Greece to Simplify Real Estate Transactions and Property Ownership Procedures
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Greece is introducing new regulations that will change the procedures for real estate transactions, inheritance transfers and corrections of land registry records. The changes are set out in Law 5293/2026, titled “Measures for Creating a More Citizen-Friendly State,” reports Kathimerini.
Inheritance and property gifts in Greece
One of the new provisions concerns inheritance tax and tax on property transfers through gifts. For the first time, citizens will be allowed to pay this tax at the time of transferring real estate, which is expected to simplify the registration process.
Authorities hope the measure will prevent a repeat of the situation during the financial crisis, when many Greeks refused inherited property because of the associated costs. Between 2013 and 2019, the number of such cases in Greece was estimated at 180,000.
Another provision of the law concerns the transfer of real estate. The document introduces a “one-stop shop” system, under which notaries will participate in processing various types of property transactions. These include property sales, transfers through gifts, and the transfer of ownership after the death of an owner.
Greece to unlock transactions involving seized property
The law introduces a mechanism that will allow transactions involving seized real estate to be completed. The Federation of Property Owners of Greece (POMIDA) said that a decision by the head of the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is expected in the coming days.
The document will establish the final procedure for transferring such properties. The notary will withhold part of the amount received from the sale and transfer it to AADE. The tax authority will determine the size of the withheld amount based on the owner’s outstanding debt and the proceeds from the transaction.
Another provision of the law, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, defines cases in which the state will waive claims on properties and refrain from taking legal action during the correction of the first entries in the National Cadastre.
Until now, tens of thousands of cases have been recorded across the country in which the state claimed ownership rights over properties and entire areas, leading to numerous legal disputes with owners.
Real estate transactions in Greece take months
The lengthy process of transferring property ownership has been one of the main challenges for Greece’s real estate market. Until recently, the average time required to complete a transaction reached 226 days — more than seven months. In some cases, the process took over a year.
The delays are caused not only by contract preparation but also by document checks, assessments of the technical condition of properties and verification of compliance with planning regulations. As a result, even after a buyer and seller agree on a deal, the transaction may be halted during the verification stage. Long procedures reduce market activity, as owners may postpone sales and buyers face uncertainty.
Digital building identity and problems with older properties
Property transactions in Greece have become more complicated due to the mandatory electronic building identity, introduced to increase transparency and protect buyers. The system has revealed a large number of old violations, including discrepancies in property sizes, unauthorized alterations, enclosed balconies, converted spaces and other changes that were not previously reflected in official documents.
For owners, resolving these issues requires additional expenses for engineers, technical documentation and legalization procedures. As a result, some property owners postpone sales or transfers, reducing the number of properties available on the market.
How will the reforms affect Greece’s real estate market?
International Investment analysts note that the reforms are aimed at removing one of the main obstacles to Greece’s real estate market — complex and lengthy property ownership procedures. Changes to inheritance rules, the expanded role of notaries and solutions for seized properties could increase transaction transparency for owners and buyers.
The outcome of the reforms will depend on their practical implementation. If government agencies manage to shorten verification periods and reduce the number of unresolved documentation issues, this could accelerate real estate turnover and increase market confidence. Investors should also consider other market changes. In particular, Greece has tightened short-term rental regulations in order to increase the volume of housing available for long-term leases. Lower attractiveness of this segment for some owners could lead to some properties being put up for sale.