Accomodation

Looking for accomodation can be exhausting and exciting at the same time. Here we have the most important links in order to facilitate preliminary orientation for you.

• General information on accomodation
• Glossary on finding accomodation
• Finding accomodation
• Finding accomodation for students

General information on accomodation

Here are the most important links to useful information on accomodation:

Arbeiterkammer (AK) Wien
The Workers’ Chamber offers hints and tricks on accomodation under the heading Wohnen

Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS)
The employment agency has published a brochure on living and working in Austria. There is a chapter on accomodation offering a good first idea; trilingual website 

help.gv.at
The Austrian authorities guide has set up a domain on building & accomodation, you will find links on moving and accomodation: information on owning and renting accomodation, funding possibilities, benefits.
» start-up cost for rented accomodation (one-off payments, fees, deposit,...)
» ongoing cost (overheads, administration,...)

Mietervereinigung
The tenants’ association offers counselling (partly free) and information on all questions of renting.

Verein für Konsumentenschutz (VKI)
The consumers’ association VKI has published a guidebook on tenancy law in Austria online. Last edition May 2007

wien.at
The web service of the City of Vienna has set up a domain on accomodation, which offers information from finding accomodation to related benefits in Vienna.

Wiener Wohnberatung
The Vienna Accomodation Couselling Service is a non-profit organisation brokering between offers and seekers.

Glossary on finding accomodation

One-off payment (Ablöse)
a one-off payment which you as a tentant pay when signing the lease for investments to the tenant moving out or to the landlord.

Overheads (Betriebskosten)
running cost for water, chimneysweep, garbage collection,... are called Betriebskosten (BK). They are calculated with the monthly rent. Usually, rents are published without overheads, so better ask about them.

Deposit (Kaution)
The deposit (Kaution) is payable to the landlord when signing the lease. You will get it back when you leave the property in the condition previously agreed.

Rent (Miete)
The rent is the amount paid to the landlord in order to be allowed to live in the property. In Austria, rent is usually paid monthly.

Finding accomodation

Immobazar
In the Immobazar accomodation across Austria can be posted or searched. 

Immodirekt
Here you will find offers and requests, hints and tricks on property in Austria.

Immobilien.net
This is a platform for finding houses and apartments across Austria, and in addition offers information on property in Austria..

Privatimmobilien.at
This site offers property from private individuals to private individuals. You will save agent’s fees, but there is a fee to be paid in order to see prices and contact information..

Wohnnet
is a platform on building and accomodation. Besides searching for property, you can also find hints and tricks on funding, moving, living and interior design...

Many banks also offer property for sale or for rent.

Finding accomodation for students

Basically you can be sure that around the start of the term (winter term: beginning of October, summer term: beginning of March), the situation on the students’ accomodation market is very tight.

If you are looking for a shared flat or a hall of residence, you should get information on whether students with child/ren are eligible.

Online accomodation exchanges for students:

Referat StudentPoint Universität Wien
The Referat StudentPoint of the University of Vienna offers counselling to students on all questions concerning their studies. There is a special site with a collection of hints and links on the subject of accomodation.

Österreichische HochschülerInnenschaft
The ÖH is the Austrian Students’ Representation. There is a special site on the subject of accomodation and studies which offers useful information.
» brochure accomodation and studies of the ÖH

JobWohnen.at
This ÖH platform (Austrian Students’ Representation) offers property for rent or for sale, from rooms in shared flats to apartments to houses, specialised on students.

Home4Students
apartments, shared flats and rooms in halls of residence in Austria.

WG-Gesucht
A German accomodation exchange, which however contains postings of and queries for rooms and shared flats in different European countries.