Greek Hoteliers Request Operation of Airbnb-type Rentals to be Temporarily Suspended

Greek hoteliers recently requested for the temporary suspension of short-term rental leases for private properties (Airbnb-type rentals), citing reasons of public health due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The request was made by the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX) and the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels in a letter sent to a number of Greek ministries, with proposals for support measures for hotels due to Covid-19.

“The properties of private individuals offered for short-term leasing must, for reasons to protect the health of the general public, meet the conditions and specifications of article 46 of Law 4179/2013, which refers that these should be individual homes (not apartments) of at least 80 square meters with their own entrance and licensed by the Tourism Ministry,” the hoteliers said in their letter. (It is noted that the mentioned law has been amended by Law 4254/2014 and then by Law 4442/2016)

PASIDA: This is an unfair request

In response, the Greek Property Managers Association (PASIDA), which represents short-term rental operators, said in a letter to the Tourism Ministry that the request for the government to close down “a large part” of the Greek tourism product is “unfair”, especially when it has been made by tourism professionals and mainly large bodies such as the Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX) and the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

Regarding their health concerns, PASIDA said that it has already started to host seminars for property owners that focus on the proper way to clean and disinfect Airbnb-rentals.

“At the same time, contacts and collaborations have started with disinfection companies throughout Greece for them to provide their services to short-term rental properties between the stays of guests,” PASIDA said.

The association added that a protocol for all short-term rentals to implement the instructions of EODY (Greece’s public health organization) for proper cleaning and disinfection is currently under preparation.

PASIDA underlined that property owners of short-term rentals are available for dialogue with any tourism body to discuss ways to implement EODY’s instructions.

“However, we request for all forms of tourism accommodation (hotels, rooms to let, boarding houses, etc.) to have the same treatment,” ​​the association said.