Accommodation in Austria

Expats moving to Austria will find that although the housing options available are limited in variety, they are plentiful in number. Expats will discover that Austria – as a familistic welfare state – is thick with 'social housing' options: that is, state-owned apartment buildings that are leased at subsidised rates.

Renting Property in Austria

Since Austria has some of the highest property prices anywhere in the EU, most expats will opt to rent property in Austria. In Vienna, the overwhelming majority of rental properties are flats or apartments, which are generally shared by two or more people. Renting property in Vienna is a reasonably straightforward process, as nearly 95 percent of flats are rented through estate agents. Expats should be aware that there are definitely advantageous seasons in which to hunt for accommodation: beware the beginning of the academic year (September), as the influx of students from all over Europe stiffens the competition.
 

Farther from Vienna, more housing options present themselves – such as luxury apartments and small houses. However, unless expats organise themselves a mouth-watering salary package, these will probably prove to be unaffordable.
 

The standard of accommodation in Austria is generally high: indoor heating is a standard feature, and most apartments boast beautiful high ceilings and parquet flooring. Expats are advised that most shared-housing options will be at least partway furnished, while whole flats will be unfurnished. If opting for an unfurnished option, shipping furniture to Austria (especially from within the EU) is a viable option, and there are plenty of very good furniture stores around (such as IKEA), where expats will find everything they need.
 

More adventurous expats will be delighted to hear that there are no designated 'expat areas' in Austria – the accommodation scene is very cosmopolitan, and it's as likely to have Austrian students for neighbours as Japanese hairdressers!
 

Expats should be advised that, under normal circumstances, they will be responsible for all their utility bills; however, it is possible – and probably desirable – for expats to pay a flat monthly fee to their estate agent that covers their rent and all their utility bills (including broadband Internet).
 

Home security will not be a major issue for expats relocating to Austria. Although minor break-ins do occur in some neighbourhoods (especially in the larger cities), these crimes are never violent; and more often than not, simply ensuring that the door is locked is enough of a deterrent. Time and again, expats report that they feel very safe in their homes in Austria.

Buying property in Austria

Expats wishing to buy property in Austria should be warned that house prices are prohibitively expensive – even by EU standards. However, on the bright side, the process of purchasing property in Austria has become easier in recent years, with a general relaxation of laws and regulations regarding property ownership.
 

Nationals of all EU and EEC member states now have the same rights as Austrian nationals when it comes to buying property; and while non-EU nationals must still apply for permission from the local authority office in the area in which they wish to purchase, this process is not difficult, and may be accomplished quickly. Furthermore, even non-EU nationals are now able to obtain loans from Austrian banks, for the express purpose of buying property in Austria.
 

Expats looking to buy property in Austria are strongly advised to hire a (bilingual) real estate lawyer to guide them through the process.

Process of Buying a House in Austria

• First, expats must obtain permission from the local authority office to purchase Austrian property (non-EU nationals only)
• Next, select the desired property and makes an oral offer to the seller.  If this offer is accepted, a purchase agreement is drawn up (with the help of your real estate lawyer)
• Once this agreement has been signed, a deposit of 10 percent of the total purchase price is placed in an escrow, while the seller makes sure that the property conforms to the conditions laid out in the purchase agreement
• The transfer of the property will occur on the completion date stipulated in the purchase agreement. The buyer must pay the balance of the purchase price by this date.
• Once the balance has been paid, the house is legally the buyer's property. However, they will still need to register the property with the Austrian Land Registry (a process that can take up to three or four months).