I read with great interest, the proposed new law, article 14, on the regulation of the letting of privately owned holiday villas to short-term tenants. I am delighted, as a foreign resident, owning property in Greece, to see that this issue is now being debated.
I have not recently been able to use my holiday home, nor my family been able to use it as much as possible, because we have some economic difficulties in our home country. However it would be a real asset to be able to allow others to benefit from the privilege of residing in an hotel environment for themselves while they are on holiday. This is a growing target market, and there are certain visitors, particularly to the Greek islands, who only visit if such private accommodation is available.
This type of holiday accommodation is widely available throughout Europe and indeed throughout the world, and most countries have a very neat system in order to ensure that the market flourishes.
As an owner, I am happy to pay tax on clear earnings , as the new law is applied for this year.
I do however have a few observations to make on the proposed law:
Application of this law must be applied universally to every holiday home rental owner and monitored so no areas of Greece are excluded.
Why an arbitrary limit to 3 months, must the accommodation be left empty depriving off-peak tourists of the opportunity of residing there and the chance of the local businesses to make money for visitors be limited to 3 months each year?
Also why a limit to villas above 100 sq. metres, this excludes smaller properties which would be ideal for families - often the mainstay of off season visits.
Aileen French
Tourism and Marketing Lecturer
Oxford Brookes University, UK
I read with great interest, the proposed new law, article 14, on the regulation of the letting of privately owned holiday villas to short-term tenants. I am delighted, as a foreign resident, owning property in Greece, to see that this issue is now being debated. I have not recently been able to use my holiday home, nor my family been able to use it as much as possible, because we have some economic difficulties in our home country. However it would be a real asset to be able to allow others to benefit from the privilege of residing in an hotel environment for themselves while they are on holiday. This is a growing target market, and there are certain visitors, particularly to the Greek islands, who only visit if such private accommodation is available. This type of holiday accommodation is widely available throughout Europe and indeed throughout the world, and most countries have a very neat system in order to ensure that the market flourishes. As an owner, I am happy to pay tax on clear earnings , as the new law is applied for this year. I do however have a few observations to make on the proposed law: Application of this law must be applied universally to every holiday home rental owner and monitored so no areas of Greece are excluded. Why an arbitrary limit to 3 months, must the accommodation be left empty depriving off-peak tourists of the opportunity of residing there and the chance of the local businesses to make money for visitors be limited to 3 months each year? Also why a limit to villas above 100 sq. metres, this excludes smaller properties which would be ideal for families - often the mainstay of off season visits. Aileen French Tourism and Marketing Lecturer Oxford Brookes University, UK