A couple in Vienna recovers a huge amount of rent after years of overpaying rent.
A couple in Vienna received a record compensation of over 63,000 euros after years of paying excessive rent for their apartment. The case, taken on by the Vienna Tenants' Association, was resolved unusually quickly, with a settlement reached just two months after the initial contact.
Elias and Lia Eberl (pseudonyms), both in their mid-forties, moved into a 100 square meter three-room apartment in the upscale Landstraße district nearly ten years ago. Although the location was ideal — close to the city center and yet quiet — the rent quickly became a burden. Initially, the monthly rent was 1,122 euros, but the contract included a "value protection" clause that linked rent increases to inflation in a way that was unfavorable to tenants. When signing the contract, the legal guideline rent for an A-class apartment without a fixed term was 5.39 euros per square meter, and fixed-term apartments were supposed to receive a 25% discount.
Over the years, inflation has raised the rent to 1,388 euros by 2023 — an increase of 24% from the initial price. Additionally, the landlord imposed a monthly fee of 50 euros for furniture and 200 euros as a fixed operating charge. Last March, the couple turned to the tenants' association in Vienna and filed a complaint with the arbitration board of the city of Vienna. The association confirmed that the base rent, including the "value protection" clause, as well as the furniture rent, were inflated.
In what legal experts described as a "fast-track solution," the landlords made a quick settlement offer after brief negotiations, and the couple received a total compensation of €63,350. This swift outcome was partly due to the couple consulting the association months before the lease expired, where lawyers advised them not to sign any waiver documents.
These concessions, which are often hidden in "delivery protocols" or "return declarations," may later prevent tenants from making any claims. Legal expert Anna Wolfshlunker confirmed that such clauses, although they seem harmless, could make it nearly impossible to contest illegal charges later. This issue highlights the importance of tenant awareness and obtaining specialized advice before signing any agreements at the end of the lease.