Greece to Enforce New Rules for Short-term Rentals Starting October 1

As of October 1, 2025, new specifications for short-term rental properties in Greece will take effect, Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced on Thursday.

Closing the debate on the bill that includes the “establishment of specifications for short-term rental properties” in the plenary session of the Greek Parliament, Kefalogianni highlighted the ministry’s goal to set standards for short-term leasing for the first time in Greece.

“The basic functional specification for properties subject to short-term leasing is that they must be spaces of primary use, as defined in article 2 of the new building regulations,” the minister said. “We believe a reasonable amount of time should be given to these new regulations, which is why we set the validity of article 3 to begin on October 1, 2025.”

The bill was passed by a majority in the Greek Parliament, with ruling center-right New Democracy voting in favor, center-left PASOK and the far-right “Spartiates” coalition members declaring themselves present, and other parties voting against.

New rules for short-term rentals from October 1

The new law introduces operational standards for properties wishing to operate in Greece’s short-term rental market, including:

– Civil liability insurance for damages or accidents
– Certification from a licensed electrician, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, cut-off relay, and escape signs
– A pest control certificate, first-aid kit, and emergency contact guide
– Residential properties must have proper natural lighting, ventilation, and air conditioning

It should be noted that the draft bill initially excluded properties not classified as “primary residential” — such as warehouses and former industrial or craft buildings — from short-term rental platforms. However, a last-minute change to the bill removed the term “residential” from the definition of eligible properties. This means that even repurposed properties can now continue to be rented short-term.

The adjustment is estimated to protect about 20,000 properties, especially those located in urban centers, from being excluded from the market.

However, basements and semi-basements that fail to meet the bill’s standards will be removed from platforms such as Airbnb, Expedia, etc.

Enhanced inspections and sanctions

The bill also establishes a strict framework for inspections and penalties for properties listed on short-term rental platforms.

Under the new provisions, inspections will be carried out by mixed teams of Tourism Ministry employees and inspectors from Greece’s Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE).

Property owners must fully cooperate with inspections and provide the necessary certificates for electrical safety, civil liability insurance, and sanitary measures like pest control and disinfection.

€5,000 fine for non-compliance

Failure to comply will result in a 5,000-euro fine, with higher penalties for repeat offenders.

The fine applies if inspectors are denied access to the property, if the property does not meet the required specifications (such as lack of natural lighting or ventilation), or if the owner fails to fulfill the necessary obligations.

If a new inspection is carried out within a year of the original fine notification (changed from just 15 days in the original draft), and a violation is found, the fine will be doubled. For each subsequent violation, the fine will be quadrupled, i.e., 5,000 euros.

Reactions

Prior to the bill’s passage, it received positive feedback from key Greek tourism bodies, including the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation, and the Greek Confederation of Tourist Accommodation Enterprises (SETKE).

However, the Hellenic Property Federation (POMIDA) criticized the bill, calling it “scandalous,” while the Short Term Accommodation Managers Association (STAMA Greece) warned that it could disrupt investments in renovated properties.

Moreover, members of the Greek Property Managers Association (PASIDA) have announced plans to pursue legal action to have the law declared unconstitutional. Before the vote, the association threatened to halt reservations for February and, if the bill passed, extend this refusal through August, a peak tourist season.

It is worth noting that tax revenue from short-term rentals in Greece has increased significantly in recent years, with a more than tenfold rise since 2017, according to Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE). The head of the authority, Giorgos Pitsilis, indicated that revenues from short-term rentals were expected to reach 830 million euros in 2024.