Greece property ownership: Challenges of undivided inheritance

Thousands of properties in Greece remain unexploited due to the complexities of undivided ownership and inheritance. Disagreements among co-owners regarding the use, sale, or rental of property often lead to legal deadlocks, strained family relationships, and the gradual depreciation of asset value.

A common issue arises when one heir occupies a family home exclusively while others continue to pay taxes, such as ENFIA, and maintenance costs. Furthermore, as property passes to subsequent generations, the number of co-owners typically increases while individual shares decrease, complicating management.

Experts advise that litigation should not be the first recourse. Instead, owners should conduct thorough technical and legal assessments to understand their actual holdings, Land Registry entries, and urban planning possibilities. It is important to note that undivided ownership grants a percentage of the entire property rather than a specific physical portion. For instance, three siblings owning one-third of a plot do not automatically own specific square meters of that land. Recent changes to inheritance law may provide new tools for resolving these disputes.