Vienna tenants can get their rent checked for free this week, while Austria has officially recorded its hottest summer in 260 years, plus more stories from Austria on Tuesday.
Vienna tenants can get free checks for potentially excessive rents
Vienna’s Chamber of Labour, the Arbeiterkammer, is offering free rent checks for older privately rented flats at Wallensteinplatz this week. Tenants can bring their rental contracts to the AK Mobil without an appointment between 4 pm and 8 pm from August 31st to September 5th.
The AK estimates that tenants in Vienna pay almost €134 million too much in rent each year in affected older buildings. For an individual tenant paying more than legally permitted, the average additional cost is around €2,200 a year including VAT, according to its calculations.
The AK says illegal overpayments, failure to apply the statutory 25 percent discount for fixed-term leases and excessive location surcharges can push rents above permitted levels. AK housing experts will review the contracts at Wallensteinplatz and send the results to tenants by email.
READ ALSO: How do I lower my rent if I pay too much in Vienna?
Austria records hottest summer in 260 years
Austria has just experienced its hottest summer since records began, with temperatures 2.6C above the 1991-2020 climate average, according to ORF. GeoSphere Austria data also rank summer 2026 among the five driest on record.
Austria recorded a new national temperature record of 41.2C in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg on August 5th. More than 100 weather stations recorded new absolute maximum temperatures during the summer, while Austria experienced six days above 40C.
The heat also had serious health consequences. An AGES model estimated 646 heat-related deaths in June and July, with August figures still outstanding. Rainfall was more than 30 percent below average, while the previous 12 months were the driest since precipitation measurements began in 1858.
READ ALSO: Could 40C summers become more common in Austria?
Austria extends fuel price relief until the end of September
Austria’s government has extended its fuel price relief measures until the end of September. The mineral oil tax will remain reduced by 1.9 cents per litre, while the government’s mechanism designed to pass falling wholesale prices on to motorists will also continue.
The price guarantee applies to Diesel B7 and Euro-Super E10. The government says Austria’s fuel prices remain below the EU average and has decided not to reintroduce a separate intervention limiting fuel retailers’ margins.
The government describes the measures as part of its wider efforts to reduce the impact of high prices on households.
READ ALSO: What got more expensive in Austria as inflation eased to 3.2 percent?
More Vienna transport works are coming this autumn
Wiener Linien has announced another round of tram and U-Bahn construction following the completion of its major summer works. The U3 returned to normal service along its entire route on August 31st, but further works will begin at several locations during September.
From September 8th, around 1,100 metres of track will be replaced along Donaufelder Straße in Floridsdorf. From September 14th until the end of the year, tram lines 25, 26 and 27 will be disrupted between Josef-Baumann-Gasse and Floridsdorf, with replacement bus 26E operating on part of the affected route.
The U6 station Neue Donau will also be renovated. From September 14th until probably the end of 2026, trains travelling towards Floridsdorf will not stop there. Services towards Siebenhirten will continue to call at the station.
READ ALSO: What Vienna residents need to know about transport works in 2026
Worth reading
Several new laws and rules begin taking effect across Austria this month, including changes affecting unemployment benefits, medical assessments, driving tests, school attendance and consumer rights. Our guide to the new laws in Austria in September 2026 explains when the measures start and who they affect.
Members can read the full guide, along with The Local Austria’s other in-depth explainers and practical stories on navigating Austrian rules, bureaucracy and everyday life.
What’s happening in Austria today
New rules for carrying e-scooters on Vienna public transport take effect today. On weekdays, e-scooters can only be taken on the U-Bahn from 9 am to 3 pm and from 6:30 pm until the end of service. Electric vehicles are no longer allowed on Wiener Linien buses or trams.
Major S-Bahn disruption also continues in Vienna. The core route is currently interrupted between Wien Hauptbahnhof and Wien Floridsdorf, with replacement and alternative services operating. CAT airport trains also remain suspended.
VOR’s new tariffs take effect today. The standard KlimaTicket MetropolRegion rises to €1,019 and the KlimaTicket Region to €552. The Jugendticket rises to €29.60 and the Top-Jugendticket to €101.
September 1st is still part of the summer school holidays throughout Austria. Schools generally reopen on September 7th in Vienna, Lower Austria and Burgenland, and on September 14th in the other six provinces.
The weather will be mostly sunny and warm across Austria, with afternoon temperatures of around 23C to 29C. Isolated showers are possible in mountain areas later in the day. GeoSphere Austria’s main warning display is currently affected by a technical problem, so the national warning status remains unclear.
READ ALSO: Which train tickets can you use on Vienna public transport during the S-Bahn closure?
Vocabulary
die Miete – rent
der Mietvertrag – rental contract
das Arbeitslosengeld – unemployment benefit
die Sommerferien – summer school holidays
die Baustelle – construction site or works
If you have any questions about life in Austria, ideas for articles, or news tips for The Local, you can contact us at news@thelocal.at or leave a comment below.