The number of active short-term rental properties in central Athens fell by 5.1% year-on-year in August 2026, according to AirDNA data analysed for Kathimerini.
A total of 15,920 properties were listed on Airbnb, Booking and Vrbo, down from 16,770 in August 2025, a decrease of around 850 properties. The decline comes as the ban on new short-term rentals in Athens’ first three municipal districts remains in place. The measure has been in effect since January 2025 and, according to the latest government announcements, will be extended until the end of 2027.
The decline in supply is also attributed to stricter operating requirements for short-term rentals, which have limited the use of spaces such as basements and lofts, as well as tax incentives for owners who switch properties from short-term to long-term rentals. The data show a different picture outside central Athens: across Attica, supply fell by 2.3% to 29,502 properties, while in the rest of the Athens metropolitan area it increased by 1.2%, mainly in coastal areas.
The European Commission is considering a common framework under the Affordable Housing Act that would allow member states to restrict short-term rentals in areas facing housing pressure.
At the European level, the Commission is considering a common framework under the Affordable Housing Act that would allow member states to restrict short-term rentals in areas facing significant housing pressure, under specific conditions and based on evidence of their impact on the housing market.
For Greece, however, the lack of up-to-date data on the housing stock and vacant properties remains a key issue. The Property Ownership and Management Registry (MIDA) aims to address this by recording not only the ownership but also the use of each property. Its launch, however, has been postponed until 2027 due to discrepancies between data held by the Land Registry, Taxisnet and DEDDIE.
Source: Kathimerini
