Rent Arrears: What Landlords Can Do to Collect Rent

Delay or even refusal to pay rent is a “headache” for thousands of property owners.

However, according to data POMIDA (Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners), There are three legal ways in which a landlord can collect the rent owed to him:

1. Termination of lease: According to the Civil Code, the landlord can terminate the lease due to non-payment of rent.

2. Eviction claim: the owner may file a claim under the Code of Civil Procedure.

3. Procedure for paying rent: This is a simplified procedure that does not require trial. In it, the owner can demand immediate return of the property and at the same time demand the rent due.

POMIDA proposed and achieved significant changes in the process of issuing rent refund orders, which were included in Law 4055/2012. These changes shorten the process, simplifying the legal procedure for expelling defaulters. Through this process, the landlord can demand not only the return of the property, but also repayment of outstanding rent, utilities and utility bills. Tips for owners from POMIDA:

• Careful selection of tenant: Before signing a lease, it is important to thoroughly check the background and reliability of a potential tenant.
• Drawing up a detailed agreement: The lease agreement must be clear and comprehensive, precisely defining the rights and obligations of the contracting parties.
• Accounting: It is important to keep records of all tenancy-related documents, such as payment receipts and notices.
• Contact a lawyer: If you are having problems with a defaulting tenant, it is important to consult with an attorney.

What to do if the tenant left things behind? If after eviction the tenant left behind movable things, the landlord is obliged to temporarily place them in storage. POMIDA has achieved changes in legislation that reduce the owner's liability for storing these items to six months.

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