Islands face short-term rental freeze

Greece is moving to restrict short-term rentals similar Airbnb connected islands and successful tourist-saturated areas under a caller spatial readying model for tourism, though astir measures stop abbreviated of contiguous enforcement.

The framework, published this week by the Environment Ministry for a two-week informal nationalist consultation, would let authorities to enforce geographically differentiated conditions connected short-term rental enactment – up to and including outright bans successful designated zones. Beds offered done short-term rental platforms would besides number toward calculating the tourist “carrying capacity” of a fixed area.

The provisions bash not take nonstop effect. Instead, they found a ineligible architecture for aboriginal restrictions, including rules connected however agelong properties whitethorn beryllium rented, limits connected caller registrations successful high-pressure areas, and geographic exclusion zones.

One factual measurement flagged for followup authorities is simply a suspension connected registering recently built homes connected the islands into the short-term rental system. This would beryllium achieved by halting the issuance of caller spot registration numbers – known arsenic AMA – by the Finance Ministry done the Independent Authority for Public Revenue.

The inclusion of adjacent humble restrictions connected short-term rentals reportedly delayed finalization of the framework, with negotiations continuing until the past moment. Officials from the Tourism Ministry indicated the rental provisions were added connected their initiative.

A ineligible quirk complicates enforcement: Although short-term rentals are efficaciously hospitality businesses, Greek instrumentality classifies them arsenic residential use, placing licensing authorization with the Finance Ministry alternatively than the Tourism Ministry, which tin lone inspect properties pursuing complaints.

Similar restrictions were legislated arsenic acold backmost arsenic 2016 but were not applied until 2025, and lone within prime cardinal Athens districts – areas the caller model classifies arsenic “developed” alternatively than critically saturated.