There are so many differences between real estate markets around the world, so it takes quite a while to find your way on a foreign website and choose a flat that suits your needs perfectly. To make it a bit easier for you, we have put together some key facts about apartments in Austria.
1. Roses are red, violets are blue, flats are white and empty
In Austria, you will normally rent an unfurnished, painted white flat. There is usually a kitchen and a bathroom, which is not much, but saves you a great sum of money. You have to buy the rest of the furniture yourself, which has both pros and cons. On the one hand, you can organize your whole apartment as you like and change it if you want. There is so much furniture to choose from, whether a minimalistic Scandinavian interior or something more colorful and cozy with vintage details – you are the one who decides. On the other hand, it obviously affects your expenses. You must budget for furniture in addition to the deposit and real estate fees (details below). There are still some furnished flats on the market, but they make up only 5% of all the accommodations and are usually temporary with higher monthly rent.
2. A typical flat
If you go to a typical website showing flats for rent, you will quickly notice that the price range is very broad. A 1-bedroom flat with a kitchen and living room costs around 800 euros. This does not cover electricity or heating, neither is the internet nor TV tax included. Together, it makes up around 900–1,000 euros per month. It is important to mention that the prices for gas heating have increased this year, so choose and compare providers carefully. The most popular ones are “Wien Energie” or “Verbund”. The whole settling-in process is quite time-consuming, so make sure to plan some spare time for all registrations and formalities.
3. Move-in costs
Keep in mind that the first month of rent might well cost four times as much as the following months. In Austria, the majority of flats are rented through a real estate agent and not directly by the owner. This means that you will probably not meet your landlord and will have to pay for the agent’s services. Typically, it is one or two months' rent. Though the market is constantly changing and it is possible that these fees will be reduced or completely abolished, it is not the case yet.
4. Competition: Who is getting the flat
If you choose a flat, it still does not mean that the flat chooses you. The real estate market is competitive, and you are usually not the only one interested in a particular property. Therefore, there is such a thing as a rental offer (German: Mietanbot), which every tenant has to submit. The challenge is that you decide on one particular flat and submit only one offer. If your offer is accepted, you will have no choice but to pay the real estate fee. So, be careful with that and do not submit more than one rental offer at a time.
As soon as you have found your flat and your offer has been accepted, your to-do list goes as follows:
- Pay the fees
- Sign the rental contract
- Get the keys
- Sign an electricity and/or gas contract
- Sign an internet contract
- Buy all the furniture and appliances
Enjoy your new home!
Recom provides you with various accommodation options and supports you at every step. Choose your plan by talking to one of our relocation consultants.
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