Car, money, housing – what’s changing now in July

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July 2023 brings some changes for housing seekers and commuters. In addition, new laws go into effect.

The Corona crisis measures ended, and account fees rose, but the brokerage fee fell, and the electricity price in some places. The commuter allowance will also be cut at the start of the vacations in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland. This and other things await you in the new month.

Banks are also reacting to rising inflation by increasing fees for checking accounts, ATM cards and other services. Since the contracts are linked to the consumer price index (CPI), they can be adjusted accordingly. Bank99 of Austrian Post and Raiffeisenbank Niederösterreich-Wien have increased their fees substantially in some cases.

On July 1, Erste Group (8.6 percent) and Bank Austria (10.10 percent) will follow suit. At BAWAG, customers must pay even more, increasing 11.55 percent.

As of July 1, the “Bestellerprinzip” will apply to apartment rentals. Only those who commission a broker will have to pay him.

Until now, tenants have always had to pay brokerage fees – of up to two gross monthly rents – even if the landlord has used a broker. This means concretely: Flat-looking to save themselves in the future – for an average 40qm-flat in Vienna – approximately 1,300 euro.

As of July, all Corona crisis measures ended. Covid-19 is no longer a notifiable disease; the virus is thus officially treated like flu & Co. In concrete terms, this means, above all, the end of the so-called traffic restrictions.

Covid-positive persons still must adhere to restrictions for ten days or “clear” themselves after five days using a PCR test. All this will be dropped in the summer – everyone will decide how to behave in the event of illness.

Corona tests will also no longer be available for everyone in the future. However, they will remain free of charge for all symptomatic patients at registered doctors’ offices. The e-medication regulation will also be dropped in the future.

In May last year, the government temporarily increased the amount by 50 percent and even quadrupled the “commuter euro.” With the end of June, the period runs out now; commuters fall in the future around up to 1,800 euro bonus annually!

The criticism of the cut is excellent: Chamber of Labor (AK), Trade Union Federation (ÖGB), ÖAMTC, and ARBÖ demand an extension of the commuter relief and comprehensive reform.