7/16/2026
The Greek Ministry of Justice has announced a comprehensive reform of the country's property ownership framework, marking the first major revision of the legislation governing apartment buildings since Law 3741/1929 was introduced almost one hundred years ago. A 13-member expert committee has been appointed to draft the new legal framework, which aims to modernize the rules surrounding co-owned properties, apartment buildings, and emerging housing models such as short-term rentals.
The proposed legislation seeks to replace an outdated legal system with a more flexible and transparent framework that reflects today's housing market and social realities. Its primary objectives are to improve relations among co-owners, reduce legal disputes, simplify property management, and unlock the economic potential of privately owned real estate.
According to Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis, the current legal regime has been amended more than 1,100 times over the past decades, creating a fragmented and complicated system that has generated a significant number of court cases. The reform is intended to consolidate these scattered provisions into a single, coherent Property Code.
One of the most significant proposed changes concerns the division and consolidation of apartments. Property owners may be allowed to split large apartments into two or more independent units or merge adjacent apartments, even if the building regulations currently prohibit such modifications. This measure is expected to increase the availability of housing, particularly in densely populated urban areas, while giving owners greater flexibility in utilizing their properties. For example, an owner of a large apartment could occupy one section while renting out the remaining part.
The draft legislation also introduces substantial changes to the management of apartment buildings. A streamlined legal procedure will be established for collecting unpaid communal expenses, including the possibility of obtaining payment orders through expedited legal processes. In addition, apartment buildings will be required to maintain reserve funds for future maintenance and repairs, while mandatory building insurance is also expected to become part of the new framework. Building managers will receive broader administrative powers but will also assume greater legal responsibilities.
Another important aspect of the reform addresses the difficulty of approving essential maintenance works and energy-efficiency upgrades. Under the current system, necessary projects are often delayed because required voting thresholds cannot be achieved. The new legislation proposes lowering the approval requirements for repairs, maintenance, and energy renovation projects, with the exact voting thresholds varying depending on the urgency and importance of the work.
Deputy Minister of Justice Ioannis Bougas emphasized that the reform will fully respect both the Greek Constitution and European legal standards regarding the protection of property rights. He also outlined several additional priorities of the initiative, including:
The expert committee is expected to complete its work by next autumn, with the government aiming to introduce Greece's first comprehensive Property Code before the end of the year. The reform is designed to modernize property law, reduce legal complexity, encourage investment, and provide property owners with greater flexibility in managing and developing their real estate assets.
Source: https://www.voria.gr/article/allazei-meta-apo-97-hronia-o-nomos-gia-idioktisiako-kathestos-ton-polykatoikion-ti?fbclid=IwdGRleAS0SNVwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUJ02NIWST_Nd7vo3BwTQ2chZ3FaHNGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5BSSSYm8YCaNDvzhxcwdyfvvOL3_vLxHotA6PL8XiZ4YHNDYp_0EGOr8Uenw_aem_rHPD4fTBU4rNY6Lqgn5aeA