Corona exacerbates the social crisis in living. Thousands of community building tenants owed their interest. In the pandemic year of 2020, more than 600 residents were also kicked out, but partly for other reasons. What does that mean for those affected? The city is looking for solutions and is demanding help from the federal government.
First the pure numbers behind which human fate stands: Half a million Viennese live in municipal housing. Their rent arrears increased from 1.9 to almost 2.3 percent in the pandemic year. 621 tenants were evicted. Including 519 because they had not paid at least five months’ rent (from the time before the Corona crisis). But this also includes bequests.
The others were kicked out because they behaved intolerably or because they were “hoarding” the apartment instead of using it (abuse).
There has been a ban on eviction since March 2020. For everyone who has not (or cannot) pay their rent since then. How are you doing next? Have to take them off. Pay everything back? In what period?
“The further course of action is currently being negotiated,” explains a spokesman for Housing Councilor Kathrin Gaál. Meanwhile, Wiener Wohnen is taking the following measures:
+ Social workers try to actively get in touch with anyone who is really financially tight.
+ The troops help to apply for transfer payments at the right place, for example from MA 40 (social affairs) or, in the case of young people, from MA 11.
+ Deferrals and installment payments as a last resort before eviction.
Gaál calls for support from the federal government. He is supposed to compensate landlords when they discharge tenants with pandemic debts. Landlords also have loans. Second, the law should be repaired in old buildings, because it is often used in a mess.