Michael Gehbauer studied history, business administration, and economics. Since 1993, he has been working for the Housing Association for Private Employees. In 1999, he assumed the role of authorized officer (Gesamtprokurist) and became managing director in 2004. Since 2019, he has served as chairman of the Association for Housing Subsidies and, since 2022, as chairman of the Vienna regional group of non-profit housing associations.