Mr L. from Vienna's 14th district decided last year to switch from gas and equip his home with an air source heat pump. When he wanted to claim the City of Vienna's decarbonisation premium for this, he discovered that he could not apply for it as a homeowner; only tenants or flat owners could do so. With the accusation of unequal treatment, he turned to Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz, who took a clear position in the ORF programme "Bürgeranwalt" on 18 April 2026: "Subsidies must be the same for everyone. If the City of Vienna is interested in people switching from fossil fuels to sustainable heating methods, it must not make a distinction between flat owners and homeowners."
The Ombudswoman does not accept the City of Vienna's argument that the decarbonisation premium is intended as an incentive for multi-party houses: "Whether it's a flat or a detached house - every switch away from gas must be worth the same. With this unequal treatment, the City of Vienna is implying that homeowners can afford such an investment more easily than flat owners. I don't understand that."
Mr L. was also denied further funding from the City of Vienna because his pension was too high. "At the time, however, this subsidy was not yet income-dependent, but only from 1 January 2026, but he did not receive this information and now it is too late," says Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz.
Enquiry: No assumption of responsibility by the City of Vienna for missing bicycles
In the summer of 2025, Mr W. left his bike at a bike stand in Vienna's 7th district. When he wanted to ride it again after a few rainy days, his bike had disappeared - as had all the bike racks. Due to construction work commissioned by MA28, a company removed the racks and bikes from the street in question. The bikes were parked in the neighbourhood with metal strips. Despite a search, Mr W.'s bike remained missing.
Although he was reimbursed the excess on his bike insurance and his bike lock by the construction company, some questions remain unanswered for Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz: "In this case, there was no information that these bike racks would be removed. How does the City of Vienna ensure that this signage is adhered to in future? How does the City of Vienna intend to inform bike owners where their bikes will be taken? The fact that bikes are simply parked somewhere else and owners have to search for them in the neighbourhood is an imposition. The City of Vienna still owes us all these answers. The City of Vienna cannot shirk its responsibility here!"
"Promoting the gas phase-out for flat owners but not for homeowners is unequal treatment," says Ombudswoman Gaby Schwarz.