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VIENNA

Where in Austria do all the British residents live?

Latest official figures from Statistik Austria show that 11,529 British people live in Austria. But where are they based?

Published: 8 July 2021 16:26 CEST
Updated: 11 July 2021 10:32 CEST
Where in Austria do all the British residents live?
Where do the Brits live in Austria? Photo: Damien MEYER / AFP

Despite Brexit becoming a reality at the start of this year, there is still a strong community of British people living in Europe – including Austria.

So, what draws people to live in this small alpine country in Central Europe? And which part of Austria have they chosen to make home?

The capital takes the top spot

According to figures from Statistik Austria, Vienna is the most popular location with 4,447 British people living in the city.

As the capital of Austria with a multicultural population and a growing English-speaking community, it’s no surprise that so many British people live there.

READ MORE: How do foreigners feel about living in Austria?

Simon Kelly, a corporate English trainer from London, has been living in Vienna for 24 years after moving to the city for love and to experience living in another European city.

He said: “There are many utilitarian ‘best things’ about Vienna, like the subsidised housing, the public transport, the health and education system, the relative safety compared to other major cities in Europe and the fact that everything seems to work.”

In comparison to his UK life, Simon also said that Vienna is a more affordable place to live – something that has earned Vienna the title of best place to live for many years.

He said: “Vienna has always seemed more affordable than say London, in every respect, and accessing a doctor or dentist here is still easy. 

“One good example might be from a friend who visited last year and observed that nobody really looks poor. 

“It’s a massive generalisation of course but perhaps that best sums it up – nothing really looks that shabby.”

Where else do British people live?

After Vienna, Tyrol is the second most popular location for British people in Austria with 1,682 British residents, many of whom are drawn to the mountains and the outdoor lifestyle.

Salzburgerland is another popular province (1,172 British people) for similar reasons, and is the new home of British freelance writer and English teacher Mairi Bunce.

Mairi relocated with her family from Vienna to Bad Ischgl in the Salzkammergut earlier this year where she is enjoying the fresh air, having more space and living in a similar landscape to her native Scotland.

She said: “My favourite thing is watching the weather change on the mountains. 

“I’m not built to cope with the weeks of 35-degree weather and cloudless skies of summer in Vienna. 

A man with Union Jack shoes sits in Vienna. Photo: ALEXANDER KLEIN / AFP

“I love waking up in a cloud and watching the sky lift as the morning goes on. It’s much more like Scotland and it makes me feel completely at home.”

Elsewhere in Austria, Lower Austria has 1,295 British residents, Styria has 977 and Upper Austria has 827.

The provinces least populated by Brits are Carinthia with 642 British residents, Vorarlberg with 342 and Burgenland with just 145.

Why do British people live in Austria?

Austria might be a land-locked country but it has modern cities, a rich history and easy access to nature – something that many people from the UK are drawn to. 

Mairi, from Scotland, said: “Most of the Brits I know in Austria came here for love or moved for a short time for work and then never got around to leaving – I’m one of the latter. 

“I think people come here for lots of different reasons – it’s a small country, so there’s usually an interesting story about what drew someone to the place. 

“But most people seem to stay for the lifestyle, benefits, and the way it’s so easy to move between the beautiful scenery and the very liveable cities.”

FOR MEMBERS: Nine mistakes everyone makes when they first move to Austria

Mairi said the affordable cost of living is another reason why she has made Austria her home.

She said: “I couldn’t afford the lifestyle I have here in the UK, largely because the cost of childcare and transport here is so affordable.  

“I live in a big Altbau apartment with wooden floors, a balcony and chandeliers. It’s incredible, and I love that I don’t have the pressure to ‘get on the housing ladder’ like I would in the UK because renting in Austria is so secure.”

For Simon in Vienna, Austria represents a safe and stable place with a distinct European flair.

He said: “It may not have the intensity and passion of some other European countries but it somehow manages to combine the best elements of a more Mediterranean mindset with the efficiency and functionality of some of our more northern European neighbours.”

How does Austria compare to other countries in Europe?

According to data from the United Nations, there are 1.3 million British people living in the European Union.

Spain is the most popular country with 302,000 people, followed by Ireland at 293,000 and France at 177,000.

In Germany, there are 99,000 British people that call Deutschland home, and in Italy there are 66,000 Brits.

IN NUMBERS: How many people become Austrian each year – and where do they come from?

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For members

RENTING

What tenants in Austria need to know about getting their rent reduced

From construction noise to broken utilities, various issues can allow tenants in Austria to request a rent reduction. Learn the steps to follow and when legal action might be necessary.

Published: 19 September 2024 15:02 CEST
What tenants in Austria need to know about getting their rent reduced

In Austria, tenants can legally request rent reductions if their rental property’s usability is significantly impaired. 

According to MieterHilfe, the association that helps renters in Vienna, Section 1096 of the Austrian Civil Code (ABGB) regulates this. The ABGB covers rental agreements for all properties. 

The law offers protection when tenants experience issues like heavy construction noise or utility outages (such as gas, electricity, or water). However, knowing when and how to apply for a rent reduction and understanding the process can be tricky. Disputes often end up in court and are decided on a case-by-case basis.

READ ALSO: Can my landlord in Austria increase the rent whenever they want?

When you can ask for a rent reduction

If your rental property’s usability is restricted, you can apply for a rent reduction. Common examples of restricted usability often include disruptions in gas, electricity, or water supplies, major construction noise from remodelling, damage to property that prevents proper use, such as a broken heating system, and more. 

Importantly, tenants can claim a rent reduction even if the landlord is not directly responsible for the impairment. However, the extent of the usability issue must be clear, and the tenant must notify the landlord to allow them to fix the problem. Additionally, if a tenant repairs the issue, the rent reduction period ends as soon as the repair is made.

Not all impairments qualify for a rent reduction, though. For example, minor inconveniences or defects, issues that the tenant was aware of when signing the lease, impairments caused by the tenant’s actions and situations where the tenant has already waived the right to a reduction do not count.

An attic room can get extremely hot without air conditioning (Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash)

If there is a dispute, the court will decide the extent of the rent reduction, considering objective and subjective factors. For example, households with small children or pregnant women might receive higher reductions.

READ ALSO: Tenant or landlord: Who pays which costs in Austria?

MieterHilfe has a table with many recent cases that can give you an idea of the causes of rent reduction and the amount tenants received. For example, in one case in Vienna, the flat had significant mould infestation, and the tenants received a 75 percent rental reduction. In another case, rent was reduced by 30 percent because of “unhealthy odours” from the rubbish room that affected half of the flat.

In one case, dangerous electrical cables were accessible inside the flat, and the tenant did not have to pay any rent until the issue was fixed.

Things get more complicated when it comes to noise. In one case in 2005, the tenant got a 15 percent rent reduction due to the consequences (noise and smell nuisance) of a garage construction in the neighbouring property, but not a reduction when the next-door property was doing “normal construction work.”

Another common complaint tenants have is regarding heat, especially in Dachgeschoss apartments (attic apartments), which can get extremely hot due to the lack of ventilation and their location in buildings. In one case, the air conditioning system was positioned so unfavourably that the rooms were not cooled —the tenant got a 6 percent reduction in rent.

In another, though, the complaint regarding excessive heating was dismissed, and the tenant received no reduction because they had rented the room without any reservation or questioning, even though the place had no sun protection or air conditioning.

READ ALSO: What happens when my rental contract expires in Austria?

Legal action and rent payment strategies

Tenants must be cautious when pursuing rent reductions, the renter’s association say. Two approaches are commonly used.

You can continue paying the total rent while negotiating. The tenant informs the landlord about the issue and continues paying the total rent but reserves the right to claim a reduction later. This can be useful in avoiding eviction risks.

Or, they can reduce rent directly. This means the tenant pays a reduced amount but informs the landlord in writing. If the landlord disagrees, they may take legal action, and the court will decide the appropriate – if any – reduction.

In both cases, it is essential to notify the landlord in a verifiable form, such as a registered letter, to ensure the process is documented.

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