Neßler criticizes Mattle: Tyrol's housing crisis remains unsolved!

Neßler criticizes Mattle: Tyrol's housing crisis remains unsolved!

Barbara Neßler, Green National Councilor from Tyrol, today sharply criticized State Governor Anton Mattle (ÖVP) for his inaction regarding high housing costs. According to ots.at, Mattle understands the financial challenges that Austria is facing, but does not recognize the causes. Neßler points out that he criticized the financial market authority's (FMA) credit requirements, while high real estate prices and low wages represent the basic problem.

The criticism is also directed at the lack of use of new legal options to combat speculative vacancies in Tyrol. Neßler criticizes the fact that municipalities are no longer obliged to levy a vacancy fee, which does not improve the already tense situation. In your opinion, the ÖVP favors a financially strong clientele and refrains from using reserved areas for subsidized housing.

Living in the inflation crisis

The problems on the housing market are further exacerbated by rising average prices and persistent inflation. The Momentum Institute points out that the creation of affordable housing must start with property prices. The share of private real estate companies in take-up of space in Vienna is growing, while non-profit and public property developers are increasingly being forced out of the market. Their decline poses the risk that rental prices in the social sector will rise.

Rising land prices, high construction costs and interest rate increases by the European Central Bank are complicating the situation on the market for non-profit housing. However, a significant proportion of non-profit housing has a dampening effect on rents in the private sector. In addition, the need to make speculation in land more difficult is becoming increasingly urgent. The rental market is currently showing worrying trends, with people in the lower half of income particularly affected.

Action and Reactions

Neßler also calls for measures such as a mandatory shift of traffic to rail and a significant increase in tolls. Traffic numbers in Tyrol are at an all-time high, with the shift to rail declining, which has a negative impact on the environment. An important point in your criticism is the diesel privilege, which is responsible for a large part of transit traffic. However, Mattle does not comment on the effects of tax-privileged diesel on transit traffic, which Neßler sees as inaction.

The general housing crisis is also resulting in significant social and economic upheavals in Europe. According to awblog.at, younger tenants and those at risk of poverty are being hit particularly hard. Rising housing costs in the EU and Austria are outpacing the general inflation rate. Acute aid in the current inflation crisis has so far been provided primarily through one-off payments. In order to reduce housing costs, measures such as a rent cap, which has already been successfully implemented in other European countries, could represent a solution.

In summary, the challenges facing the housing market in Austria require urgent attention. It is necessary to change the legal framework and strengthen non-profit housing construction in order to prevent an impending housing shortage.