The words you need to know before renting a flat in Austria
From smaller towns to the Viennese suburbs, renting in Austria ain’t easy. While we can’t find you a flat, we hope to take some of the confusion out of doing so.
Looking to move? Find your next rental apartment here.
Whether you speak German or not, getting your head around the complex words used in renting in Austria.
(Der) Mieter
Meaning tenant or renter, Mieter comes from the German miete which means to rent.
Vermieter means landlord - although the latter is frequently used in super-hip Berlin and Hamburg.
READ MORE: The hidden costs of buying a home in Austria
(Der) Mietvertrag
The German word for lease, Mietvertrag - literally rent contract - is the document between you and your landlord which allows you to live in the flat.
As we discussed in our report on the Anmeldung (address registration) process, you’ll need to show this at the Bürgeramt to receive your Meldebescheinigung (certificate of registered address).
(Der) Altbau and Neubau
When moving into an apartment block, you’ll frequently be told whether your potential flat-to-be is an Altbau (old building) or a Neubau (new building).
This can however be confusing, as the highly sought after Altbau can frequently look much newer and nicer than the Neubau, the latter of which can often be found at the outskirts of larger towns and cities.
Buildings from before the Second World War are known as Altbau, whereas those made afterwards are known as Neubau.
(Die) Kaution
Meaning either bond or deposit, Kaution is the money paid as a security deposit when you move into a flat to provide the landlord with a degree of protection should you fail to pay the rent or if the flat is damaged.
Foreigners are frequently targeted with Kaution scams, so be sure to discuss the nature of your Kaution and how it will be returned when moving into a flat.
(Das) Casting
Right out of the same category as ‘Handy’, ‘Public-Viewing’ and ‘Beamer’, Casting is an English word which has taken on a different and somewhat odd use in German.
While ‘casting’ in English means the process of auditioning for a part in a movie or play, ‘Casting’ in German is the process of interviewing a new flatmate.
Although it will not always be the case, a Casting can be structured much like a job interview - with each of the existing housemates asking a variety of questions to determine if you’re truly worthy.
(Die) Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung
Literally translating as rent-debt-freedom-certificate, the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung is a document which confirms you are not in rental debt for any of your previous properties.
While the word is an absolute mouthful - try saying ‘meat-shool-den-fry-height-b-shine-ee-goong’ out loud - this document is an absolute must when renting a flat.
Remember that the German word for debt (Schuld) also means guilt - so anyone hoping to rent a flat will need to prove that they are debt free.
(Die) Verdienstbescheinigung
Another Bescheinigung, the Verdienstbescheinigung is a document from your employer which shows your earnings.
Given the highly competitive property market, you’ll want to have this document on hand for when you first see - and decide to apply for - the property.
(Die) Nebenkosten, (Die) Warmmiete and (Die) Kaltmiete
Nebenkosten, which are otherwise known as Betriebskosten, means all the extra costs associated with the apartment other than the rent. These include water, gas, internet, heating, electricity and insurance costs.
When renting a flat, the advertised price will either be Kaltmiete (cold rent) or Warmmiete (warm rent). A Kaltmiete price will only be the price for the rent itself, while Warmmiete will be the price including the Nebenkosten.
Flats will often be advertised as “€600 Warmmiete/WM/Warm” or “€550 Kaltmiete/Kalt/KM”.
(Die) Wohngemeinschaft
More commonly known as a ‘W-G’ (pronounced ‘vey-gay’), Wohngemeinschaft is the German name for a share house. The word literally translates to ‘residential community’.
WGs are common in Austria for students and adults alike, given that the country’s unique and sometimes complicated Altbau architecture can create share houses with a significant amount of privacy and independence.
(Der) Mitbewohner
If you live in a WG, you’re likely to have one or more Mitbewohner. Translating literally as ‘with-occupant’, Mitbewohner means housemate or flatmate.
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Whether you speak German or not, getting your head around the complex words used in renting in Austria.
(Der) Mieter
Meaning tenant or renter, Mieter comes from the German miete which means to rent.
Vermieter means landlord - although the latter is frequently used in super-hip Berlin and Hamburg.
READ MORE: The hidden costs of buying a home in Austria
(Der) Mietvertrag
The German word for lease, Mietvertrag - literally rent contract - is the document between you and your landlord which allows you to live in the flat.
As we discussed in our report on the Anmeldung (address registration) process, you’ll need to show this at the Bürgeramt to receive your Meldebescheinigung (certificate of registered address).
(Der) Altbau and Neubau
When moving into an apartment block, you’ll frequently be told whether your potential flat-to-be is an Altbau (old building) or a Neubau (new building).
This can however be confusing, as the highly sought after Altbau can frequently look much newer and nicer than the Neubau, the latter of which can often be found at the outskirts of larger towns and cities.
Buildings from before the Second World War are known as Altbau, whereas those made afterwards are known as Neubau.
(Die) Kaution
Meaning either bond or deposit, Kaution is the money paid as a security deposit when you move into a flat to provide the landlord with a degree of protection should you fail to pay the rent or if the flat is damaged.
Foreigners are frequently targeted with Kaution scams, so be sure to discuss the nature of your Kaution and how it will be returned when moving into a flat.
(Das) Casting
Right out of the same category as ‘Handy’, ‘Public-Viewing’ and ‘Beamer’, Casting is an English word which has taken on a different and somewhat odd use in German.
While ‘casting’ in English means the process of auditioning for a part in a movie or play, ‘Casting’ in German is the process of interviewing a new flatmate.
Although it will not always be the case, a Casting can be structured much like a job interview - with each of the existing housemates asking a variety of questions to determine if you’re truly worthy.
(Die) Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung
Literally translating as rent-debt-freedom-certificate, the Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung is a document which confirms you are not in rental debt for any of your previous properties.
While the word is an absolute mouthful - try saying ‘meat-shool-den-fry-height-b-shine-ee-goong’ out loud - this document is an absolute must when renting a flat.
Remember that the German word for debt (Schuld) also means guilt - so anyone hoping to rent a flat will need to prove that they are debt free.
(Die) Verdienstbescheinigung
Another Bescheinigung, the Verdienstbescheinigung is a document from your employer which shows your earnings.
Given the highly competitive property market, you’ll want to have this document on hand for when you first see - and decide to apply for - the property.
(Die) Nebenkosten, (Die) Warmmiete and (Die) Kaltmiete
Nebenkosten, which are otherwise known as Betriebskosten, means all the extra costs associated with the apartment other than the rent. These include water, gas, internet, heating, electricity and insurance costs.
When renting a flat, the advertised price will either be Kaltmiete (cold rent) or Warmmiete (warm rent). A Kaltmiete price will only be the price for the rent itself, while Warmmiete will be the price including the Nebenkosten.
Flats will often be advertised as “€600 Warmmiete/WM/Warm” or “€550 Kaltmiete/Kalt/KM”.
(Die) Wohngemeinschaft
More commonly known as a ‘W-G’ (pronounced ‘vey-gay’), Wohngemeinschaft is the German name for a share house. The word literally translates to ‘residential community’.
WGs are common in Austria for students and adults alike, given that the country’s unique and sometimes complicated Altbau architecture can create share houses with a significant amount of privacy and independence.
(Der) Mitbewohner
If you live in a WG, you’re likely to have one or more Mitbewohner. Translating literally as ‘with-occupant’, Mitbewohner means housemate or flatmate.
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