Housing Support in Austria: How It Works in Each Province

If you are building a house, buying an apartment or moving into subsidised rental housing in Austria, housing support (Wohnbauförderung) can make a significant difference. However, there is no single nationwide system: all nine provinces make their own decisions under their own rules.

Housing support in brief

• Austria has nine different provincial laws governing housing support, and the implementing rules regularly change.
• There are two main types: support for the property itself (Objektförderung) and support for the individual or household (Subjektförderung).
• In most cases, there is an income ceiling (Einkommenshöchstgrenze).
• Housing benefit (Wohnbeihilfe) must be applied for again every year.
• In 2026, the state building-savings premium (Bausparprämie) is 1.5 percent.

What is Wohnbauförderung?

Housing support is the responsibility of the provinces (Bundesländer), so Austria does not have one uniform national system. There are nine separate laws, together with implementing provisions and amendments that change regularly.

For this reason, always check the current rules in your own province. The conditions in Vienna may work very differently from those in Tyrol or Styria.

Property support: favourable financing for construction

Support for the property itself (Objektförderung) helps with creating the building. It can cover:

• building a single-family home (Eigenheim),
• constructing rental apartments (Mietwohnungen),
• constructing owner-occupied apartments (Eigentumswohnungen).

A province may provide support in two ways:

• Provincial loan (Landesdarlehen): a loan with a lower interest rate than bank loans.
• Repayment support (Annuitätenzuschuss): a contribution towards repayments on a bank loan.

Both forms are intended to reduce the monthly repayment burden, whether you are building a house or renting a subsidised apartment. The amount depends on the province and the construction project.

Individual support: direct help for households

Support for the individual or household (Subjektförderung) helps the family directly if even a provincially subsidised apartment is too expensive.

A common form is the loan replacing the tenant’s own funds (Eigenmittelersatzdarlehen), for example in Vienna. This covers the own funds that a tenant must pay to the housing association (Genossenschaft) when moving into a subsidised apartment. It generally has:

• a very low interest rate,
• a long term,
• eligibility linked in every case to the household’s income.

Housing benefit for ongoing costs

Housing benefit (Wohnbeihilfe) may be available to help with regular monthly costs, such as rent or loan repayments. Eligibility depends on three factors:

1. the income ceiling,
2. the size of the household,
3. the size of the apartment.

Important: Wohnbeihilfe must be applied for again every year.

In Styria, this benefit is called housing support (Wohnunterstützung). In Lower Austria, the terms Wohnzuschuss and Wohnbeihilfe are also used.

Where to find information in each province

In each province, the responsible authority is the provincial government office (Amt der Landesregierung). In Vienna, it is Magistrat Wien. These websites provide overviews, eligibility conditions, downloadable forms and, in many cases, calculators.

• Burgenland: guidelines, forms, application submission and Wohnbeihilfe.
• Carinthia (Kärnten): an overview, information on the 2026-2028 housing construction guidelines and Wohnbeihilfe calculation examples.
• Lower Austria: separate information on single-family homes, apartment construction, apartment and house renovation, and Wohnzuschuss/Wohnbeihilfe.
• Upper Austria: a support overview, online appointment booking, accessible construction and Wohnbeihilfe.
• Salzburg: a support calculator (Förderrechner) and Wohnbeihilfe for tenants of subsidised apartments.
• Styria: new construction, renovation and revitalisation, plus a Wohnunterstützung calculator and online application.
• Tyrol: Wohnbeihilfe conditions, submission locations and information materials.
• Vorarlberg: guidelines, a brochure, and Wohnbeihilfe calculation examples and calculator.
• Vienna: apartment renovation, new construction, renovation, energy support, Wohnbeihilfe and Eigenmittelersatzdarlehen.

Most provinces also offer a heating-cost subsidy (Heizkostenzuschuss) for people on low incomes.

For a nationwide overview, see Wohnbauförderungen und Finanzierungen in den Bundesländern.

Building-savings premium in 2026

Although it is not a provincial benefit, it is worth knowing that the state building-savings premium (Bausparprämie) is 1.5 percent in 2026. Its legal basis is section 108 of the Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz, EStG).

Frequently asked questions

Are the rules the same throughout Austria?

No. There are nine separate provincial laws with different conditions and amounts. The rules of the province where you live are therefore decisive.

Is there an income limit?

In most cases, yes. Subsidised apartments generally have an income ceiling, while the loan replacing own funds and housing benefit are always income-dependent.

Do I only need to apply for Wohnbeihilfe once?

No. Wohnbeihilfe must be applied for again every year.

Who can answer questions?

Contact the responsible authority in your province, namely the Amt der Landesregierung. In Vienna, contact Magistrat Wien.

Practical steps

1. Identify the province in which the property or apartment is located.
2. Check the current information from the relevant Amt der Landesregierung or Magistrat Wien.
3. Determine whether you need Objektförderung, Subjektförderung, Wohnbeihilfe or another form of support.
4. Check the income ceiling, household size and apartment-size requirements.
5. Use the available calculator where one is provided and download the current forms.
6. Remember that Wohnbeihilfe must be applied for again every year.

This article is based on information available online and is not legal or other professional advice. Use it at your own risk. For specialist advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or employment professional, or another relevant specialist.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at