Among other things, the new bill of the Ministry of Tourism, which was submitted last Wednesday, January 8, to the Parliament, brings significant changes to the short-term rental of real estate. Airbnb owners who will make their property available on a short-term rental platform will now have to meet specific specifications in order to insure the visitor as well as the country’s tourism product.

Based on a specific provision, the properties when they are places of primary use and meet the necessary conditions can be leased for a short period of time.

What does the new bill provide for short-term rentals?

More specifically, as stipulated in article 3, properties that are leased short-term, in accordance with article 111 of the law. 4446/2016 (A’ 240) meet the following specifications:

a) are areas of primary residential use of par. 95 of article 2 of n. 4067/2012 (A’ 79) and have natural lighting, ventilation and air conditioning,

b) have civil liability insurance for damages or accidents that may be caused,

c) they have a responsible statement of an electrician, fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, cut-off relays or anti-electric shock relays and signs of escape and

d) they have a myocide and disinfestation certificate, a pharmacy with first aid items, as well as a guide with emergency telephone numbers.

To ensure compliance with the above, on-site inspections will be carried out at the house that is rented and has been declared on the special platform of the Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) by employees of the Ministry of Tourism and by joint inspection crews with employees of the AADE and employees of the Ministry of Tourism.

At least 10 days prior to the inspection, the property manager will be notified in any appropriate way. If it is deemed necessary, the officials who carry out the control, request the assistance of the Greek Police bodies to carry out the control, which provide it at the time and place requested.

It is noted that property managers are required to have an independent administration a fine of 5,000 eurosif entry to the controlled property is not allowed, some of the specifications are not met such as lack of natural lighting or ventilation, etc. or they do not comply with the obligations of the new legal framework.

The fine is imposed and collected within fifteen 15 calendar days from the day the violation is established.

If a new inspection is carried out within 1 year from the notification of the act imposing a fine and a violation of the specifications of the new legal framework is found, the fine is imposed at double and in the case of each subsequent same violation at four times the initially imposed.

The position of the agencies on the new bill

The regulations in the short-term lease brought by the bill of the Ministry of Tourism comes as a result of requests from the hotel industry that speak of unfair competition.

The president of SETE, Yiannis Paraschis, speaking at the Association’s annual conference held in December, noted that “the rise of short-term leasing has created new opportunities by significantly increasing the carrying capacity of destinations, but also great challenges that we are urgently – but without aphorisms – called upon to face A framework of rules is needed that will prevent unfair competition and distortions in the housing market, but also the overconcentration of tourist flows in uncontrolled destinations.

In this direction, important steps have been taken recently, according to Mr. Supply. “The law passed a year ago established a clear framework for taxation by separating professional activity from the occasional private holding which it explicitly identifies, while giving further possibilities to limit rental days in saturated areas. With this year’s bill of the minister Tourism functional specifications are introduced. While with the latest tax law, additional conditions are introduced regarding the platforms and licenses are suspended in 3 apartments of the capital. Under the condition of the adequacy of control mechanisms, we consider that the institutional framework that is being formed is moving in the right direction to ensure the positive effects while avoiding the negative consequences of short-term leasing” said the president of SETE.