Of course, not everyone goes to Greece with the intention of buying a property, and it will often be necessary to rent. Whether it’s just for a short period of time or for the long term, Greece has its own rules that you should know in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. Also, there are some real estate rental websites that I will explain. From the search for accommodation, to the contract, to the deposit, I’m Lisbob, the expats assistant, and I’m going to explain everything you need to know to find accommodation in Greece.
Accommodation search
Greece is a country that has modernized and most ads are now published online. Even if you are not there yet, it can be a good idea to get an idea of the prices and conditions offered.
Below you will find a selection of the best sites to search for an apartment in Greece.
Spitogatos (https://en.spitogatos.gr): Spitogatos is quite popular and easy to use. Its main advantage is that it is in English, and therefore it allows you to search for accommodation ads quite easily.
Craigslist: Pioneers in the field of Internet classifieds, Craigslist remains widely used in Greece and offers many apartment options that are updated daily.
Spiti24 (https://www.spiti24.gr/en): This is another important Greek real estate portal, and it is also in English.
XE (https://www.xe.gr): XE is a huge classifieds site in Greece. Similar to Gumtree in the UK, it allows you to find numerous housing ads. Please note this site is only in Greek.
It is recommended to visit the property in person or to go through a real estate agency to be sure to pay what you expect. Finally, in small villages or on islands, word-of-mouth remains one of the best options for finding a property.
You will knkow everything to find an accommodation in Greece
Rental agreement
In Greece the lease has a normal duration of 3 years renewable, but it is possible to find shorter durations like 12 months.
In order for it to be legal, the Greek rental contract must show the different names of both parties, their tax numbers, the location of the rental, its use, the amount of rent and the duration of the contract.
It is necessary to be careful because many Greeks propose not to make a contract to pay in cash, in the interest for them not to declare the income. I do not recommend it to you because without a contract the owner can decide to put you on the street overnight, without any means of defending yourself because you don’t have a contract.
It is also necessary to negotiate the rent increases that will take place in advance during the execution of the contract. If this is not done, the rent will automatically be revalued at 75% of the official inflation.
Also, it is not common to make an inventory of fixtures, whether at the beginning or at the end of your stay. Remember to agree on the condition of the apartment when you take possession of it so as not to lose out on the deposit.
Deposit
As in other countries, Greek landlords and agencies will ask for a deposit before you move in. According to the official texts, the deposit requested cannot exceed two months’ rent, but when you are a foreigner and you cannot necessarily justify your income, you should be prepared to be asked for up to six months’ rent.
At the end of the rental contract, the deposit is returned to the tenant, minus the costs for any damage. The tenant is, of course, obliged to return the property in the same condition in which it was received.
