Rip-off in Meidling: Tenants pay for rooms without electricity or heating

Rip-off in Meidling: Tenants pay for rooms without electricity or heating

A spectacular case of rental fraud in Vienna Meidling is causing a stir and shining a spotlight on the machinations of dubious real estate landlords. In recent weeks, Tenant Assistance has learned of several affected residents who have signed overpriced rental agreements without access to basic amenities such as electricity and heating.

The landlord Michael S. concluded at least 30 such contracts and collected up to 15,000 euros in cash per month. A striking point in these rental agreements is a clause that deprives the tenant of any rights in the event of a power outage or lack of water. Tenant Hoshyar, for example, paid 500 euros in rent in December even though he lived in an unheated room. “This entitles you to a 100 percent rent reduction,” explains Bartok from Tenant Assistance. Given the exorbitant rental prices, it is surprising that the tenants paid at all.

Who is Christian N.?

At the center of these scandals is Christian N., who posed as a homeowner even though he was not the owner. After a career in the real estate industry, N. got into deep financial difficulties and apparently wanted to make quick money through unfair means. A former business partner calls him a “mastermind” and pointed out that N.’s ideas about how rental agreements are structured are anything but legal. According to N., the concept was supposedly designed by the company owner, with him only acting as a middleman.

The tenants found themselves in a hopeless situation - a circumstance that was exacerbated by poor communication and a lack of information from both the owner and the property management. Numerous emails show that there were attempts to restore power, but it was never activated. An example that highlights the unreliability is a property manager's statement that the lack of power was ultimately due to the homeowner's resistance.

The shadow of illegality

From the information available, it is clear that all of S. and N.'s rental agreements were manipulated. In some contracts, the date and amount of the rental price were subsequently changed manually. Tenants also report that they were pressured to take action against outstanding payments or to terminate their contracts. The whole structure appears to have been aimed at a strategy of getting quick payments through illegal subleases until the legal problems come to light.

The situation is getting worse as the refugee crisis as a result of Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine has increased the need for housing among many of those affected. The attempt to organize help for refugees by renting a run-down hostel also went wrong, which raises further critical questions about the integrity of the actors.

Tenant assistance has now become active to inform tenants about their options. The legal claims could prove significant if the subtenants join together and take legal action. Many of the forged documents increasingly appear to contain forged signatures, which could result in legal consequences for the landlord.

In summary, this case shows how important it is for potential tenants to carefully review their contracts. The risk of encountering fraudulent practices can be minimized through more detailed checks and clear communication between tenants, landlords and authorities. The machinations surrounding these new housing arrangements are not only offensive, they are also a call for vigilance and action at all levels. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on www.moment.at.