Villach's mayor coupled to language skills!

Villach's mayor coupled to language skills!

A new advance in housing policy causes excitement in Villach. Mayor Günther Albel (SPÖ) plans to link the allocation of community apartments to the applicants' language skills in the future. Specifically, this means that an application will be submitted in the next council meeting to increase the required language requirements from A2 to B1 level. B1 is not only a challenge, but also a prerequisite for the preservation of Austrian citizenship.

The idea behind it is that the majority of tenants in Villach already have B1 level, as this is also a basic requirement for maintaining a place to live. Nevertheless, there are no significant problems in terms of language barriers in the residential complexes, as the last reports show. The location on the housing market is tense because free apartments are sown in Villach.

application process for community apartments

interested parties who are aiming for a community apartment must submit a complete application for apartments. This can either be requested directly in the department for residential and business buildings at Italian Straße 7, 2nd floor, or online. The required side dishes vary depending on the life situation and the people with you. All apartments are generally impossible.

Another point that needs to be observed are the heating connections. In Villach there are houses with central heating (district heating) and on the other hand with single stoves, operated with wood, oil, coal or gas. Animal lovers can breathe a sigh of relief: pets are allowed in the apartments, but wildlife farming must be displayed in writing to the animal welfare authority within two weeks.

The effects on the existence of the housing

The decision to involve language skills in the home disclosure is controversial. On the one hand, she could help promote integration, on the other hand it could also represent additional hurdles for migrants. Over 50% of the current tenants already have the necessary language level, but it remains to be seen how many potential tenants could be excluded.

The city of Villach faces a complex challenge. The population is growing, the demand for living space is high and the pressure on the community apartments increases. The planned changes in the award criteria could carry an additional aspect into the already tense situation.

If you need more information about the application or the new regulations, you can contact the responsible clerks under the telephone numbers 04242/205-5013 or 205-5014 or visit the city's website.

The question of how Villach can find the balance between integration, language skills and the scarce living space remains up to date.