Greek Reporter — Travel accommodation sites such as Airbnb and HomeAway have seen an increase in owners interested in short-term leases to foreign visitors. As tenants are being evicted in favour of tourists, realtors point to the obvious benefits of leasing out homes by the sea or near museums and tourist sites to visitors who pay by the day and offer more than owners would get in the case of a monthly lease.
Airbnb data shows that there are 30,000 residences available in Greece, however, the actual number is believed to be more than 50,000 around the country. This marks a 135 percent increase to the previous year with no signs of abatement. As a result of the sudden increase, special property management companies have sprouted to advertise homes and apartments on behalf of owners.
A law last year allowed owners to lease homes without needing certification to the Greek National Tourism Organization as long as the lease is shorter than 30 days. This saw interest shoot up, however, the situation has caused many to speculate as to whether supervision will be imposed to protect tourists and ensure basic security and cleanliness is offered.
There is fear that there may be tax evasion with homeowners failing to declare income on their returns unless clients demand an invoice.
