Rent, electricity, heating: everything became significantly more expensive last year due to inflation. Now many places are receiving bills for operating costs with additional payments of up to 1,000 euros. Whether this is the right thing to do, how to find your way through the jungle of billing – and what tenants can do about expensive additional requirements: the “Krone” gives tips.
Operating costs are the big unknown in many lease agreements; they often just walk with you. Recently, a survey commissioned by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce found that very few people really know what is included in their business costs – and what is not. But when, as is now the case, expensive additional requirements end up in the mailboxes of tens of thousands of households, payments for water, sewerage, etc. come into the picture.
The Upper Austria Tenants’ Association speaks of a maximum of 1,000 euros per household; on average, costs increase by seven to eight percent. This is due to high inflation – and some black landlords who also pass on other costs to tenants. If you suspect such a trick with your own invoice, you can contact the Chamber of Labor – or follow the answers in the business cost guide “Krone”.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
