Check Rent Increase: Tenants' Rights in Austria
As a tenant in Austria, it is important to carefully check any notice about a rent increase. Not every increase is automatically allowed: deadlines, formal requirements and substantive rules apply under tenancy law, and landlords must provide clear reasons and calculations. This article explains in plain language the steps tenants can take, which deadlines to watch, how to collect evidence and when to seek legal help from authorities or courts. The aim is to give practical guidance so you can assert your rights effectively and protect yourself against unlawful claims. The guidance is general; in specific disputes we explain when legal advice is advisable.
What does a rent increase mean?
A rent increase is an increase of the contractually agreed rent. In many cases, increases are bound to legal rules, such as the tenancy law (MRG), and to certain formal requirements.[1] First check whether the increase was communicated in writing with reasons and whether the calculations are comprehensible.
How to practically check a rent increase
Proceed systematically: document every letter, check the calculation basis and observe deadlines. The following steps help you to organise the case:
- Check whether the notice was given in the correct written form.
- Verify the numbers: how was the new rent calculated?
- Pay attention to deadlines: respond within the indicated time or within legal time limits.
- Collect evidence: previous payment receipts, photos, correspondence and the tenancy agreement.
- Check whether the increase must be contested in court.
Formal steps and deadlines
If you have doubts about the legality, inform the landlord in writing and request an explanation or withdrawal. Respond within short deadlines; in some cases you lose rights without timely objection. If an amicable solution is not possible, the option remains to have the increase reviewed in court.
When to seek legal help
Seek legal help if the calculation remains unclear, the landlord does not respond, or the claim seems excessive. Many tenant associations offer initial advice; in serious disputes, filing at the district court may be necessary.[2]
FAQ
- Can I object to a rent increase?
- Yes. You can raise objections and have the increase reviewed; often a written objection is a sensible first step.
- Which deadlines must I observe?
- Deadlines can vary; often immediate reactions within a few weeks are required. Check the notice carefully and document the date of receipt.
- Do I have to go to court?
- Not always. Many cases are resolved through correspondence or mediation, but in case of disagreement the district court is competent.
How-To
- Gather all relevant documents: tenancy agreement, payment receipts, landlord's letters.
- Send a formal letter to the landlord asking for clarification of the calculation.
- Observe legal and stated deadlines; record all dates.
- If necessary, obtain legal advice or file a claim with the district court.
