Criticism of municipal housing: FPÖ calls for comprehensive housing reform in Vienna!

Criticism of municipal housing: FPÖ calls for comprehensive housing reform in Vienna!

On April 16, 2025, Dominik Nepp, non-executive city councilor and state party chairman of the FPÖ, was critical of the situation on the Vienna housing market and municipal housing at a press conference. He cited a survey of tenants in municipal buildings and a report from the Federal Audit Office, which described the conditions as “disastrous”. Around three quarters of the 220,000 municipal apartments are in significant need of renovation, which is causing a major backlog of necessary renovations.

Nepp referred to drifting problems such as water ingress, structural defects and mold growth, which affect numerous apartments. While the city is building new residential buildings for those entitled to asylum, existing tenants feel “abandoned”. Nepp suspects an “unfair system” for which Vienna Mayor Michael Ludwig is responsible. Before the elections at the end of April, he expressed the desire for a “reminder” for the city government and called for a reduction in rents after renovation measures were completed. This could mean up to 40 percent relief for residents.

Package of measures for affordable housing

In order to counteract the tense situation, Nepp announced a package of measures that not only includes funds for renovations, but also for reducing housing costs. A central point is the stronger link between housing allocation and housing assistance and citizenship. Tougher access rules are planned, which will allocate municipal housing and subsidized housing exclusively to Austrian citizens or well-integrated people who have paid into the social system. Nepp described this approach as a “question of fairness” towards the Austrian population.

In the context of these challenges, the City of Vienna is already taking comprehensive measures. Wiener Wohnen is investing over 1 billion euros in renovations and new buildings. A total of over 11,000 apartments are to be renovated or newly built. Currently, more than 60% of Vienna's population lives in subsidized or municipal housing, which makes Vienna's social housing model internationally known. Vice Mayor Kathrin Gaál emphasizes the importance of this social housing policy.

Renovation projects and future visions

The renovation cycle for municipal housing will be gradually reduced to 40 years, with the aim of achieving this by 2030. The current focus is on the renovation of over 9,100 apartments, which will be equipped with an investment volume of 591 million euros and 1,950 new apartments with 614 million euros. Measures such as thermal renovations, which reduce heating requirements by 70-80%, help save energy and costs.

The comprehensive renovation projects, such as the Salvador-Allende-Hof in Simmering, are already showing initial positive results. Security and fire protection measures as well as the creation of attic apartments are further steps to improve the quality of life in municipal buildings. The renovation process is based on the condition of the property and the decarbonization goals in order to ensure a sustainable and fair living situation for all Viennese tenants.

A look at the reporting clearly shows the different perspectives on the situation in Vienna. While the FPÖ is making serious criticism, the city is investing in improving living space and trying to counteract the housing shortage through large projects. The coming elections will show how the Viennese population reacts to these developments.

For more information see the city's press release here visible. Interested parties can also find details on the investment volume Viennese living experienced and additional insights into the situation ORF receive.