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Rent comparison: Why Munich should learn from Vienna!
Vienna offers rents of €10/m² and exemplary subsidized housing. A comparison with Munich highlights the differences.
Rent comparison: Why Munich should learn from Vienna!
Rent prices in Vienna have always been a hot topic. Rents here are currently around 10 euros per square meter, which makes the city an attractive place for those looking for accommodation. This is in stark contrast to Munich, where according to the rent index, rental prices start at 15.38 euros per square meter - and that without the additional costs for electricity and heating. Newly built apartments there can even cost up to 30 euros per square meter, according to the evening newspaper Munich reported.
Elke Hanel-Torsch, a member of the SPÖ, emphasizes that Vienna is pursuing a comprehensive strategy for creating living space that not only stabilizes rental prices, but also ensures social mix. The City of Vienna owns over 220,000 apartments, which accounts for one in four apartments. Unlike in Munich, where 14,000 social housing units have been built since 2010, but these have not led to an increase in stock due to the loss of ties, subsidized apartments in Vienna are generally not withdrawn unless the residents buy them themselves.
Subsidized housing in Vienna
In Vienna, great value is placed on quality, ecology and social sustainability when it comes to subsidized housing. The housing subsidy model creates environmentally friendly living space at affordable rents and ensures that almost half of the subsidized apartments are built as particularly affordable SMART apartments. The selection process for these apartments is strict and is based on economic and ecological aspects as well as architecture. In the federal capital, a third of the new buildings are also allocated through the Vienna Housing Advisory Service in order to ensure a social mix, like the Vienna Housing Advisory Service explained.
When concluding a contract for subsidized housing, you must raise your own funds. This also applies to subsidized condominiums, where part of the purchase price has to be paid immediately, while the rest can be paid off over the long term. This system promotes the renovation and modernization of apartments in Vienna, which at the same time increases the quality of life in the districts.
Income limits for subsidized housing
Another advantage of the Vienna model is the broader income limits for access to subsidized housing. The income limit for individuals is around 61,280 euros net annually. In Munich, however, this is over 100,000 euros gross, which makes the hurdles for low-income earners significantly higher. Here is an overview of the income limits for subsidized rental apartments in Vienna:
| persons | Income limit (year) | Income limit (month) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | €61,280 | €4,377.14 |
| 2 people | €91,320 | €6,522.86 |
| 3 people | €103,330 | €7,380.71 |
| 4 people | €115,360 | €8,240.00 |
| every additional person | +€6,730 | +€480.71 |
In summary, it can be said that Vienna, with its well-thought-out social housing concept, not only ensures cheaper rents, but can also be a role model for other cities. In Munich, the SPD is planning to take new paths to promote social housing companies. This paves the way for a real improvement in the living situation in cities.