Tag Archives: €600 Annual Levy on Short-Term Rentals

Unfair and Contradictory: The €600 Annual Levy on Short-Term Rentals

Posted on by

The Association of Short-Term Rental Property Companies (Stama Greece) has strongly opposed the recent legislative proposal imposing a €600 annual fee per property on short-term rental management companies. The measure is described as unjust, illogical, and legally questionable, as it creates a new financial burden on the sector at a time when other professionals are seeing tax relief.

Tax Relief for Some, New Burdens for Others

While the government has announced the abolition of the “special business levy” for individuals and is considering extending this relief to legal entities, the short-term rental industry faces a targeted surcharge.
Article 248 of the draft law “National Customs Code and Other Provisions” introduces a €600 charge per property, by classifying each unit as a “branch.”

Why the Measure Is Considered Unfair

According to Stama, this approach:

  • Misinterprets the concept of a branch, as defined by law.
  • Conflicts with a recent ruling of the Council of State (Decision 602/2025), which, even if not final, judged that such an interpretation should be annulled.
  • Ignores the actual nature of the sector, where properties operate without staff or hotel-like services, aside from the legal obligation to provide bed linen.

Inequality Within the Market

The new fee creates an uneven playing field:

  • Similar businesses, such as real estate agencies or condominium managers, are not subject to such charges.
  • Short-term rental operators are penalized simply because of their business model.
  • Instead of recognizing short-term rentals as a decentralized and modern service, the law treats them as if they were scattered “branches,” which is not the case.

A Call for Revision

Stama urges policymakers to reconsider, stressing that this is not merely another tax but a structural contradiction, as it clashes with both established jurisprudence and the very nature of the sector.

The Association’s Key Demands:

  • The immediate withdrawal or substantial amendment of Article 248.
  • The implementation of transparent and uniform rules for all property management professionals.
  • Respect for the Council of State’s ruling—or at least awaiting the final decision expected in December.

Conclusion

Short-term rental professionals are calling for equal treatment. Since the measure has not yet entered into force, there is still time for reason and fairness to prevail, and for policymakers to adopt a more balanced solution that does not single out an entire industry.