So you have found your dream apartment and are just about to sign the contract? Make sure you know and understand the details before you sign your name.
A standard rental contract is signed for a period of three years. Once you have your apartment, you are legally well protected and your landlord will not be able to easily kick you out. You would not believe it, but if you do not have a rental contract, the situation is even better for you. Therefore, landlords carefully select potential candidates, and you better try to appear as a trustworthy person with sufficient financial power to pay your rent on time.
When you get accepted and have the rental contract on hand – how can you make sure everything is OK? Get it checked by an Austrian friend who knows about the issues, or contact the appropriate institution called Mietervereinigung at http://www.mietervereinigung.at
For a small annual fee you get full support and consultation in all legal aspects concerning your rental contract.
A Deposit in the range of one to three monthly rents is standard in Austria.
For getting large, mainly older apartments, landlords sometimes will ask you to pay an Abfindung – this is a one-time payment and it is generally not legal! One-time compensations can only be claimed for respective value added to the apartment, e.g. when new furniture has been added. If you pay such a fee, make sure that your payment is well documented. In case you find out that it was not appropriate, you may be able to claim it back. However, especially in Vienna, people sometimes prefer to pay the Abfindung in order to get a large apartment for a small monthly rent.
When you move into your new room or apartment, we recommend you take photos to document the state of the property. This may help you get back your deposit afterwards, if the landlord claims money for renovation or repairs.