Airbnb Ban in 5 More Well-Known Areas: Major Changes Starting October

Airbnb short-term rentals: Permits suspended in five more areas

Following the restrictions already introduced on issuing new short-term rental permits in central Athens, the government is now moving forward with similar measures for five more areas. These locations face intense housing market pressure due to the rapid expansion of Airbnb listings.

According to ERT, the government plans to extend the ban on issuing new Airbnb permits in five areas, mirroring what has already been implemented in central Athens.

The Five Areas

The areas affected are: Thessaloniki, Santorini, Chania, Paros, and Halkidiki. In these locations, rental prices have skyrocketed, creating serious problems for traditional long-term rental housing.

ERT reports that the sharp rise in properties listed on short-term rental platforms has drastically reduced the availability of long-term rentals, resulting in a 20% increase in rents over the past two years.

What the New Framework Includes from October 1

The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has issued clarifications on the new framework, so that property owners and Airbnb managers are properly informed.

• From January 1, 2024, a short-term rental is defined as the rental or sublease of a furnished property for up to 59 days, provided that no services are offered beyond the provision of bed linen.
  The classification of a rental as “short-term” applies regardless of whether the rental is arranged via a digital platform or not. It is also clarified that the 59-day limit refers to the duration of each individual rental, not the total number of days a property may be rented short-term in a year.
• Rentals of 60 days or more are now considered long-term leases and require the submission of a Property Lease Information Declaration.
• Rentals that include additional services beyond bed linen are classified as tourist accommodations and require the start of business activity with the AADE.
• Properties located within the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Municipal Districts of Athens may be registered and receive a new registration number, provided they were already listed in the Short-Term Accommodation Property Register as of December 31, 2024. Examples include: a) Signing a new lease agreement due to the termination of the previous one, with either a new or the same tenant/subtenant.
  b) Change of property manager, without altering ownership status.
  c) Change of manager due to transfer of ownership (through sale, gift, or inheritance).
  d) Re-registration of the same property by the same manager following the previous deactivation of its registration number (AMA).

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