Greece’s new housing package marks a clear turning point for both Golden Visa investors and short-term rental owners, as the government moves to steer homes away from tourism use and back into the long-term rental market.
For investors, the message is opportunity—with conditions. Developers and investment vehicles that build new homes or convert offices, factories, and warehouses into residences will enjoy generous tax incentives, provided the properties are rented long term for at least 10 years. These conversions are already drawing the attention of Golden Visa investors, since they qualify at a lower investment threshold. The trade-off is clear: these properties cannot operate as Airbnbs.
For short-term rental owners, the rules are tightening fast. The ban on issuing new Airbnb registration numbers is being extended to central Thessaloniki, joining central Athens. Even more significantly, in restricted zones the Airbnb license is now cut loose from the property itself. When a home is sold, gifted, or inherited, it is automatically removed from the Short-Term Rental Registry, forcing the new owner to choose between long-term leasing or owner occupation.
Together, the measures draw a new line in the housing market—rewarding investors who commit to long-term housing, while putting firm brakes on the expansion of Airbnb activity in Greece’s most pressured city centers.
