Vienna prioritizes housing applicants with bonus points

In Vienna, Austria, the city began a new housing allocation system on Tuesday that awards bonus points to applicants based on their individual needs.

The system aims to improve access to housing for those with the greatest need, combining applications for public housing and subsidized housing into a single “Wohnticket.” City officials Elke Hanel-Torsch and Selma Arapovic, along with project leaders Maximilian Havelka and Georg Retschitzegger, reported that over 32,000 applications have already been received and around 13,500 new housing tickets issued.

Approximately half of the initial applications came from people already registered under the previous system, who received a “start bonus” for re-registering, an incentive available until the end of the year. The new system places greater emphasis on applicants’ life circumstances when considering them for apartments. People facing domestic violence, those with mobility issues in unsuitable housing, or individuals with caregiving responsibilities receive a significant number of points.

Other factors increasing an applicant’s score include being a single parent, being threatened with homelessness, needing to downsize, or lacking essential amenities like a bathroom.

Residents with at least six years of continuous residency in Vienna also continue to earn points through the “Wien-Bonus.” While the total points awarded vary widely, reaching a high of 290 in some cases, the city also allocated an apartment to an applicant who had no points, as no one else expressed interest in the property. Basic requirements still apply, excluding those with outstanding debts to the city or insufficient residency.