The Joint Ministerial Decision (JMA) was published yesterday for the delimitation of the areas affected by the unprecedented flooding phenomena in Thessaly and Central Greece, as well as for the granting of Housing Assistance to the houses and other buildings that were affected.

The funding is estimated, initially, at 116 million euros, for the restoration of damage to buildings from the floods that occurred in September 2023 in areas of the Regional Units (a) Magnesia, Northern Sporades, Karditsa, Larissa and Trikala of the Region of Thessaly, (b) Fthiotida and Evia of the Region of Central Greece, and (c) Eastern Attica of the Region of Attica (Government Gazette B5813 /4-10-2023).

As a result of the above-mentioned MLA, where the Housing Assistance scheme was activated, an expenditure of 102,521,010 euros is caused for the provision of the free state aid and the travel expenses of the engineers participating in the autopsy process and 13,584,300 euros to cover the interest of loans granted.

So, in continuation of autopsies that have been carried out so far and exceed 22,000 in more than 250 communities in Thessaly and Central Greece, the Housing Subsidy scheme is activated, which is implemented by the General Directorate for Rehabilitation of the Effects of Natural Disasters of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

The compensation for “green”, “yellow” and “red” houses

The scheme includes the aid for the restoration of homes and building facilities, where 80% of the repair or restoration of the building is covered by free government aid and 20% by an interest-free loan with the guarantee of the Greek government. The scheme concerns all three categories of affected buildings, as they emerge after the autopsies.

That is, “green”, “yellow” or “red” houses or other buildings affected by inflow of water due to the flood phenomenon. Specifically:

“Green” houses or other buildings, i.e. those with a “green” line during the census autopsy or the “green” triangle during the re-inspection, may receive housing assistance support if they have been flooded:
(a) either in the amount of 60 euros per square meter for a flooded house up to 150 square meters of affected level, with a study drawn up by the engineers of GDAEFK, at no cost to those affected,

(b) either through the submission of a study on the damage to the residence by a private engineer in case the affected person considers that the damage exceeds 60 euros per square meter for the flooded building, with a maximum limit in this case of 150 euros per square meter – maintaining the 150 square meter limit.

Therefore, in the case of a “green” residence of 150 square meters, the strengthening of the state aid can reach either 7,200 euros through the way of the study by the service, or 18,000 euros through the way of the study by a private engineer.

“Yellow” houses or other buildings, i.e. those with a “yellow” triangle during the re-check, may receive:

(a) first aid against housing assistance in the amount of 5,000 euros through the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr, with the amount in question then offset by the reinforcement of housing assistance, and

(b) housing assistance assistance through the submission of a study on the building’s damage to the load-bearing structure – but also to the non-load-bearing elements of the building – by a private engineer, with a maximum limit in this case of 350 euros per square meter, maintaining the limit of 150 square meters.

Therefore, in the case of a “yellow” building of 150 square meters, the increase in state aid can reach 42,000 euros for the repair of the building with a study by a private engineer.

“Red” houses or other buildings, i.e. those with a “red” triangle during re-inspection, may receive:

(a) first aid against housing assistance in the amount of 10,000 euros through the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr, with the amount in question then offset by the reinforcement of housing assistance, and

(b) housing assistance assistance through the submission of a study by a private engineer for the reconstruction of the residence, with a maximum limit in this case of 1,000 euros per square meter – maintaining the limit of 150 square meters.

Therefore, in the case of a “red” house of 150 square meters, the increase in state aid can reach 120,000 euros for the reconstruction of the house with the issuance of a building permit by the competent YMCA by a private engineer.

It is also noted that houses or other buildings made of cobblestones which have been damaged by the flood phenomenon and have been characterized as temporarily unfit for use, i.e. “yellow” and have suffered serious damage, if the affected owners wish to demolish them, they may apply to GDAEFK for their re-inspection in order to examine the possibility characterizing them as buildings constructed of inferior materials that cannot be repaired.

In this case, the buildings characterized as constructed from inferior materials enter the category of buildings designated as “red” and can receive the corresponding housing assistance support to reconstruct their building based on modern materials and data.

At the same time, it should be noted that an extension of the housing assistance scheme is being considered to further help flood-affected homeowners to build new buildings – to replace those deemed at risk of collapse.

Finally, it should be mentioned again that following the measures adopted in the context of dealing with the effects of the severe bad weather “Daniel” that hit areas of Thessaly by decision of the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, responsible for natural disaster recovery and state aid , Mr. Christou Triantopoulos, the establishment of the Natural Disaster Impact Recovery Sector of the Thessaly Region proceeded.