Athens Court Rules on Airbnb Short-Term Rentals in Apartment Buildings

The Single‑Judge Court of First Instance in Athens (case No. 2937/2026) ruled that an apartment used for short‑term rentals violated the building’s condominium regulation, which designates each unit exclusively for residential use. The court accepted the request and prohibited the specific short‑term rental of that unit.

The decision underscores the critical role of condominium statutes and horizontal ownership agreements in Greece. Owners and investors must now conduct thorough legal and technical checks before purchasing or converting property for platforms such as Airbnb. While the ruling does not constitute a blanket ban on Airbnb across all buildings, it signals that older condominium rules—often drafted decades before the rise of short‑term‑rental platforms—can still have decisive legal weight.

Existing Airbnb listings in buildings with restrictive condominium provisions may face challenges or disputes among co‑owners, prompting a reassessment of current short‑term‑rental operations.