Tax benefits for long -term lease. Airbnb: restrictions are preserved and expanded

The Greece government announced extension of tax benefits for real estate owners who transfer their objects From the category of empty or short -term rental to long -term. This was announced by the Prime Minister Kiryakos Mitsotakis During the presentation of new measures.

According to the current mechanism, the benefit is provided for housing with an area of ​​up to 120 sq.m., if it is rented under a lease for at least three years. The condition applies to contracts signed with September 8, 2024 to December 31, 2025. Now this regime will be valid in 2026.

Moreover, if the tenant terminates the contract ahead of schedule or the object is returned to short -term lease (for example, to the regime Airbnb), the tax benefit is canceled in retroactively. This aspect caused criticism, since the benefit is “tied” to a specific tenant, and not to the object itself. In addition, a three -year term excludes the categories of tenants who usually look for housing for a shorter period – among them teachers, military, doctors and civil servants.

Restrictions for Airbnb

At the same time, the government enhances control over short -term rental. A temporary ban on the issuance of new Aριθμών μητρώου ακινήτων (αμα) – registration numbers for renting housing through Airbnb and similar platforms – in the three largest areas of Athens. These include Posters, colonaki, kukaki, syntagma, homonia, monastiraks, exarchy, ilisia, napopoli, mets, neo -cosmos, pantrait, votanikos, metaxurgiy, Gazi, Petralon and Ruf.

As the Prime Minister specified, The ban will be valid until December 31, 2026. In addition, in the coming months, the government will consider the possibility of expanding this mechanism to other areas of the country, where the housing problem is especially acute.

The general goal of the declared measures is Increase housing supply for long -term rental And reduce pressure on the real estate market.

To whom the measures are beneficial

• Lessers -It is profitable to rent housing and receive tax bonuses for a long time, but flexibility is lost due to rigid conditions.
• Tenants – More apartments are expected in the market, but prices can remain high, especially in tourist areas.
• The market as a whole – measures are aimed at holding up prices, but without construction programs and subsidies the effect will be limited.

Forecast for 2026

Experts believe that in 2026 the number of available apartments for long -term rent will really increase, especially in Athens. However, demand will remain high, which will retain the pressure on prices. If the restrictions for Airbnb are expanded to the islands, Tourism business may suffer lossesbut this will become a help for local residents.

The main challenge for the government – not only limit short -term rentalbut also create new mechanisms for support for housing constructionOtherwise, the problem of the shortage of apartments will remain unresolved.

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