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Bill for Short-term Rentals Goes to Greek Parliament
Posted On 13 Dec 2016
Tag: Airbnb, Airbnb Athens, Airbnb Greece, apartment leasing Greece, Athens accommodation, Greece accommodation, Greece bailout, Greece crisis, Greece home rentals, Greece tourism, Greece tourism ministry, Greece tourism rentals, Greek National Tourism Organization, Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, hospitality sector Greece, housing laws Greece, leasing, renting, sharing economy, tourism accommodation, tourism accommodation laws Greece, Yiorgos Tsakiris
An adjusted bill set to regulate an ever-growing shadow economy in Greece, was tabled in parliament on Monday, as tourism professionals eagerly await the government to ensure fair play.
According to the draft law, derived income from short-term property rentals will be taxed under the provisions of rental taxation; the property owner will be required to submit a Statement of Assets; properties can be leased for a period of up to 90 days per year and on islands with fewer than 10,000 residents for 60 days with the exception of proprietors declaring less than 12,000 euros annual income, who will be allowed to exceed this quota.
‘’The legislative initiative to regulate the terms and taxation of income for unlicensed accommodation and housing leased out to tourists within a shadow economy is finally a step at settling an issue which the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) has through repeated efforts managed to place on the agenda of public debate,’’ HCH President Yiorgos Tsakiris said of the bill.
Tsakiris added that the HCH has through hard evidence demonstrated the damaging impact of an unregulated sharing economy on the quality of tourism services offered, customer safety, pricing policies, employment and public revenues.
According to the said bill, individuals found renting properties to tourists illegally will be slapped with fines of up to 5,000 euros. Hosts will have to meet the set requirements within 15 days after exposed violations or pay double the penalty.
A welcome initiative. We have been renting a small house with full EOT licence, but with small income. The requirements of operating as a business was just too much. Now will will work under simplified rules, pay our taxes and others who have rented illegally will be exposed. The private and business sectors can work side by side if the proper framework exits.