Can I end my rental contract in Austria?
Yes — a tenant can give notice, but when depends on the type of contract. For an open-ended tenancy you normally give one month's notice to the end of the month, unless the contract sets a longer period. For a fixed-term contract within the scope of the MRG, you can terminate only after the first year has run, then with 3 months' notice to month-end — so the earliest exit is the end of month 16. Notice must be written and signed; a plain e-mail isn't valid. Best send it by registered post. In short: yes, but follow the timing and form exactly.
📋 The rules
- Open-ended: usually 1 month to month-end
- Fixed-term under MRG: only after 1 year, then 3 months
- Notice must be written and signed — not e-mail
- What counts is when the letter reaches the landlord
- Longer contract periods prevail — check the contract
🔓 Exceptions
- Mutual termination is possible at any time
- Fixed-term outside the MRG: usually no early exit without good cause
- An unresolved fixed term renews automatically (by 3 or 5 years)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no fine, but a defective or mistimed notice is simply invalid — you then stay liable for rent until the next correctly calculated date, often several months longer. Disputes go to the district court (Bezirksgericht), or first to the arbitration board for some MRG matters. Beware a myth: "I can quit a fixed-term contract any time after moving in" is false — you must wait a full year before the 3-month notice can even start. Tip: send notice by registered post with proof of receipt and calculate the date generously.
📎 Official sources
- oesterreich.gv.at · ending a tenancy →
- Tenants' Association · key deadlines →
- Chamber of Labour · ending a lease →
❓ Frequently asked
What notice period applies?
For an open-ended tenancy, tenants usually give one month's notice to the end of the month, unless the contract expressly sets a longer period. Check your contract carefully, because longer agreed periods are valid and take precedence.
Can I end a fixed-term contract early?
Within the scope of the MRG yes, but only after the first year has run, and then with three months' notice to the end of the month. The earliest exit date is therefore the end of the 16th month. Outside the MRG, early exit without good cause is usually not possible.
Is an e-mail enough to give notice?
No. Notice must be in writing and signed; a plain e-mail does not suffice. The safest route is a registered letter with proof of receipt, because it shows exactly when the notice reached the landlord.
What happens if notice is wrong?
An incorrectly calculated or late-delivered notice is invalid. You then remain liable for rent until the next correct date and may have to pay several months longer. In a dispute, the district court decides.
Does a fixed-term contract renew automatically?
Yes. If a fixed-term tenancy is neither renewed nor dissolved at expiry, it renews once automatically — by three years with private landlords and by five years with business landlords. After that it counts as open-ended.
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