"Better than nothing"
Housing package passed: SPÖ and NEOS dissatisfied
Parts of the housing package announced by the government were passed in the National Council on Wednesday. It is intended to bring relief for housing loans, for example. There was criticism from the opposition, with SPÖ party leader Philip Kucher saying that a real package looks different. Nevertheless, his parliamentary group - as well as that of the FPÖ - supported it. The NEOS voted against the bill. It was stipulated that a solar power system must be installed in subsidized new buildings in future.
The package is intended, for example, to enable the federal states to take out additional loans (e.g. via the Federal Financing Agency) for the purposes of housing subsidies - with a volume of 500 million euros. The effective interest burden on the federal states is to be limited to 1.5 percent per year until 2028 through federal subsidies. These funds are earmarked for housing subsidy loans from the federal states amounting to a maximum of EUR 200,000 (and a subsidy term of at least 25 years) with a maximum interest rate of 1.5 percent.
Loans can also be taken out via a bank
There were last-minute changes to the original plan: According to an amendment, the federal states will not necessarily have to take out the subsidized loans from the Federal Financing Agency as originally planned. It will also be possible to take them out via banks in the federal states. The federal government is to pay the interest difference so that the interest rate is reduced to 1.5 percent.
"Better than nothing at all"
In the debate in the National Council, SPÖ parliamentary group leader Philip Kucher reiterated the criticism already voiced previously. Among other things, the SPÖ is reserved about the four-year time limit on the interest rate cap: "I don't know how many house builders you know who can pay this back in four years," said Kucher in the direction of ÖVP parliamentary group chairman August Wöginger.
Overall, the package does nothing for Austrians affected by housing shortages, he said. Every fourth person in Austria now has to worry about "how they can pay their rent", as this has risen by up to 25 percent in the last two years. Kucher also pointed out that 500,000 households are affected by the exploding bank loans, referring to the high additional charges for housing loans. "This poorly crafted housing package is better than nothing, but a real package definitely looks different." Nevertheless, the SPÖ agreed to this aspect of the overall package in the roll-call vote requested by the coalition.
ÖVP: "Make housing more affordable"
ÖVP party leader Wöginger countered that it was a "strong piece of work" of Kucher to make such statements. It was a two billion euro package "where we are making housing more affordable, creating living space". There was a lot involved and it was a "strong piece of work" for the SPÖ to say that the package was bad. After all, their own social partners had been at the table during the negotiations, said Wöginger.
Like the SPÖ, the FPÖ ultimately gave its approval to the bill, but was annoyed that some points were only fixed at the last minute via an amendment. "These amendments are still not fully developed," said FPÖ MP Hubert Fuchs. These are "chaotic and non-transparent legislative processes without an effective impact assessment and without a review process. That is the working style of this federal government. Whoever produces laws must also know what they cost," he said.
NEOS voted against
The NEOS also voted against the bill. Member of Parliament Gerald Loacker said that the federal states had enough money anyway, as only 37 percent of the taxes deducted from wages and salaries for housing subsidies were actually used for housing. "The federal government could say that the federal states should use the money as intended, but instead they are being given even more money," he said, explaining the pink no to the package.
Finance Minister Magnus Brunner (ÖVP) countered these statements: it was a "very balanced package" and the relief for the population would continue. This package had also been put together because the construction industry had collapsed by almost ten percent in the last quarter of 2023. One aim is therefore also to "support the construction industry" and "secure the income of thousands of families"; around 350,000 jobs will be affected in the construction sector.
Greens insist on environmental aspects
The Green Party leader Sigrid Maurer emphasized the environmental aspects of the package. It was stipulated that a solar power plant must also be installed on all subsidized new buildings. Specifically, the federal states can only award subsidies for new buildings if a photovoltaic system is installed on the roof. According to government information, this includes the 780 million euros distributed by the federal government to the federal provinces to promote non-profit housing construction. Maurer spoke of a "photovoltaic obligation". She also referred to the planned refurbishment, which will bring 5,000 apartments into shape. This would reduce monthly energy costs and protect the climate at the same time.
Furthermore, an amendment to the Income Tax Act will promote ecological new builds and renovations as well as the switch to environmentally friendly heating systems. For example, expenses for thermal-energetic renovations or for replacing boilers are to be tax-privileged for a limited period of two years. This applies, for example, to the insulation of external walls, the replacement of windows, green roofs, the installation of a heat pump or a wood-fired central heating system.
Furthermore, refurbishment measures that are subsidized under the Environmental Subsidies Act will also be eligible for accelerated tax deductions in order to promote ecologically oriented redensification. In addition, new residential buildings that are or were completed between December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2027 and that meet defined ecological standards can be subject to three years of triple depreciation (depreciation for wear and tear).
Meidling barracks to be sold
The Minister of Finance was also authorized to sell the Meidling barracks to the Bundesimmobiliengesellschaft for EUR 47.7 million. It is then to be converted into the "Meidling Security Center".
In a further debate, it was agreed that the land registration fee up to a certain amount and any lien registration fees of the same amount would be temporarily waived. The prerequisite for this is that the newly built or acquired residential property is used by the owner and serves to satisfy an urgent housing need. The fee exemption will only apply to legal transactions concluded after March 31, 2024. In addition, it will only be possible to apply for it between July 2024 and July 2026 - i.e. for a limited period of two years. This does not include inherited or donated properties. Only the SPÖ voted against. They were outraged that the two-million threshold, above which there is no longer an exemption, was set too high and that rich people were also spared the fee. They applied in vain for a reduction to 750,000 euros.
"Housing umbrella" to be continued
It was also decided, this time against the votes of the NEOS, that 60 million euros would be made available for the so-called "housing umbrella" in order to cover "the continuously high need for support as a result of the ongoing wave of inflation". This supports tenants who are at risk of losing their homes and being evicted due to rent debts. Assistance can also be granted in the event of energy cost arrears.
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