2026 Rental Reform in Greece: How the New Rules Are Transforming the Real Estate Market

As of May 1, 2026, significant changes to the procedures for reclaiming leased property have come into effect in Greece. The new rules substantially accelerate debt recovery and property repossession, making the long-term rental market more predictable and structured.

For the Greek market, this is one of the most important legal reforms in recent years: for the first time, the repossession process now has clear timelines, a digital foundation, and a more streamlined administrative mechanism.

For investors, this means reduced legal uncertainty — one of the key factors when purchasing property for long-term rental purposes.

Why It Matters

Before the reform, disputes between property owners and tenants in Greece often turned into lengthy legal battles. In cases of unpaid rent or refusal to vacate after the lease expired, owners could wait 12 to 18 months for a court decision.

This created:

• increased legal risks; 
• additional operational costs; 
• hesitation among investors in the long-term rental segment; 
• reduced supply in the rental market. 

The new system aims to address these issues through fixed timelines and digitalized procedures.

Key Change: Authority Transferred to Certified Attorneys

A central element of the reform is the transfer of authority to issue Property Restitution Orders (Διαταγή Απόδοσης Μισθίου) from judges to specially certified attorneys.

Previously, such decisions were handled exclusively by the courts, significantly increasing delays due to judicial backlog.

Now, the process has become administrative with strict deadlines: a certified attorney must review the case and issue the order within 20 working days.

How the New Procedure Works

1. The owner contacts their lawyer

A legal file is prepared and submitted through the court system.

2. An independent specialist is assigned

The certified attorney cannot be personally selected. Instead, they are automatically appointed from an official court registry, helping improve transparency.

3. Document review

The certified attorney reviews the materials and issues the repossession order.

4. Delivery of the order to the tenant

Once the order is served, the tenant receives a specific period for voluntary vacating of the property.

The “6-Month Rule”: A Predictable Timeline

For lease expiration cases, the law creates a clear procedural timeline.

Stage 1 — Formal notice

The owner serves an official extrajudicial notice (εξώδικο) approximately 90 days before the lease expiration.

Stage 2 — Issuance of the order

After preparation of the legal documents, the administrative repossession procedure begins.

Stage 3 — Relocation period

After receiving the order, the tenant is granted approximately two months to vacate the property.

As a result, the total process typically takes around six months from the initial notice.

If the Tenant Fails to Pay Rent

In cases involving unpaid rent, the process becomes faster.

Following official notice and issuance of the order, the voluntary vacating period may be reduced to approximately 20 days.

The Digital Shield: The Role of Taxisnet

One of the key aspects of the reform is the integration of the procedure with the AADE / Taxisnet digital system.

An electronically registered lease agreement now serves as the primary evidence of:

• the existence of the lease; 
• lease duration; 
• unpaid rent; 
• expiration of the agreement. 

If the contract is not officially registered, the expedited procedure may not be available.

What Remains Unchanged: Tenant Protection

Despite the acceleration of repossession procedures, Greek law continues to preserve basic tenant protections.

Minimum lease term — 3 years

Residential leases in Greece remain protected by a mandatory minimum three-year term, even if the agreement was signed for a shorter period.

No early termination for personal use

Owners cannot terminate an active lease early simply because they wish to occupy the property themselves or house family members.

Greece Compared to Other Mediterranean Markets

For international investors, it is particularly important that Greece is moving toward a more predictable rental market framework compared to several Southern European jurisdictions.

The 2026 reform improves transparency through:

• digital lease registration; 
• fixed procedural timelines; 
• administrative issuance of repossession orders; 
• a clearer balance between tenant protection and owner rights. 

Conclusion

The 2026 rental reform represents one of the most important changes in the Greek real estate market in recent years.

While tenant protections remain in place, the new framework makes the repossession process more transparent, digitalized, and predictable for property owners.

For investors and landlords, the key takeaway is clear: proper lease registration and compliance with formal notice procedures are now essential elements of asset protection.