Athens properties soar on Airbnb
The number of houses and apartments in the center of Athens leased using popular online platform Airbnb has soared this year.
In the broader area of the city center – not including the southern suburbs, which have also seen short-term property rentals rocketing – the number of properties up for lease amounts to 5,127 according to the latest statistics supplied by the independent Inside Airbnb service, while just nine months ago the supply in Athens did not exceed 2,500 options. Therefore the number of properties being rented out to foreign visitors has more than doubled in less than a year.
The business aspect of this activity has gained momentum in the Greek capital: Inside Airbnb reveals that 44 percent of the ads recorded concerns a number of owners with multiple entries. Many of them are managed by a company named Eazybnb, which specializes in serving owners interested in renting out their property via Airbnb.
Data further show that the closer a property is to the center of Athens, the higher the going rate, especially if situated close to transport means such as bus stops or metro stations. Neighborhoods such as Koukaki, Plaka, Thiseio, Monastiraki, Makrygianni, Metaxourgeio and Kerameikos have observed such high demand that their rates on Airbnb have jumped in recent months.
