Corfu Lawyers΄ Association asking for legislative regulation of short-term lets
Archive photo
CORFU. In its statement, the Association says that there is inadequate regulation and delineation from the Greek State.
The Corfu Lawyers' Association is requesting immediate legislative and tax regulations for the delineation of short-term rentals, as well as the establishment of safety and suitability standards for this type of accommodation.
The severe housing issue, as it is shaping up in Greece and especially in Corfu, primarily due to the extensive use of urban properties, mostly through platforms like Airbnb, prompted the intervention of the island's Lawers' Association. They are essentially seeking to bring order to short-term rentals in order to address the immense problem of housing shortage.
They point out that, especially in Corfu, this issue is developing into a major and problematic social phenomenon.
"Those immediately affected by this issue include the Ionian University, the hospital, the justice sector and the field of education," it says in the statement. "Due to the scarcity of available residential properties for urban leasing, students, doctors, judges and educators consistently avoid Corfu as a place for settling, studying or working. Moreover, even if they manage to find accommodation, the value of properties available for rent is exceedingly high, often unjustified by their qualitative features or their size. As a result of this issue, the sectors of health, justice and education on the island of Corfu are at risk of decline. Ultimately, the wider population of Corfu is also affected, struggling to house or relocate their families. This is an experience that we, the lawyers, continually witness through the various rental cases that are being litigated or executed on a daily basis."
No controls
They state that, while in other foreign countries (e.g. France, Spain) short-term leasing has been regulated, in Greece, for unknown reasons, the State has been hesitant in regulating it. This issue, although a modern necessity, is out of control.
"This system is a phenomenon of our era, which has brought several positives (widespread renovation of old and abandoned properties), but also many other consequences (shortage of spaces for urban leasing). However, it is also a problem due to the insufficient regulation and delineation by the Greek State. Despite the urgent demand for it, even from certain tourism stakeholders, this matter has not yet been legislatively and tax-wise regulated by the Greek State," the Lawyers' Association (CBΑ) reports, concluding: "We consider it necessary for the matter to be promptly legislatively regulated, certainly from a taxation perspective, as well as through the establishment of safety and suitability standards for this type of accommodation.
In this way, and only if order is established in short-term leasing, can the immense problem of housing shortage be resolved. In Corfu especially, this issue this issue is developing into a major and problematic social phenomenon."
MARIA BAZDRIYIANNI
Archive photo
