Vienna Landtag set to tighten short-term rental rules

Vienna’s state parliament is set to tighten rules for short-term rentals, including listings on Airbnb, with a registration system due to start in January. ORF reports that landlords will need a registration number to advertise their properties.

From 1 January 2027, all short-term rental providers must register. They will have three months to do so, and platforms will be required to accept only registered listings. From April, landlords without a registration number will no longer be able to rent out their properties.

The city is also tightening zoning rules: at least 80 percent of a building must be reserved for residential use. Mayor Michael Ludwig of the Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) said some landlords had tried to get around existing rules by converting properties into accommodation establishments. He said this took homes off the housing market and created unfair competition for hotels and guesthouses.

The Association of Apartment Landlords disputed Ludwig’s account. It said conversions did not circumvent rules but were subject to the strictest requirements, including building permits, a trade licence and the same obligations as hotels.

The conservative Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) is also bringing an urgent motion calling for reform of Vienna’s minimum-income support. Its proposals include a mandatory payment card, benefit rates adjusted according to the number of children, tougher penalties for breaches of obligations and the inclusion of family allowance after a year on benefits. The party says the measures should reduce cash payments to all recipients of the benefit in Vienna.

ÖVP Vienna leader Markus Figl cited spending of 1.14 billion euros on the scheme in 2025 and called for responsible use of public funds. He said the payment card should allow essential everyday purchases while limiting cash withdrawals and transfers not tied to specific purposes, which would require a legal basis. ÖVP social affairs spokesperson Ingrid Korosec called for tiered support based on models in Upper and Lower Austria, as well as larger cuts for a first culpable breach, such as refusing suitable work.

The session is due to begin with a question period, followed by a debate on Vienna’s climate law and climate adaptation in schools, kindergartens and public spaces. The agenda also includes reports from the Ombudsman Board and the Children’s and Youth Ombudsman, Vienna’s 2024-25 environmental report and an amendment to the Vienna School Act.