Greece to reform property laws and Airbnb regulations

The Greek Ministry of Justice is developing a new legislative framework to modernize property ownership and co-ownership laws. A central feature of the proposed reform is the ‘51% rule,’ which would allow a 51% majority in apartment buildings to make decisions, preventing a minority from blocking the will of the majority.

The legislation aims to address modern challenges not envisioned when current laws were established nearly a century ago, specifically the rise of short-term rentals via platforms like Airbnb. In cities like Athens, over 95% of active short-term rentals are apartments within multi-unit buildings, often leading to legal disputes between owners who rent their units and those who prefer long-term residency.

A 13-member committee of legal experts is currently working to codify approximately 1,030 existing pieces of legislation regarding horizontal property ownership. The reform is expected to cover vertical ownership, undeveloped land, and plots to reduce long-standing judicial disputes. The goal is to have the bill voted on by early 2027, with the framework potentially finalized by the end of 2026.