STAMA Criticizes Increased Climate Resilience Fee on Greek Airbnb-type Rentals

President of the Real Estate Association of Athens-Attica Eleftherios Potamianos, STAMA Vice President Konstantinos Kiamos, REVITHIS Real Estate Founder and General Manager Giannis Revithis. Photo source: STAMA

The Greek government’s recent decision to raise the Climate Resilience Fee on short-term rentals from 1.50 to 8 euros has sparked opposition among property owners, who argue that it establishes a two-tier accommodation market.

Speaking at the 25th Prodexpo real estate conference, Short-Term Accommodation Managers Association (STAMA) Vice President Konstantinos Kiamos noted that the fee increase, effective January 2025, aligns Airbnb-type rentals with the tax structure of 4- and 5-star hotels, adding substantial financial pressure on rental owners.

“This is a tax measure that will certainly impact the sector,” Kiamos said, underlining that this is the second round of fees imposed within a year. The resilience fee for short-term rentals was first introduced in January 2024, alongside municipal taxes and VAT.

The increased climate levy is part of a series of government measures aimed at addressing overtourism and Greece’s housing crisis. These initiatives include a one-year ban on new short-term rental agreements in three central Athens districts, such as Syntagma Square, Pagrati, Kerameikos, and Metaxourgeio, in an effort to preserve the character of these neighborhoods.

Kiamos argued that the government, on the grounds of supporting high-traffic tourism areas, is imposing an additional tax as significant as the initial one, raising concerns among owners regarding the impact on their businesses.

5 billion euros revenue in 2024

Photo source: Airbnb

During the discussion, Kiamos emphasized that short-term rentals are essential to the smooth operation of Greek tourism, as they provide additional accommodation options for the large influx of tourists visiting Greece.

According to data from STAMA and the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), Greece has between 100,000 and 120,000 Airbnb-style units, which generate around 5 billion euros in revenue, with 1 billion collected in taxes due to high compliance among owners. According to Kiamos, since all transactions are electronic, they are easily monitored by the state.

Athens hosts around 10 percent of these, or approximately 10,000 to 12,000 rentals.

“These make up just 1 percent of the housing stock, meaning that only one in every 100 houses is used for short-term rental,” Kiamos explained, arguing that short-term rentals do not significantly worsen the country’s housing problem.

However, he added that it is a positive step for the government to bring the issue of closed apartments into public debate, aiming to highlight that Greece’s housing problem is largely due to the outdated and inefficient use of the country’s aging building stock.

Emphasizing the sector’s positive social impact, Kiamos noted that short-term rentals support around 40,000 jobs. Additionally, rental guests contribute to local economies by shopping at bakeries, supermarkets, and dining in local restaurants and tavernas.

The Prodexpo conference serves as the annual flagship event for the real estate industry, offering top-notch content, speaker sessions, mentoring opportunities, and insightful discussions on emerging trends in real estate and development projects.