Social Housing in Austria

The social housing sector in Austria responds to publicly defined goals and principles such as economic, ecological and social sustainability. The main provisions are that rents should cover costs, profits are limited and the companies have an obligation to reinvest. The funds for the housing systems are financed by a fixed, earmarked proportion of income tax, as well as corporation tax and 'housing contributions' paid by all employees. Austria has a strong rent regulation. In principle, both social and private rents are regulated and cost-based. The social housing debate in Austria is dominated by the themes of market liberalisation, privatisation of public housing, the retreat of corporatist governance traditions, and immigrant and social exclusion issues, all against the backdrop of an economic crisis that itself has implications for the housing subsidy system.