Greece's €6.5 billion housing plan transforms Athens households and landlord practices

A national housing strategy covering 2026 to 2035 proposes €6.5 billion in measures that could affect households, landlords and developers in Athens, Kathimerini reported. The draft plan combines social housing, vacant-property activation, student housing and residential construction. It was open for public consultation until 3 July, so the reported measures were proposals rather than completed changes to housing law.

The draft contains 14 new measures alongside 36 initiatives already implemented in recent years. One proposal would expand the My Home programme to support young and low- to middle-income households with home purchase. Instead of relying only on direct interest-rate subsidies financed through national or European resources, the plan would use tax incentives for financial institutions offering reduced-rate housing loans to eligible borrowers.

Another proposed measure would create a specialised Golden Visa category linked to housing availability. Investors could acquire portfolios containing more than one property if the homes were offered exclusively for long-term rental within a specified period. The proposal would include eligibility criteria and monitoring, while excluding short-term-rental use from the relevant housing purpose.

For Athens, the strategy also addresses supply. Kathimerini reported proposed financial incentives for developers to build affordable and social housing in areas facing significant pressure. The tools listed include low-interest loans, guarantees, interest-rate subsidies and other co-financing. The draft also proposes a reduced VAT rate for affordable and social housing construction and changes intended to speed building permits through digital systems.

Students are included through a proposed digital platform connecting property owners with prospective tenants and potential roommates. The measures would have different effects across Athens’ housing market, but none should be treated as operational until the consultation and legislative process is complete.

The plan’s connection to Athens is through the households and housing institutions affected by its national measures. Social housing incentives, vacant-property activation, student matching and long-term rental conditions could all matter in a pressured metropolitan market, but the draft does not allocate a specific Athens budget. Its €6.5 billion figure covers the national strategy and should not be read as a city-only commitment. The consultation date also matters because the text could still change before any measures are enacted or administered. A national framework would still require implementing rules before residents could apply for any particular benefit. The strategy does not state which Athens neighbourhoods would qualify for future construction incentives nationally.

Sources: www.ekathimerini.com.