Vienna authorities have received over 15,000 applications for subsidies to install external blinds, shutters and jalousies on residential building windows.

Part of the City of Vienna’s ‘Shade Offensive’, the coverings – designed to protect against the sun and prevent overheating – are subsidized at €1,500 per household.

The scheme has been in place since December 2019 and applies to all buildings, including older ones.

For tenants in rented apartments, you need to get permission from the property management (Hausverwaltung) or landlord. If you own your flat, you need approval from the other owners in the building.

Certain buildings, particularly those from the so-called Gründerzeit period – which lasted from the mid-19th century to the First World War – need extra approval from MA19, the city department in charge of architecture and urban planning.

In Vienna, around 15,000 properties are located in designated protection zones, where approval from MA19 is necessary before external sun protection can be installed. There are often stylistic requirements, and only certain materials may be used.

For buildings with decorated facades, MA19 makes sure that external shading matches the building’s design. This might mean using similar styles or historically accurate materials (some facades may only allow wooden or fabric blinds, for example). All external blinds on a building must look the same. However, MA19 says that a good solution can almost always be found.

Applications can be made here.