The Greens reject the rent price law agreed upon by SPÖ, ÖVP, and NEOS as a "sham" at the expense of tenants and presented their own "Five-Point Plan for Affordable Housing" on Tuesday. This includes a specific rent usury law, legally capped rents, a vacancy tax, "climate-fit" buildings, and relief from broker and notary costs.

Criticism from the Greens

Although the rent price law extends the existing rent price brake to other areas, the new cap on rent increases in the free market to three percent hardly takes effect because inflation has only exceeded this value four times in the past 25 years, criticized the Green housing spokesperson Nina Tomaselli at a press conference. The Greens sharply criticize the new regulation of value protection clauses in rental contracts provided in the package. This is a "kowtow to the real estate lobby" and benefits landlords who have been using illegal clauses for years. Claims by consumers would thus be destroyed to the extent of hundreds of millions of euros. Not only the Chamber of Labor, the Association for Consumer Information, the Tenants' Association, and the ÖGB have criticized the draft as unconstitutional or contrary to EU law - the SPÖ-led Ministry of Health and Social Affairs also sees European legal problems.

In addition to federal legislation, the Greens are targeting housing policy in Vienna. The reduction of rent assistance for families with children, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill, as well as the increase in the housing subsidy contribution to 1.5 percent, are described as antisocial. Despite higher contributions, no additional housing is being built, the municipal buildings are in poor condition and yet more expensive than many cooperative apartments, the accusation goes.

"Five-Point Plan for Affordable Housing"

In response, the Greens present a "Five-Point Plan for Affordable Housing." A central element is a specific rent usury law that aims to sanction excessive rents compared to the local level. Those who are significantly above it should pay a penalty in the future - with this, they want to put an end to "rent sharks."

The Greens also propose legally established rent caps. For new apartments, there should continue to be free pricing for up to 25 years after construction, followed by a base rent of around 7 euros per square meter, which can be adjusted up or down by up to 25 percent depending on thermal quality, amenities, and maintenance condition. Annual increases should be limited to 2 percent.

For district heating, landlords should cover fixed costs, with tenants only paying consumption-based shares. The federal states should use their already expanded competencies for vacancy taxes to make speculation with empty apartments unattractive. When acquiring property, the ordering principle should apply, meaning the initial client should bear the broker's commission.

What the SPÖ Says

SPÖ housing spokesperson Elke Hanel-Torsch does not accept the criticism from the Greens: "When the Greens were in government, rents increased by more than 20 percent. Unfortunately, we have to tell the Greens, you were in government for five years and did nothing to address the rising rents," she stated via OTS. Thanks to the government's rent package, a family with a 700-euro rental apartment in an old building saves 264 euros in the first year, 459 euros in the second, and 533 euros in the third, Hanel-Torsch referred to a calculation by the tenants' association.

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(APA/Red)

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