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FPÖ calls for a radical change in social housing – SPÖ under pressure!
Michael Oberlechner from the FPÖ criticizes the SPÖ because of its housing policy in Vienna. Calls for reforms and more oversight.
FPÖ calls for a radical change in social housing – SPÖ under pressure!
FPÖ building spokesman Michael Oberlechner sharply criticized the SPÖ federal manager Seltenheim. Oberlechner accuses Seltenheim of ambiguity, especially with regard to the “Neue Eisenstädter”. The political dispute comes at a time when the renovation backlog at Wiener Wohnen has grown to an impressive ten billion euros. Oberlechner argues that the SPÖ is undermining credibility through its own measures.
A central theme in Oberlechner's criticism is the increase in the housing subsidy, as he is convinced that the additional funds will not be used for affordable housing. He also counters Seltenheim's accusation that the FPÖ does not read laws by referring to his party's program. The FPÖ is calling for municipal building rents to be reduced to the level of cooperatives in order to reduce housing costs for citizens.
Criticism of housing policy
Another focus is on the practice of investors purchasing cooperative apartments at social prices and then renting them out. Oberlechner describes this approach as anti-social housing policy and an expression of neoliberalism. In order to counteract this situation, he is calling for more supervision and clear sanctions in non-profit housing.
Oberlechner also points out that the current presumption of innocence still exists for all those mentioned. These legal principles are essential to guaranteeing everyone the right to fair treatment.
Social housing in Vienna
In the context of this discussion, it is relevant to look at the situation in social housing in Vienna. Municipal and non-profit housing construction ensures that subsidized apartments remain permanently socially connected. The proportion of social housing in the city has increased from around 210,000 apartments in 1970 to around 400,000 today. This shows the steady growth of this important segment of the housing market, which is not dependent on investors' return expectations.
A key aspect of this development are investors who forego returns, such as municipal or non-profit property developers. These help ensure that the legally capped net rent of currently €4.97/m² enables a rental yield of around 2.75%. In comparison, a return of 5% for for-profit developers would increase the net rent to €9.00/m².
Vienna's housing subsidies take the form of long-term, low-interest loans that are provided to guarantee an affordable rental structure. Around 80% of all Viennese households have access to this segment, which promotes social mixing. In order to meet increasing requirements, 50% of new apartments have to be built as SMART apartments since 2019, with a monthly rent of €7.5/m².
Finally, social housing in Vienna is viewed not just as a form of housing, but as part of public services that are intended to create stable and predictable housing conditions for the population. The challenge surrounding the procurement practice in social housing, which is controversial and repeatedly comes under criticism, also reflects the complexity and challenges that the city is faced with.