We have reported extensively on the ongoing turbulence in the short-term rental sector. Airbnb properties remain under constant scrutiny, not only in Greece but around the world.
Governments are trying to tackle the housing crisis, and short-term rental properties have increasingly come into their sights. In country after country, capital cities are targeted first, followed by the cities that attract the most tourists.
Greece is no exception. Athens was the first city to restrict the issuing of new Property Registry Numbers (AMA), and the measure has since been extended to Thessaloniki.
Measure extended until 31 December 2027
When the measure was first introduced, it was announced that it would remain in force until the end of 2025, giving the relevant authorities time to assess how effectively it was addressing the housing crisis.
According to government announcements, the restriction on issuing new AMA numbers has now been extended until 31 December 2027.
When it was first applied, the measure covered the historic centre and commercial triangle of Athens, along with the surrounding areas. It was later extended to Thessaloniki, where the issuing of new Property Registry Numbers (AMA) was banned in the city’s historic and commercial centre.
Properties that had not obtained an AMA before the ban came into force cannot be newly registered in the areas where the measure applies.
Similar measures across Europe
Many European cities are tackling the pressing problem of the housing crisis with similar measures. Barcelona, in fact, aims to phase out Airbnb rentals entirely within the next two years.
Even so, Greece continues to post impressive Airbnb results, with growth roughly double that of the rest of Europe. According to AirDNA data for July 2026, Greece recorded a 14.3% rise in revenue per available rental night, compared with 7.7% across Europe as a whole.
What the figures show for Athens
Active Property Registry Numbers across the three municipal districts of central Athens fell from 29,589 on 31 December 2024 to 27,036 on 8 October 2025, a drop of 8.6%.
Over the same period, in the 1st Municipal District alone – which covers Syntagma, Plaka, Kolonaki, Lycabettus, Exarchia, Omonia, the Commercial Triangle and Ilisia – active AMA numbers fell from 19,076 to 17,525.
The fall in active AMA numbers points to reduced short-term rental activity in these areas, but it does not prove that these properties are returning to the long-term rental market. The real contribution of these measures to tackling the housing crisis will need to be judged by their actual impact on the housing market.