Athens limits short-term rentals in downtown

A one-year ban on registering new apartments for short-term rentals came into effect on Wednesday in the Greek capital of Athens, as authorities seek to find solutions to a housing shortage for permanent residents, reports Euronews.

In 2024, the number of available beds in short-term rental units reached 1,022 million in the months up to August—overtaking the 887,740 beds in the country’s hotels for the first time, according to local newspaper Ekathimerini.

The aforesaid law sets a one-year ban on registering new apartments in several Athenian districts including in-demand areas such as Kolonaki, Koukaki, Pangrati, and Exarchia.

The legislation, which was approved in November, gave homeowners in the areas until  Tuesday to declare their properties, and also offers tax breaks to property owners who switch from short to long-term rentals.