The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has submitted new proposals to tackle the housing crisis in Greece, including an additional tax on vacant homes, particularly in areas with high demand. It also proposes scaling up renovation programs for older housing based on income criteria.
The continued increase in property sale prices, which reached 7.8% nationwide in 2025, is driven by high demand, underutilization of existing housing, and limited construction activity, the IMF says.
It also notes that pressures on housing affordability are intensifying due to the mismatch between supply and demand, including local effects from property sharing, such as through short-term rental platforms.
In Attica, 526,154 properties are vacant (25% of the total), with the biggest issue identified in central Athens (117,137).
In the coming period, the Real Estate Ownership Registry (MIDA) is expected to become operational. Among other things, property owners will be required to declare the actual use of their property—whether it is owner-occupied, rented long-term or short-term, vacant, or provided free of charge, etc.
Beyond taxing vacant homes, the IMF also proposes incentives for property owners, such as introducing mechanisms to ensure rent collection in cases where tenants default—something that, according to the organization, would help increase housing supply.
Sources: Καθημερινή, IMF
