New housing rental rules in Greece

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Starting from October 1, 2025, Greece will implement new short-term rental rules covering safety, insurance, and quality standards, report Travel and Tour World. These will affect property owners renting through online platforms and will require additional investments in certification and equipment.

The new requirements cover a wide range of aspects – from the technical condition of the property to sanitary standards. Owners will be required to obtain liability insurance, certify the safety of electrical wiring, and install fire protection equipment, including extinguishers and smoke detectors.

Additionally, rules on hygiene are introduced: regular disinfection, a first aid kit, and guest instructions for emergencies. Compliance will be monitored by joint inspection teams of the Ministry of Tourism and tax authorities, which may conduct both document checks and on-site inspections.



Inspections will be carried out with prior notice, with inspectors able to review all necessary documentation and personally inspect properties. The purpose of such control is to streamline the short-term rental market and ensure tax transparency in this segment. For non-compliance, envision heavy fines. The minimum penalty will be €5,000, and for repeated violations within a year it will be significantly higher.

Authorities state that the adjustments are part of a sustainable tourism development strategy. The introduction of unified standards is expected to increase trust in the short-term rental market, strengthen Greece’s reputation as a safe and high-quality destination, and ensure stable tax revenues. It is also emphasized that the measures aim to level the playing field between the rental sector and hotels, which already operate under licenses and strict regulations. Earlier, a moratorium on issuing new licenses for short-term rentals in central Athens was introduced in popular districts including Plaka, Kolonaki, Koukaki, Syntagma, and Monastiraki. Violations will result in fines of at least €20,000.

Owners’ associations and industry representatives express concern about the scope of changes. They point out that some requirements remain insufficiently specific, such as the characteristics of fire systems or ventilation standards, which could lead to disputes during inspections. For owners, the new requirements mean additional costs for modernization and certification, insurance policies, and sanitary compliance. It is expected that some small players will leave the market, especially in older housing and in regions where costs will outweigh rental income.

Meanwhile, rental yields in Greece remain modest. According to Global Property Guide, their level fell from 4.77% in 2024 to 4.60% in Q2 2025. In Athens, the figure is estimated at 5.53%. The top-yielding district in the capital is Patision–Acharnon – 7.82% for a one-bedroom apartment priced at €89,000 with a monthly rent of €580.

Second is Patisia – 7.14% for a similar property at €84,000 renting at €500. Third is Kypseli, where an apartment priced at €100,000 yields 6.6% when rented at €550. The lowest yield is in Kolonaki–Lycabettus, where three-bedroom apartments sell for €850,000 and rent for €2,300, giving only 3.25%.



In Thessaloniki, the average yield is 4.51%. One-bedroom apartments are among the leaders. In Ano Poli, a €97,000 property can yield 5.57% when rented for €450. In Faliro–Ippokratio and Analipsi–Botsari–Nea Paralia, prices are higher – €120,000 and €500 rent – but annual returns are lower at 5%. Location choice is crucial. For example, a three-bedroom apartment priced at €360,000 in Charilaou rented for €700 gives only 2.33%. In other cities highlighted by experts, yields range from 4.72% in Patras to 3.91% in Kavala.

A study by the Athens University of Economics showed that short-term rentals account for only 0.4% of the country’s housing stock, meaning their impact on the housing market is minimal. These figures hardly impressed market participants. Moreover, other data show a sharp increase in this segment and the displacement of long-term rentals. From April to June 2025, there were 14–17,000 more such properties compared to the same months in 2024.

Ioannis Hatzis, president of the Hoteliers Association, considers uncontrolled expansion of short-term rentals a threat to the hotel business and social stability. Apartment owners, on the other hand, speak of the risk of declining profitability and gradual market exit. The previous rhetoric of growing tourist housing is now being replaced by discussion of the need for strict regulation, accompanied by concrete restrictions and plans for further measures from authorities.

For travelers, the consequences of the new rules may be mixed. On the one hand, living conditions will become more predictable and safer, which is especially important for family trips and long holidays. On the other hand, many budget options may disappear. This could change the structure of tourist flows, increasing demand for hotels and licensed apartments.