Paying too much rent
in an old building?
In old buildings, the law sets maximum rents. If your rent is too high, you can claim back rent you have already paid and have your rent lowered for the future. No cost risk!
It still works after you move out: with fixed-term contracts (befristet), up to six months after moving out.
Mietheld checks for free whether you pay too much and covers the costs of the proceedings. If you get money back, we receive a share of it. If you don't get any money back, you pay nothing.
Real Mietheld case
€13,500 back for a flat in Währing
- Location
- 18th district, Währing
- Flat
- Old building, 77 m²
- Contract
- fixed-term
- Duration
- just under seven months from the application
- Result
- €13,500 back, the rent went down by about €250 a month
Since 2019 in figures
over €6.7 million
Paid back by landlords to our clients
- Repayment per case
- about €5,300
- Successful proceedings
- over 1,200
- Average duration
- 5–12 months
- Free checks carried out
- almost 29,000
How much rent is allowed in old buildings
The law sets a guideline value for each federal state, meaning an amount per square metre. Surcharges and deductions are added, for example for fittings and location. The landlord may not charge more than that. You get back what you paid too much.
According to the Arbeiterkammer (Chamber of Labour), tenants in Vienna pay more than 115 million euros too much every year on fixed-term old-building contracts alone. AK Wien, 23 February 2024
- Vienna guideline value
- €6.74 per m²
- without operating costs (Betriebskosten), valid since 1 April 2026
- Surcharges and deductions
- depends on the flat
- for fittings and location. The landlord may only charge a location surcharge if he gave the reasons in writing, at the latest when the contract was signed.
- Fixed-term contract
- minus 25%
- Fixed-term means: the contract has an end date. The deduction applies to the rent without operating costs.
- Operating costs and 10% VAT
- are added
- Together this is the amount you transfer every month.
Deadlines for claiming back rent
Open-ended contract (unbefristet)
Within 3 years from moving in
Fixed-term contract
As long as you still live there: always. Also up to 6 months after moving out.
Legal basis
Guideline value and surcharges: § 16 Abs 2 bis 4 MRG. Deduction for fixed terms: § 16 Abs 7 MRG. Deadlines: § 16 Abs 8 MRG. Guideline value: Statistik Austria, indexation under the Richtwertgesetz, 31.03.2026. Other federal states have other guideline values.
From the rent check to the repayment
Mietheld covers the costs of the proceedings, from the application to the decision.
From the application to the repayment usually takes 5 to 12 months.
- Rent check
A few questions about your flat, contract and rent. Then you immediately see a first assessment.
- Talk and viewing
We write to you by email, in your language. If you like, we look at the flat for free. For this we need the rental contract (Mietvertrag) and a current rent statement (Vorschreibung).
- Application
Lawyers or a tenants' association file the application. It goes to the arbitration board (Schlichtungsstelle), a city authority for rent matters (in Vienna the MA 50), or to the district court.
- Decision
The arbitration board or the court decides how high the rent may be.
- Lower rent, money back
From then on you pay the lower rent. You get back what you paid too much, minus the agreed share for us.
What clients write
4.9 out of 5 from 215 Google reviews, as of September 2026
„Unkompliziert und sehr kompetent!!! Schon bei der ersten Begehung zur Sachverhaltsermittlung fühlte ich mich bestens betreut. Das Ergebnis spricht für sich.“
Erich W. · 4 months ago
„Der Prozess hat länger gedauert als erwartet, aber es hat sich in jeder Hinsicht gelohnt.“
Dejan P. · 11 months ago
„Hatten einen sehr netten und kompetenten Juristen an der Seite, der uns durch den gesamten Prozess bis zur Entschädigung begleitet hat.“
Daniela T. · 9 months ago
„Ich hab mich sehr gut betreut gefühlt und hatte immer Einblick in den Prozess.“
Katharina I. · a year ago
„Der Prozess hat zwar etwas gedauert, aber das Warten hat sich gelohnt! Meine Miete wurde erfolgreich gesenkt, und ich habe sogar Geld zurückbekommen.“
Bless A. · a year ago
„Mein Fall wurde erfolgreich in nur zwei Monaten abgeschlossen. Während des gesamten Prozesses wurde ich regelmäßig über jeden weiteren Schritt informiert.“
Drasko D. · a year ago
Press
- „Mietrecht: Von Füchsen, Checkern und Helden“profil, 07.09.2015
- „Wachstumsbranche Altbau-Mietencheck“DER STANDARD, 13.09.2015
Frequently asked questions
Can my landlord give me notice because I have my rent checked?
No. Having the rent checked is not a reason for giving notice.
What does it cost me?
Mietheld covers the costs of the proceedings. If you get money back, we receive a share of it. We agree on how much beforehand. All conditions are in the financing agreement that you receive before we start.
How long does it take?
Usually five to twelve months from the application.
My contract is fixed-term. Does it still work?
Yes. With fixed-term contracts, the allowed rent is even 25% lower. As long as you live there, it always works, and also up to six months after you move out. This also applies after several extensions.
My contract is open-ended. Is there a deadline?
Yes. You have three years from moving in. After that, the rent in the contract applies.
I rent as a subtenant (Untermiete) or live in a shared flat.
Subletting has its own rules. Do the rent check anyway, we look at your case individually. The Tenancy Act does not apply to student residences (Studentenheim).
I don't live in Vienna.
The Tenancy Act applies throughout Austria. But each federal state has its own guideline value. We calculate it for your flat.
How do I know whether my building was built before 1945?
A typical Viennese old building was built well before 1945, usually around 1880. High ceilings, stucco and double windows point to an old building. Sometimes the year of construction is in the rental contract. If you don't know, choose “I don't know” in the rent check. We will find out.
Who is behind it
Mietheld is a brand of Prozessfinanzallianz GmbH in Vienna. We finance proceedings for tenants. Lawyers and tenants' associations handle the legal representation. Prozessfinanzallianz also operates as Padronus.
Prozessfinanzallianz GmbH
Eßlinggasse 4/Top 6a, 1010 Wien
01 34 80 30
kontakt@mietheld.at
FN 495405 m · UID ATU73864507
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