Greek housing market hit by new Airbnb limits and slowing sales

From July 2026 Greece will tighten rules on short‑term rentals, extending the ban on new Airbnb listings in central Athens to the municipality of Thessaloniki. Violations can incur fines of at least €20,000, rising to €40,000 for repeat offences, and properties in prohibited zones will be removed from the short‑term registry. From 1 October 2026 all rental payments must be made through banks, with cash payers losing rent‑return benefits and landlords forgoing a 5 % tax deduction. The property tax (TAP) and the electricity‑use tax will be abolished on 1 January 2027, replaced by a local development fee of 0.3‑0.7‰ collected via electricity bills. Meanwhile, a Uniko‑Qualco study shows that house‑sale times have lengthened, ranging from about four months in the southern suburbs of Athens to nearly seven months in central Athens, reflecting tighter pricing, energy‑efficiency and renovation standards. Prices have risen over 65 % nationwide since 2021, widening the gap between official and market valuations.