Year-Long Restriction on Extra Airbnb-type Properties as of Jan 1
New Year, New Rules: Greece Imposes Restrictions on Short-Term Rentals
As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2025, property owners in Greece’s Athens municipal departments woke up to a new reality. The government has imposed restrictions on short-term rentals, aiming to curb the booming sector and address the growing housing shortage.
What’s Changing?
As of January 1, property owners can only list three properties on popular short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, if they are managed or owned by the same legal entity. This is a significant change, especially for those who own multiple properties in the popular tourist areas.
The “Cap” on Short-Term Rentals
The “cap” refers to the maximum number of properties that can be listed on a special electronic short-term lease registry created and maintained by Greece’s tax bureau (AADE or IAPR). This registry is designed to help the government better collect taxable income generated from this booming sector.
Which Areas Are Affected?
The restrictions apply to three specific municipal departments in Athens, including the neighborhoods around the Acropolis, including the Plaka “old quarter” and Thisseio. These areas are popular among tourists, which has contributed to the growing housing shortage in the city.
What’s Next?
The new rules are set to expire on December 31, 2025, giving property owners and investors a one-year window to adapt to the changes. In the meantime, the government is likely to monitor the impact of the restrictions and adjust them as needed.
A Peek into the Numbers
Roughly 100,000 properties in Greece are listed on the tax bureau registry, with 40,000 added in the last four years alone. This surge in popularity has led to concerns about the housing shortage and the government’s efforts to regulate the sector.
‘The proliferation of short-term dwellings in the center of Athens, especially in districts close to sights and monuments that attract millions of visitors every year, is cited as one of the causes of a housing shortage in the Greek capital as well as the wider Athens-Piraeus urban agglomeration,’ said Alexis Patelis, the prime minister’s top economic adviser.