Inheritance dispute escalates: Simone Lugner is fighting for her home in Döbling!

Inheritance dispute escalates: Simone Lugner is fighting for her home in Döbling!

Simone Lugner, the widow of the well-known building contractor Richard “Mörtel” Lugner, is currently in a heated dispute over the shared villa in Vienna-Döbling, which is owned by the Lugner Private Foundation. According to a report by fnp.de, she has now taken legal action to remove the foundation's board. This measure is a response to the foundation's request to vacate the villa by the end of June 2025, otherwise there is a risk of eviction proceedings. Simone feels let down and accuses the foundation board of failing to comply with key obligations and ignoring her rights as a beneficiary.

But what is really behind this bitter conflict? Simone relies on agreements with her late husband that guarantee her the right to live in the villa for life. This type of asset transfer, in which the right of residence is secured until the end of life, is not uncommon. According to oesterreich.gv.at, such regulations can often help to avoid inheritance disputes and keep assets in the family. She could bet that she is legally protected, despite the foundation's current demands.

Current standard of living and professional situation

The situation represents an immense burden for Simone. She is currently dependent on unemployment benefits and is actively looking for a new job. She sporadically earns her living with odd jobs at the station Austria Power Radio. However, her professional status could take a turn for the worse should she actually have to leave the villa. In this context, the threat of losing their employment in the “Lugner City” is also worrying.

Simone has already filed a lawsuit to have the foundation board removed by the commercial register court. T-online.de reports that these legal steps are also in the public interest, especially since they concern the threatened termination of their residence and employment. Richard Lugner died on August 12, 2024, just a few weeks after his wedding to Simone on June 1, 2024. These tragic circumstances only seem to make the situation more complicated.

Legal framework and possible outcomes

At the heart of this inheritance dispute are legal structures that are up for debate due to the death of Richard Lugner. The Lugner Private Foundation sees itself in the position of having to manage the house, which it justifies by claiming that Simone no longer has a valid right of residence. According to oesterreich.gv.at, this could mean that you have to take a close look at contractual provisions and any financial obligations associated with the transfer of property. The foundation can certainly try to act as the legal owner, while Simone insists on her contractual basis.

The legal struggle over the villa is therefore not just a private conflict, but also raises many questions about legal rights, inheritance and asset protection in Austria. The outcome of this dispute could have a lasting impact on Simone Lugner's personal circumstances and could also serve as an example to other citizens for similar situations.

Simone remains hopeful that the legal steps she has taken will lead to the desired result and that she will not have to give up the villa that meant so much to her and her late husband.