Wiener Wohnen is the property management arm of the City of Vienna, responsible for operating and maintaining approximately 220,000 social housing units across the Austrian capital, making it the largest municipal housing manager in Europe. The organisation manages the Gemeindebauten, Vienna's iconic social housing estates that have defined the city's urban landscape and social fabric for over a century.
Vienna's municipal housing system, of which Wiener Wohnen is the operational backbone, is widely regarded as Europe's most successful model of large-scale public housing provision. Unlike social housing systems in many other European countries that serve only the poorest residents, Vienna's Gemeindebauten house a broad social mix, with approximately 60 percent of the city's population living in some form of subsidised housing. This broad social base ensures political support for continued investment and prevents the stigmatisation that has undermined social housing elsewhere.
Wiener Wohnen is increasingly engaged in smart city and sustainability initiatives, implementing building energy management systems, renewable energy installations, and climate adaptation measures across its vast portfolio. The organisation's building renovation programme integrates thermal insulation, efficient heating systems, and smart building technologies, contributing to Vienna's climate neutrality targets while maintaining affordable rents for residents.
The organisation manages extensive community infrastructure including kindergartens, community rooms, gardens, laundry facilities, and neighbourhood services within its housing estates, contributing to the social cohesion and quality of life that characterise Vienna's residential communities. Wiener Wohnen also operates a tenant advisory service and conflict resolution programmes that support harmonious community living in diverse, multi-ethnic neighbourhoods.
Wiener Wohnen's scale, operational expertise, and integration with Vienna's broader urban policy framework make it a uniquely important reference for European cities seeking to maintain, expand, or revitalise their social housing systems while pursuing smart city and climate adaptation goals.