Bill to stop owners of illegal buildings from renting them out
A new bill drafted by the Environment Ministry foresees an overhaul of laws relating to illegal buildings in Greece, obliging owners to legitimize their properties before renting them out while reducing financial penalties for offenders and allowing them to pay their dues in a larger number of installments.
Set out in a 180-page document, the proposed legislation offers discounts on penalties if owners make efforts to improve their illegal properties, such as bolstering them structurally or making them energy efficient.
The bill also widens the net for properties that are eligible for discounts which would apply to all properties that have been put into Greece’s privatization fund, properties belonging to the Church of Greece and those of private sports clubs.
Another proposed change is shifting the responsibility for conducting checks on illegal buildings from municipal town-planning offices to regional authorities.
