicability of the Tenancy Law Act with correspondingly regulated rents. According to the FPÖ's vision, it should no longer be the year of construction that is decisive, but the state of renovation. "If a building is not in good condition, it means poorer quality of life, it means higher energy costs," said Kickl. Accordingly, the energy performance certificate should also be used as a measure. Oberlechner envisions a threshold in the area of energy class C to distinguish renovated from unrenovated apartments. Landlords should then be able to "renovate out" of the regulated area for 30 years through renovation work and accordingly charge higher rents.

Priority for Austrians in Non-Profit Housing

In municipal and cooperative housing, the FPÖ wants to give priority to Austrians and EU citizens. Third-country nationals should only be considered if demand is significantly below supply, and even then, the apartments should only be allocated on a temporary basis.

A separate chapter was dedicated by the two FPÖ politicians to the municipal buildings in Vienna, led by SPÖ and NEOS. The buildings managed by "Wiener Wohnen" are in poor condition. At the same time, rents have been significantly increased in recent years. Kickl is calling for a rent reduction here, which should be "oriented to the level of fully financed non-profit apartments."

SPÖ Refers to Tenancy Law Package

The Social Democrats, who were addressed twice, rejected the FPÖ criticism in a statement. SPÖ housing spokesperson Elke Hanel-Torsch referred to the government's tenancy law package, which is already available and is to be passed in the National Council in December. Hanel-Torsch thus refuted Kickl's claim that there had only been an "announcement" in September and that the "drafting in legal form" was still missing. In fact, according to the parliamentary website, the review has already been completed and the government bill has been available since October 22.

The government's rental package provides for an extension of the rent cap in the regulated sector. For 2026, increases in statutory reference values and category amounts, as well as the so-called "reasonable rents," are capped at one percent, and for 2027 at two percent. If inflation between two years exceeds three percent, the portion exceeding three percent may only be passed on to tenants by half. In addition, the minimum term for all rental contracts concluded or renewed from January 1, 2026, will be increased from three to five years.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.