August Wöginger and Sigrid Maurer, the club leaders of the ÖVP and the Greens respectively, appeared before the press after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday and defended the upcoming decision on the rent ceiling and the planned extension of the electricity price ceiling.
The emphasis is on relief and inflation dampening measures, Wögingner emphasized. He cannot understand why the opposition does not go along with the rental measures.
The National Council resolution scheduled for Friday will limit rent increases for legally regulated rental contracts to a maximum of five percent within two years in 2024 and 2025. This applies to category, guideline and municipal apartment rents. Free rental contracts are not included.
According to Maurer, 2.5 million people will be relieved
Maurer emphasized that the measure would ease the burden of 2.5 million people in 1.25 million apartments. A family in a communal apartment of 92 square meters would save 1,215 euros, and a single person in 50 square meters would save 575 euros, she cited as examples.
From 2027, there will also be a new valorization system based on the average of the previous three years. Increases above five percent will then only be passed on for half.
Rem electricity price extended by six months
Wöginger also recalled the extension of the electricity price ceiling by six months until the end of 2024, which was announced by the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor on Tuesday. However, the details of this are still to be negotiated. Maurer explained that the aid would amount to approximately 750 million euros.
Criticism from the opposition and tenants’ association
The draft rent ceiling met with sharp criticism from the opposition parties SPÖ and FPÖ and from the tenants’ association. Criticism is expressed, among other things, that the amendment contains hardly any improvements.
Source: Krone
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