Politics and rental prices: Is the SPÖ in the fast lane?

Politics and rental prices: Is the SPÖ in the fast lane?

In view of the current discussion about rent prices in Vienna, it is time for many of us to pause and question: Am I being too strict with Vienna's politics? Editor Nathanael Peterlini brings this idea to the point in a recent article. For the SPÖ Wieden, a rental price of 3.55 euros per square meter is mentioned for a restaurant. The district manager of the SPÖ explains that this rental agreement and the associated conditions have grown historically and that the construction is of an older date.
MyDistrictreports that the SPÖ is not ashamed of the rent and emphasizes that everything is done legally. Low rent is not a crime in itself, but it could raise questions regarding political institutions.

This topic becomes even more explosive when you look at the background of urban tenancies. A recent investigation shows that the city of Vienna initially had reservations about releasing information about rental relationships between the city and political parties. The Magazineprofiledescribes that a renowned data protection law firm was hired to refuse this information. However, the Vienna Administrative Court reversed this decision and demanded more transparency. In fact, 722 days after the initial request, the city was finally moved to announce rent rates for select properties.

Rental prices and historical conditions

These rental prices can be quite surprising, as they range between 67 cents and 2.81 euros per square meter net. A particularly cheap rental agreement from the SPÖ amounts to just 0.67 euros net per square meter, which is a thorn in the side for other political parties. Another party even requested that the rent be doubled due to the significantly low rents, which are often due to historical conditions.
profileexplains that 247 of 413 tenancies examined by the Vienna City Audit Office are viewed as “showcases” that are rented to municipal buildings. It is striking that there were no regular rent increases for 14 properties, which is met with incomprehension among politicians.

Another aspect that contributes to the discussion is the fact that the SPÖ has sublet many of these properties and thus benefits from these low rental prices. The Independent Party Transparency Senate sees these non-market rents as unauthorized donations. Despite all the allegations, the SPÖ emphasizes that all tenancies were concluded in accordance with the regulations in force at the time.
ORFadds that the City of Vienna emphasizes that it always strives for the greatest possible transparency, but at the same time must also protect the interests of third parties.

What's next?

The current situation raises many questions and shows that the issue of rental prices in Vienna is much more complicated than initially assumed. The discussion about this will continue to be fueled in the coming months by events such as charity cabarets in the Ehrbar Hall or special large-scale projects. In addition, the majority in the district voted for a pedestrian zone in Mühlgasse, which can also be viewed as part of a livable urban development.
The residents of Wieden, as well as the other districts, can be curious to see how rental prices and the political landscape will develop in the future.