Greece has tightened regulations on tourist rentals
Greece has launched large-scale inspections of apartments and houses rented out to tourists on a short-term basis. Owners who violate registration or documentation requirements may face significant fines, as well as the suspension of their listings and accounts on accommodation booking platforms.
For the first phase, 1,500 properties across various regions of the country—apartments and houses rented out on a short-term basis—were randomly selected.
The owner must be notified of the inspection via email. The notice is sent at least 10 days in advance so that the owner has time to prepare the necessary permits, tax documents, and other paperwork for the property.
If the set of documents is complete and the inspectors have no questions, the entire process can be completed remotely. In this case, no one will visit the apartment or house.
An on-site inspection may be scheduled if the owner did not respond to the notification, did not submit all the required documents, or if the inspectors still have questions regarding the property. During such a visit, the inspectors must present an official written order.
If the owner refuses to allow the inspectors in or has issues with the documents, they may be issued a hefty fine. In addition, their accounts on online platforms for renting housing will be blocked. The government cites tourist safety and the quality of apartments and houses rented on a daily basis as the reasons for these changes. According to Ekathimerini, these inspections are scheduled to become routine in 2026.
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