The Greek government has published a National Housing Policy Strategy for 2026–2035 that sets out 50 measures aimed at unlocking the housing market. Thirty-six of these are already active or in progress; the remaining 14 are new proposals, ten of which are listed as priorities.
The strategy was approved by the Government Committee and published in the Government Gazette (FEK B’ 5200 of 17 August 2026). Existing programmes already total more than €6.5 billion.
The 14 new measures
- Faster construction permits and automatic document verification
- A student rental and roommate-matching platform with state guarantees for landlords
- A dedicated housing platform for civil servants on the islands
- Preferential financing for developers building affordable housing
- Transfer of state-owned land on the islands for residential construction
- Creation of a single national housing-policy authority
- Municipal social-rental offices
- A revolving fund that reinvests social-rent income into new housing
- Planning incentives for projects that reserve part of the units for affordable rent
- A new Golden Visa category for portfolios of properties let on long-term leases
- Unified mechanisms for social housing policy and tackling homelessness
- Expansion of the “My Home” programme with cheaper mortgages
- Reduced VAT for the construction of affordable and social housing
- A national index of purchase and rental prices
Cheaper mortgages instead of direct subsidies
The government proposes to expand the “My Home” programme by changing the support mechanism. Banks that offer reduced-rate loans to eligible buyers would receive tax incentives. The model is inspired by France’s Prêt à Taux Zéro. Support may also be extended to the completion of a first home on land already owned by the beneficiary.
Officials acknowledge the risk that cheaper credit could push demand ahead of supply and further inflate prices—an outcome already criticised in earlier housing schemes.
New Golden Visa for long-term rental portfolios
One of the most visible proposals is a new Golden Visa category. Foreign investors would be allowed to buy several properties (instead of a single one) provided all of them are used exclusively for long-term rental. Short-term platforms such as Airbnb would be prohibited, and the state intends to create a monitoring mechanism.
The scheme is expected to attract interest from non-EU nationals, including citizens of Israel, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and countries in the Middle East and Asia. Russian citizens currently face practical barriers because of sanctions and difficulties in transferring and verifying funds. For many Ukrainian citizens an investment residence permit is not a primary route to legal status.
Important: the new multi-property Golden Visa is not yet in force. Minimum investment amounts, the maximum number of units, geographic restrictions and the exact control procedures have still to be defined.
Social housing and vacant properties
Developers who allocate part of a new project to social or affordable rent would receive preferential loans, guarantees, subsidies, reduced VAT, possible exemption from ENFIA property tax and accelerated planning procedures.
Municipal social-rental offices would act as intermediaries between owners, social services and people in need of housing. A special fund would channel rental income into repairs and expansion of the social housing stock.
Separate arrangements are planned for students and for public-sector workers on the islands. Landlords of student flats could receive rent-payment guarantees and partial compensation for damage. On the islands, state land would be made available for housing intended for doctors, teachers, police officers and other essential staff.
No rent ceiling
A national price index will compile data from rental contracts, sales, tax declarations and bank valuations. It will allow comparisons at national, regional and municipal levels. The strategy explicitly states that the index is an observation and transparency tool only; rent ceilings or other administrative price controls are not under consideration.
Outlook
Most of the 14 new measures will require separate legislation, funding sources and technical implementing rules. Publication of the strategy therefore does not mean that cheap mortgages, social apartments or the new Golden Visa will appear immediately.
The document sets the direction of housing policy for the next decade. Its practical results will depend on the speed of implementation and on the state’s ability to prevent subsidies from simply being absorbed into higher property prices. The central question remains whether the billions of euros of public support will expand the stock of genuinely affordable long-term and social housing, or whether they will mainly push market values higher still.
The full text of the National Housing Policy Strategy 2026–2035 has been published by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family.
Editorial note
Publication in the Government Gazette shows that this is more than a verbal promise. Nevertheless, approval of the overall strategy does not automatically enact every measure. Digital platforms, the price index, an expanded preferential-loan scheme, pilot social-rental offices and the new Golden Visa category appear relatively straightforward to launch. Building a substantial social-housing stock, transferring state land and securing long-term subsidies will take considerably longer.
With parliamentary elections scheduled for 2027 under the current timetable, the government has a clear incentive to demonstrate action on the housing crisis. A limited number of high-visibility measures and pilot programmes are therefore the most likely near-term outcomes; the bulk of the strategy is expected to unfold after 2027.
Partial implementation is realistic. Rapid delivery of all 14 initiatives is not. The real test will be the laws that are passed, the funds that are allocated and the number of apartments that actually reach the long-term and social rental market.
