More than six in 10 renters opted in 2026 for homes of up to 75 sq m, while two in 10 chose properties measuring 76 to 100 sq m. At the same time, the vast majority of properties let (about eight in 10) are more than 20 years old, while newly built homes (up to five years old) accounted for 6% of all residential lettings.
These figures are from a nationwide REMAX Greece survey of property lettings in 2026. For another year, the findings show that when choosing a home, renters continue to place particular importance on location, any renovations carried out and other quality features that play a decisive role in determining the final rent.
REMAX Greece’s annual analysis, based on data from lettings arranged through the country’s largest estate agency network, which has 92 offices and more than 1,200 property consultants, clearly captures trends in residential lettings. It provides detailed data on floor area and age, as well as the specific property features renters are looking for.
The figures show notable differences in trends between Attica, Thessaloniki and the rest of Greece, the company said in a statement.
Nationwide, 35% of lettings so far this year (down from 45% in 2025) have been for homes of up to 50 sq m, while 28% (up from 22% last year) have been for properties measuring 51 to 75 sq m. This means that 63% of all lettings have been for homes of up to 75 sq m, compared with 67% last year.
Although still high, the 2026 figure was down four percentage points from 2025, marking a slight decline on the previous year. Properties measuring 76 to 100 sq m accounted for 21% of lettings, those of 101 to 150 sq m for 12%, while homes of 150 sq m or more made up 4% of the total.
Another notable finding is that nationwide, 81% of prospective renters are looking for renovated properties, 74% want modern energy-efficient window frames and 76% want a parking space. For six in 10, gas heating is the most important feature a property should have.
Interest in “smart home” automation remains low, with 89% of renters saying they were indifferent in 2026, nationwide. The main reason for looking for a new home was the end of a previous tenancy, cited by 52%. A further 17% were setting up a new household (moving out of the family home, getting married, moving in with a partner, divorcing, etc.), while 15% cited a new job or work-related relocation.
The property’s energy rating is not a factor for 76% of prospective renters, with just 3% seeking a high rating (A–B), while modern energy-efficient window frames are a priority for 74%.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) are looking for a home that allows pets, while half (50%) prefer an unfurnished property. As for floor level, 49% prefer a property on the third floor or higher. Around half of prospective renters (49%) are looking to pay between €501 and €800 a month.
Attica
In Attica, the homes rented were mainly small and medium-sized. Specifically, 23% of lettings were for homes of up to 50 sq m, 30% for homes measuring 51 to 75 sq m, 27% for properties of 76 to 100 sq m, 16% for homes of 101 to 150 sq m, and just 4% for properties of more than 151 sq m.
As for the age of the properties, the vast majority of lettings (90%) were for homes more than 20 years old, a significant increase from the 85% recorded in 2025. By contrast, newly built properties up to five years old accounted for just 4% of all lettings, reflecting the fact that most renters are turning to older housing stock in Attica’s property market as a more affordable option.
As for the features renters in Attica are looking for, all want the building to have a lift, while 92% want the flat to be renovated and 75% want a parking space. Proximity to public transport remains a key priority for 83% of renters, as does having a balcony, garden or outdoor space. The same proportion are looking for through-apartments with plenty of natural light.
Notably, 83% of renters want an unfurnished property, 75% are looking for a neighbourhood described as “quiet”, 73% want modern energy-efficient window frames and 67% want gas heating. Interest in smart-home automation remains limited (18% want it, while 82% are indifferent).
In addition, 75% prefer a property on the third floor or higher, while most say they are indifferent to the energy rating (58%), high-speed internet (67%) and the provision of electrical appliances (67%).
In Attica, eight in 10 renters are looking to pay between €501 and €800 a month. The main reason for looking for a home was the end of a previous tenancy (50%), while 25% were looking because they were setting up a new household.
Thessaloniki
In Thessaloniki, lettings continue to be concentrated in small and medium-sized homes, although there has been a marked shift towards larger properties compared with 2025. Properties of up to 50 sq m now account for 39% of lettings, down from 63% in 2025, while those measuring 51 to 75 sq m account for 32%, up from 18% last year. Overall, homes of up to 75 sq m make up 71% of lettings, compared with 81% in 2025.
At the same time, the share of larger homes is increasing: properties measuring 76 to 100 sq m accounted for 19% of all lettings, up from 10% in 2025, while those in the 101-to-150-sq-metre category made up 7%, compared with 6% last year. Homes larger than 151 sq m accounted for 3% of lettings.
Older properties also remain dominant in Thessaloniki: 82% of lettings were for homes more than 20 years old, while newly built properties accounted for just 4% of the total.
As for the property features renters are looking for, 100% of prospective renters in Thessaloniki want a property with a balcony, garden or outdoor space, while demand for gas heating is universal.
There is also strong demand for renovated properties (72%) and modern window frames (86%), as well as for a lift and a parking space (86%). A total of 83% say they want a home that allows pets and are looking for a through-apartment with plenty of natural light, while interest in smart-home features remains low (14%).
Preferences for furnishings are more varied: 43% want a furnished property, while the remaining 57% are split equally between partly furnished and unfurnished homes. Four in 10 renters want to pay no more than €500 a month in rent.
The main reason for looking for a property was the end of a previous tenancy, cited by 83%. As for floor level, 50% prefer the third floor or higher and 33% the first or second floor, while 67% consider high-speed internet desirable. By contrast, 86% say they are indifferent to the energy rating. Views on electrical appliances are evenly split (about 33%) between those wanting a fully equipped property, those wanting a partly equipped one and those who are indifferent. Source: REMAX Greece
Rest of Greece
In the rest of Greece, lettings are mainly for small and medium-sized properties. Homes of up to 50 sq m account for 45% of lettings, properties measuring 51 to 75 sq m for 22%, homes of 76 to 100 sq m for 17%, properties of 101 to 150 sq m for 13%, while those larger than 151 sq m make up just 3%.
Properties in regional areas are newer, on average, than those in Attica and Thessaloniki. Although 65% of lettings are for homes more than 20 years old, a significant share are for newer properties: 15% are for homes aged 16 to 20 years and 11% for newly built properties up to five years old, the highest proportion compared with Attica and Thessaloniki.
As for preferences, 79% of renters in regional areas are looking for a renovated property, while 68% want a parking space and prefer a through-apartment with plenty of natural light. By contrast, compared with the major urban centres, proximity to public transport is a priority for just 37% of renters, while nearly six in 10 (58%) say they are indifferent to this criterion.
Heating preferences are more mixed than in the major cities: 37% prefer oil, 21% air conditioning and 16% gas. Modern energy-efficient window frames are a priority for 63%, while 58% prefer a lower floor (first or second).
Interest in technological and energy-related features is limited: all renters (100%) say they are indifferent to smart-home automation, 84% to the energy rating and 58% to high-speed internet. As for electrical appliances, 47% are looking for a partly equipped property.
Meanwhile, 37% want an unfurnished property, 26% a furnished one and 16% a partly furnished one, while 21% are indifferent. Three-quarters of renters are looking for a monthly rent of no more than €500.
In regional areas, the main reason for looking for a home was setting up a new household, cited by 26%, followed by a new job (21%) and the end of a previous tenancy (21%).
Taken together, the findings of REMAX Greece’s 2026 survey once again highlight the importance of renovation, functionality and location when choosing a property to rent across the country. Demand for “smart” technology remains low compared with that for more basic features such as a parking space, outdoor space, modern window frames and the ability to keep pets.
In a market with an ageing housing stock and clear budget constraints, renters are choosing features that have a measurable impact on their costs and day-to-day lives.