February 15, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Housing crisis: the state takes control of “ownerless” houses for vulnerable families


AADE together with Directorate of Charitable Property connects Property census with data on “ownerless” real estate. Found around 7,000 cases no active successors; the goal is inventory and efficient use of funds.

The government’s economic bloc comes to the fore real estatewhich “stuck” due to lack of heirs or mass refusals of inheritance. The task is twofold: quickly identify and clear objects that have been transferred to the state, but are effectively “frozen,” and direct them to support vulnerable families.

Registry integration and the first picture

AADE in conjunction with the Directorate of Charitable Property launches integration Property census (Perιουσιολόγιο) with an array of data on “orphan” inheritances. As of today, the order has been revealed 7,000 cases without active successors. The goal is a complete mapping of such assets, many of which remain unknown or abandoned for years.

Bill: digital infrastructure and new guardian

In the coming days, a draft law will be put out for public consultation, simplifying procedures and reducing deadlines. The document creates Electronic register of charitable assets And Platform of “orphaned” inheritanceswhich will be linked to other government registries.

The key innovation is a special guardian and liquidator institution for cases where the heirs have not been found. The body will act as a legal entity of private law: the chairman is approved by parliament, the leadership is appointed by the Minister of Economy. The mandate is to speed up the transfer of property to the state and prepare facilities for social use.

Why reform is needed: current bottlenecks

Today, the path from the fact of “ownerlessness” to the disposal of the object takes years. Often up to two years it takes only for the service to learn about such an inheritance, and even before two years — for the appointment of liquidators and completion of procedures. All this time, the property sits idle, accumulates debts and physically deteriorates.

Even when it comes to liquidation, 98% In some cases, property is sold to pay off debts, and the state is left with almost nothing. According to the Ministry of Economy, currently there are less than 100 “pure” objects that came from “orphan” inheritances.

Finding heirs: a long process

Delays are increasing due to late notification of refusals of inheritance and difficulties in finding relatives. Every time a search for potential heirs is carried out through the Register of Citizens, and this procedure lasts for months and years.

What will change: from idleness to use

The new frame is designed to cut this knot. Digital registries, uniform rules and a specialized trustee-liquidator should reduce downtime, bring order to “nobody’s” real estate and direct suitable properties to solve housing problems – especially for vulnerable families.

Note: a full list of procedures and criteria will be provided in the text of the bill after the start of public consultation.





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