No radical curbs to Airbnb expected in government plan for housing
The government is mulling measures to address a serious shortage of affordable housing in Greece’s cities, but also in popular tourism designations where professionals like teachers and doctors are being squeezed out by skyrocketing rents. According to sources, its plans will be finalized in the next few days and possibly announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Thessaloniki International Fair, on September 7-15.
The government’s quandary lies in helping free up more accommodation, without curbing the lucrative business of short-term rentals, with sources indicating that changes in this area will be moderate.
These may include setting a ceiling on the number of properties a single owner can lease short-term and require that those with two or more units set up a business through which to carry out their activities.
Limits may also be set on the number of days such units can be leased to short-term tenants, e.g., 60 days on the islands. Another likely initiative concerns offering incentives to property owners to shift from short-term to long-term leases, such as a discount on the tax on rent revenues.
