At a public event co-hosted with the University of Athens, Mayor Haris Doukas detailed plans to address Athens’ housing crisis through targeted municipal interventions.
The Municipality is advancing three key housing projects. The first will transform a city-owned building near Omonia into seven affordable apartments for low-income families, renovated via a public-private partnership. Additionally, two larger programs, backed by European funds and ministries, will subsidize rent for 257 homes for young adults aged 25-39 earning minimum wage and renovate 70 properties for vulnerable households.
Doukas highlighted the crisis’s severity: one in three central Athens residents spends 40% of their income on rent—twice the European average—with rents up 90% in seven years, driven by overtourism shifting properties to short-term rentals. This has left 20% of residents unable to afford winter heating, forcing choices between food and warmth. A Focus Bari study notes 64% of Greeks find rents disproportionately high, and a Bank of Greece report attributes rising costs to high demand and scarce supply.
To tackle these issues, the city is auditing its real estate to assess properties for potential housing use and plans a new building management body to redevelop abandoned buildings with private partners, prioritizing public benefit. Over 2,000 derelict properties are registered, though legal issues hinder progress. Doukas proposed a Housing Observatory and Social Housing Office to streamline efforts and called for legal reforms to enable large-scale redevelopment.
Addressing tourism-related pressures, Doukas cited illegal rooftop conversions in Plaka, with 30 cases violating zoning laws. Post-Easter, the city will ramp up inspections for land use and noise violations, supported by a new Historical Center Office for resident complaints.