Tenant obliges over 400,000 euros back
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The Tenant Protection Association in Salzburg won more than 400,000 euros for tenants last year. The interventions range from contentious items in utility bills to settlements for deposit repayments.
Particularly high sums brought about procedures in which it was checked whether the main rent was reasonable. Because if that is not the case, there are claims for repayment for up to ten years, says Karin Edtbrustner, the head of the Salzburg Tenants’ Protection Association.
Tenants are becoming more empowered
But overall, 2022 was a particularly successful year in terms of tenants. “The tenants have also become very critical and mature in the last decade. They scrutinize their bills and have them checked – especially in the case of utility bills,” says the chairwoman.
There is a particular focus on heating bills: “Because of the high energy costs and the many media reports, we are already noticing that the tenants are checking and checking here. And also come to us and asked that we check the accounts again,” says Edtbrustner.
Legal aid fund for the socially needy
In order to be represented by the experts, you either become a member of the Tenant Protection Association or pay for a one-time consultation. For the first time, the City of Salzburg has had a legal aid fund for socially disadvantaged tenants, endowed with 10,000 euros.
“These are people who, due to their financial situation, would not be able to seek qualified legal advice or representation. And here we have created this opportunity together with the city of Salzburg that we can also advise and represent these people,” says Edtbrustner. And the chairwoman of the tenant protection association believes that this legal aid fund will be granted again for 2023.