Regarding media reports and public statements linking the National Housing Policy Strategy to the possible imposition of rent caps, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family categorically clarifies that neither does the Strategy include any such proposal, nor is the Government considering or intending to proceed with any form of administrative regulation or cap on rents.
The National Strategy for Housing Policy, which has been submitted for public consultation, is the first comprehensive roadmap for addressing the country’s housing challenges. It outlines the current state of the housing market, analyzes trends and challenges in Greece and Europe, and establishes a coherent framework of guidelines for the development of housing policy in the coming years.
Regarding the issue of rent caps, the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family clarifies: it is not considering, nor does it intend to implement, any system of administrative rent setting or rent caps.
International experience from countries that have adopted such measures is complex, and the results are often controversial. In several cases, adverse effects have been observed, such as a reduction in the supply of rental housing, a halt in residential investment, and a deterioration in the quality of the available housing stock.
Furthermore, the Greek housing market exhibits specific characteristics that make such interventions even more problematic. It is telling that the average declared rent in tax administration data remains at levels that do not fully reflect the actual state of the market, a fact that demonstrates the extent of the phenomenon of underreporting rents. Under these circumstances, imposing administrative restrictions could further fuel the informal economy rather than address the problem of affordable housing.
In any case, the introduction of rent control in the context of social housing should not be confused with the imposition of rent caps on private properties.
The government’s housing policy focuses on increasing the housing supply, utilizing vacant properties, strengthening social and affordable housing, facilitating young people’s access to homeownership, and supporting renters through targeted measures. Addressing the housing crisis requires structural interventions that increase the available housing stock, rather than administrative price controls.