Athens, November 19 – The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, has sent a strongly worded letter to the Hellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA), represented by its president, Stratos Paradias. The letter addresses the pressing housing crisis in Athens, specifically highlighting the difficulties in finding affordable accommodation, the proliferation of short-term rentals, the issue of closed apartments, and the significant increases in rental prices.
This correspondence follows a prior letter from POMIDA to the Mayor, in which the Federation requested a 5% reduction in the annual household and professional cleaning and lighting fees for the year 2026. This request was made in anticipation of the upcoming preparation and adoption of the Municipality of Athens’ budget for the next fiscal year.
Mayor Doukas Expresses Surprise at POMIDA’s Narrow Focus
In his reply, Mr. Doukas expressed his surprise that POMIDA’s request was directed exclusively to the Municipality of Athens. He noted that the letter was not addressed to broader municipal bodies such as the Central Union of Municipalities and Communities or the Regional Union of Municipalities of Attica. The Mayor suggested that this approach unduly limits the scope of POMIDA’s request to the confines of the Athens municipality.
At the core of Mayor Doukas’s letter is a call for collaborative efforts with POMIDA to address critical issues concerning real estate in Athens. He emphasized that finding solutions is “necessary in order to normalize access to housing, which has become a luxury and not only for vulnerable households.” This statement underscores the Mayor’s view that the current housing situation is detrimental to a wide range of residents, not just those in vulnerable categories.
Key Areas for Cooperation: Vacant Apartments, Short-Term Rentals, and Rent Control
Specifically, Mayor Doukas has outlined several key areas where he seeks POMIDA’s cooperation. These include:
- Opening Thousands of Closed Apartments: The Mayor urges a joint effort to identify and implement strategies to bring thousands of currently vacant apartments back into the housing market.
- Effective Regulation of Short-Term Rentals: He calls for the development and enforcement of effective regulations for short-term rental properties, aiming to mitigate their impact on long-term housing availability and affordability.
- Management of Excessive Rent Increases: Doukas highlights the need to address the “excessive increases in real estate rents,” which he describes as a “crucial blow to the living standards of households and professionals.”
Furthermore, Mr. Doukas has requested that POMIDA advocate to the government for a crucial policy change: the transfer of revenues generated from the short-term rental resilience fee to the municipalities. He argues that these funds, collected from the Federation’s members, should be allocated to local authorities to improve urban infrastructure and services, citing similar practices in other European countries.
The Mayor’s letter concludes with a direct challenge to POMIDA, stating, “Your response to these issues will demonstrate your interest in the citizens.”
POMIDA’s Stance: Unbearable Fees and Prior Rejection
For its part, POMIDA has consistently advocated for a reduction in municipal fees. Their letter to the Mayor reiterated this demand, noting that a similar request was rejected by the municipal authority in the previous year. The Federation’s communication emphasized that the annual cleaning and lighting fees represent an “unbearable amount” for both households and businesses in Athens.
POMIDA’s letter further highlighted that this burden is particularly severe given the persistently high cost of electricity, as electricity bills contribute to the calculation of municipal fees. The Federation expressed its belief that a decision by the Mayor to reduce these fees “will be highly appreciated by our organization and all Athenian citizens, and will set the right example for other local authorities in our country.”
The ongoing exchange between the Mayor of Athens and POMIDA underscores the complex interplay between property ownership, municipal finance, and the pressing social issue of housing affordability in the Greek capital. The outcome of these discussions is expected to have significant implications for both property owners and residents of Athens.
