Renting an apartment in Graz can often lead to questions about the contract, terminating the lease, getting the deposit back or general questions about who’s responsible for maintenance, what to do in cases of mould etc. Fortunately there are several organisations in Graz who can offer free advice.
If you work for a Styrian employer, as an AK member you can contact the Arbeiterkammer . They also have a useful brochure in German all about renter’s rights and obligations and another one about how much operating costs ‘Betriebskosten’ you can expect to pay depending on your building.
The City of Graz’s Housing Advice Center ‘WOIST‘ also provide free advice for housing issues, getting back your deposit and can check rental contracts before they are signed. They also have a useful FQA section for questions like Can I sublet?Who pays if the boiler in my rented apartment leaks? Do I have to re-paint when moving out etc. Plus they are the official Arbitration Board for issues with landlords to reach settlements and amicable dispute resolutions.
The KPÖ also offers a free Renter’s Hotline ‘Mieternotruf – (0316) 71 71 08. They can check rental agreements and utility bills, advise on harassment by landlords, terminations and eviction proceedings, problems with the deposit repayment, and also with other housing questions. They can also be contacted by email and a free consultation can be arranged. Useful information about deposits, rental termination etc on their webpage too.
For further protection, proper legal assistance and representation in court with issues with your landlords, you can also consider joining one of the renter’s protection associations for a yearly fee (around €70).
Mieterschutzverband Steiermark
For disputes with your neighours, you can contact the Friedensbüro for free help with mediation.
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