AADE scrutinizes short-term rentals from October 1st – Restrictions in saturated areas con
Source: Tornos News
Outside the platform of AADE will be from 1st of October the short-term rental properties that do not comply with the new legislative framework for the minimum operational and quality specifications that was established in January of 2025 in article 3 of Law 5170 and applies for private individuals and professionals.
Specifically, as mentioned the Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Olga Kefalogianni, during the press conference for the start of validity of the new framework from 1st of October 2025, this date will mark the first “clearing” in the short-term rental market in Greece, as from the cross-checks that will be carried out by AADE, will be deleted the properties which do not meet the basic specification “main use” that introduced law 5170.
“All the properties that are non-main use and do not have legalization from the urban planning, from the 1st of October will be automatically out of the platform of AADE as they will be considered illegal,” emphasized the minister. AADE can based on the declarations of the property verify electronically whether it concerns property of main or non use, therefore any that has not been declared as main use will be removed from the platform and will not have anymore Property Registration Number (AMA).
This because already was given time of adjustment to the owners from January, when was voted the new framework, added, while the owners of these properties will receive relevant notifications, while from 19th of September has been issued the relevant circular.
After the first “sieve” of AADE, will follow sample checks in the short-term rentals in all the country as well as checks after complaint. In this case, the natural and legal persons will be notified 10 days before the check, regardless if there are visitors inside the accommodation, and until then the owners will be called to comply with the regulations. Already are being planned hirings through ASEP in the Regional Services of Tourism, for personnel which will carry out the checks.
The fine for each violation reaches 5,000 euros and will be multiplied if is found repeatedly the same violation.
According to the circular of the Ministry of Tourism, object of check will be the properties, which are already registered and will be registered in the Register of Short-Term Stay Properties that is kept in AADE and have (AMA). These properties must:
- be spaces of main use (par. 95 of article 2 of law 4067/2012 (A’ 79)) and have natural lighting, ventilation and air conditioning,
- have insurance against civil liability for damages or accidents that can be caused,
- have responsible declaration of electrician installer, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, residual current device or anti-shock relay and escape signage indications, and
- have certificate of rodent control and disinfestation, pharmacy with first aid items, as well as guide with emergency phones.
“The tourist activity in Greece, which is among the 10 top tourist countries worldwide, must operate with rules and legality that apply for all. We promote a fair and clear framework with safe rules so that competition functions fair for all,” emphasized Mrs. Kefalogianni.
The minister pointed out that the pressure that exerts the short-term rental on the housing of Greeks in popular tourist destinations is on the table of discussions at government level.
New spatial and time restrictions are being examined
Beyond the specifications, that “lock” terms of quality of the offered services, and the tax treatment which has already been established in the short-term rental, the government is processing new restrictions both at level of destinations, as well as at time limit in order to be relieved the pressures on housing for the Greeks that are recorded in the popular tourist destinations.
“We are in stage of processing, evaluation in Athens, extension of the limits also in other areas and maybe application of additional restrictions in the short-term rental,” stressed the minister. Specifically, Mrs. Kefalogianni stressed that right now are being evaluated the results of the prohibition of new registrations in the platforms of short-term rental in the 3 central districts of Athens, which according to announcements of the Prime Minister will be extended also inside 2026, and at the same time is being examined the possibility for ceiling also in other, big tourist destinations, where are evident the pressures on housing.
“As ministry we have communicated some areas that we consider that must apply the prohibition based on the estimations of the local authorities. The point is the Greeks to be able to find housing. We have the competence for the tourist activity but we are also interested in what happens with the housing and this concerns the Greeks that want and must find housing,” mentioned the minister.
At the same time, the ministry examines good practices from abroad, such as, for example, the model of France that applies restrictions per calendar year, that is time-based, “with intention the government to process this model so that it applies in Greek destinations” where the short-term rental creates housing pressures.
This indeed was also one of the objects that were discussed in the two informal councils of the Tourism Ministers of Europe, as she said.
She also referred to the fact that the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, recently left open the possibility to exist regulation of the short-term rental at European scale. “In any case, the Greek government is prepared to extend the regulatory framework, either with incentives for long-term rentals, or with restrictions of the short-term,” emphasized the minister.
The short-term rental in the Special Spatial Framework for Tourism
Mrs. Kefalogianni noted that the part of the short-term rental was included in the processing for the Special Spatial Framework for Tourism. “In already developed areas, at a point that cannot bear other investments, there are the same provisions for tourist businesses and short-term rental. Together with the Ministries of Environment and Energy we are in phase of final processing of the Spatial Framework for Tourism, which will foresee also the part of the short-term rental as part of the tourist offer,” she mentioned.
The original article: belongs to Tornos News .
