Vienna in the housing emergency: does the controversial vacancy release come?

Vienna in the housing emergency: does the controversial vacancy release come?

In the run -up to the state elections in Vienna, the introduction of a vacancy tax is the focus of the political discussion. According to Krone it can be seen that despite the tense living space situation in Austria, there are many properties. The situation is alarming, because in Vienna there should be an estimated at least 80,000 vacant apartments, while at the same time the living space remains scarce and expensive.

In April 2024, the National Council passed a constitutional amendment that allows federal states to raise vacancy taxes. This legislation could be crucial to defuse the situation. However, there is currently no mandatory tax in Vienna. A great advantage of this measure would be the motivation for owners to offer their empty real estate again for renting or sale, which could not only alleviate the lack of housing, but would also be generated for the city.

Pro- and Contra arguments

The discussion is controversial. The supporters of the vacancy tax argue that it represents an important measure to combat speculation in strongly demanded metropolitan areas. The hoped -for income could make urgently needed investments in social housing and infrastructure. parlament.gv.at , on the other hand, reports that critics regarding the intervention in the right of ownership. They fear that the definition of "vacancy" could remain unclear and that a high bureaucratic burden arises. In addition, the levy could be avoided.

The amendment to the constitution for levy was decided in the Federal Council, whereby the responsibility for the collection of levies is transferred to the countries to avoid vacancy. This adjustment in the Finance Equalization Act also enables the federal states to collect vacancy taxes, even if the federal government decides. Minister of the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler emphasizes that this gives the countries more freedom of action and should contribute to the revival of the economy.

criticism and transparency in legislation

Despite these positive approaches, there are also critical voices. The frequent changes to the Ministerial Act and the high number of government inbalance since 2020 have been considered problematic by many politicians. In addition, the transparency about the tasks of the State Secretary is strengthened by the amendment of the Federal Ministry Act. Nevertheless, it remains to be seen how the regulations for levy are specifically designed and whether they have the desired effect.

The political debate about the vacancy tax remains exciting. Readers are invited to express their opinions and promote the discussion about it. Further information on the vacancy tax in Austria can also be found on ultimum.at .