Not even a single house available for rent in Corfu Town
rentals
30 Aug 2022
/ 21:49
CORFU. Waiting lists in real estate agencies for a house. Regional Council asks that public buildings be provided to house public employees.
Tourism makes finding a house in Corfu Town difficult and expensive. The huge problem that has been observed in recent years, due to the quick growth of Airbnb in the old town, was brought to the forefront once again with the students' arrival. The issue is of course wider, as it also concerns a large number of public employees - either permanent or temporary - coming to the island to work.
For quite some time now students have been desperately looking for a house to rent, even though a month has passed since the announcement of the national exams' results. With the students in Corfu being around 6,000, the 400 beds (which cover 8% of the needs) offered by the Ionian University's student halls of residence along with the hotel rooms are like a drop in the ocean.
The construction of the new student halls of residence in ‘Pallada’ still has a long way to go and until then students have to deal with Airbnb and its consequences. Speaking to Enimerosi, the Dean of the Ionian University Andreas Floros confirmed the issue that exists, stressing that it is important for the problem to be understood by everyone. "Housing is an important problem. If the local community wants the University, it must support it and make houses available for long-term rent," said Mr. Floros.
Archive photo
The issue, however, is wider, as it also concerns a large number of public employees (civil servants, doctors, teachers, security forces, judges, etc.), permanent or temporary, coming to the island to work. The issue has already been raised by Corfu ELME (Secondary School Teachers' Union) in view of the new school year that is about to start.
Waiting lists in the real estate agencies
The fact that currently real estate agencies in Corfu have waiting lists with people looking for houses in order to be notified if something arises, proves how bad the situation is. As the real estate agent Dionysis Paggalis told Enimerosi, the housing problem this year is worse than any other year, as Airbnbs have been operating for six months. Thus, many houses that were to be available again from the end of September are booked until early November, due to the extremely good tourist season.
"There are no apartments for rent in Corfu Town. There used to be some available in Kanoni and Mantouki, but now there is nothing. Parents are desperate and we have a huge waiting list in case something is found. If a house comes up, they book it immediately without even looking at it," he explained.
He said that even though rents have increased by 20%-30%, people still appear willing to pay the high price to secure a place to stay. Especially in Corfu Town, a furnished studio apartment is rented for €350-€400, two-bedroom apartments for €450-€550 and three-bedroom apartments for €600-€850.
The Regional Council
The big problem of providing housing for the public employees (permanent or temporary) on the Ionian Islands was discussed at the Regional Council's last meeting following a proposal by the Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa. It was pointed out that the biggest problem when it comes to attracting staff on the Ionian Islands and making them stay is the lack of availability of accommodation and its high cost.
Thus, the Regional Council asked the government to do everything possible regarding housing, food, salary increases, etc. based on the current legal framework and utilise appropriate assets to facilitate the housing of public officials. The Ionian Islands Region is already planning to utilise the old hospital of Zakynthos.
At the same time, cooperation between the Municipalities and the hospitals had been proposed for the utilisation of their property, as well as the concession of suitable premises for the construction of accommodation establishments to house the public employees in the Ionian Islands.
Municipality is not responsible
Although the problem is known to the Municipal Authority, which has asked the Ministry of Tourism to take at least some measures when it comes to short-term rentals, it said that it has no authority to intervene for the issue of housing.
"It is an issue that all tourist areas face. The reason for this is the increase in tourism, as well as the short-term rentals that have affected the sector. The Municipality has no competence and cannot intervene. Addressing this issue is a matter of the state and not of the Municipality," the Deputy Mayor for Finance Giorgos Pantelios told Enimerosi.
For quite some time now students have been desperately looking for a house to rent, even though a month has passed since the announcement of the national exams' results. With the students in Corfu being around 6,000, the 400 beds (which cover 8% of the needs) offered by the Ionian University's student halls of residence along with the hotel rooms are like a drop in the ocean.
The construction of the new student halls of residence in ‘Pallada’ still has a long way to go and until then students have to deal with Airbnb and its consequences. Speaking to Enimerosi, the Dean of the Ionian University Andreas Floros confirmed the issue that exists, stressing that it is important for the problem to be understood by everyone. "Housing is an important problem. If the local community wants the University, it must support it and make houses available for long-term rent," said Mr. Floros.
Archive photo
The issue, however, is wider, as it also concerns a large number of public employees (civil servants, doctors, teachers, security forces, judges, etc.), permanent or temporary, coming to the island to work. The issue has already been raised by Corfu ELME (Secondary School Teachers' Union) in view of the new school year that is about to start.
Waiting lists in the real estate agencies
The fact that currently real estate agencies in Corfu have waiting lists with people looking for houses in order to be notified if something arises, proves how bad the situation is. As the real estate agent Dionysis Paggalis told Enimerosi, the housing problem this year is worse than any other year, as Airbnbs have been operating for six months. Thus, many houses that were to be available again from the end of September are booked until early November, due to the extremely good tourist season.
"There are no apartments for rent in Corfu Town. There used to be some available in Kanoni and Mantouki, but now there is nothing. Parents are desperate and we have a huge waiting list in case something is found. If a house comes up, they book it immediately without even looking at it," he explained.
He said that even though rents have increased by 20%-30%, people still appear willing to pay the high price to secure a place to stay. Especially in Corfu Town, a furnished studio apartment is rented for €350-€400, two-bedroom apartments for €450-€550 and three-bedroom apartments for €600-€850.
The Regional Council
The big problem of providing housing for the public employees (permanent or temporary) on the Ionian Islands was discussed at the Regional Council's last meeting following a proposal by the Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa. It was pointed out that the biggest problem when it comes to attracting staff on the Ionian Islands and making them stay is the lack of availability of accommodation and its high cost.
Thus, the Regional Council asked the government to do everything possible regarding housing, food, salary increases, etc. based on the current legal framework and utilise appropriate assets to facilitate the housing of public officials. The Ionian Islands Region is already planning to utilise the old hospital of Zakynthos.
At the same time, cooperation between the Municipalities and the hospitals had been proposed for the utilisation of their property, as well as the concession of suitable premises for the construction of accommodation establishments to house the public employees in the Ionian Islands.
Municipality is not responsible
Although the problem is known to the Municipal Authority, which has asked the Ministry of Tourism to take at least some measures when it comes to short-term rentals, it said that it has no authority to intervene for the issue of housing.
"It is an issue that all tourist areas face. The reason for this is the increase in tourism, as well as the short-term rentals that have affected the sector. The Municipality has no competence and cannot intervene. Addressing this issue is a matter of the state and not of the Municipality," the Deputy Mayor for Finance Giorgos Pantelios told Enimerosi.
