In order to legally rent your Greek or Crete property to holiday makers you
must obtain a licence from the Greek National Tourist Organisation (EOT  -  
Elliniko Organismo Tourismo).

Whether you rent to friends or through a third party, if you are receiving an
income from the house as a holiday rental you are required by Greek law to
have an EOT license.  

The Greek authorities are clamping down heavily on rented property that is
not licensed, and if you are caught renting without one you face arrest and a
court appearance with at least a hefty fine, and possible deportation.

If your house, apartment or villa is rented long term,
over 3 months to one
party
, this is not classed as a holiday rental and you do NOT require the EOT
licence, but you will still be required to declare any income on your Greek
tax return.


Obtaining an EOT Licence

The rules are complicated and liable to change, while each application and
property is looked at individually so the following information should be taken
as a general guide only and is not an exhaustive list.

Main Points

  • The most important specification at the outset is that the building
    corresponds exactly to the architectural plans, and be aware that there
    is a minimum room size in force by EOT.
  • If your property is on a shared plot then currently all properties on the
    plot are required to be licensed by EOT. The same applies for a shared
    swimming pool. This situation is currently being reassessed by EOT
  • There are strict requirements for swimming pools - depth, markings and
    warning signs. An 'operational' licence, obtained from EOT * is also
    required.
* Updated 2008 - Previously obtained via the town hall.

Process

Stage 1
  • EOT require a list of architectural and structural papers of the property
    to be licenced. Normally the architect or civil engineer who drew up the
    plans for your property needs to do this.  
  • These papers are then stamped and deposited with EOT who will
    arrange to visit the property to check the building against the plans to
    ensure that everything corresponds.
  • If the plans are approved (there are no guarantees) you will be issued
    with a protocol number and then asked to submit the second stage
    papers which also pertain to you, the owner.
Copyright 2004-2008       Carol Palioudaki        EOT Licence Buy to Rent     Living in Crete   www.livingincrete.net
Living in Crete
EOT Licence
Index  > Property in Crete > EOT Licence
EOT Licence
_______________________________________________________

This article is based on the book
"Living in Crete. A Guide to Living, working, Retiring & Buying
Property in Crete
"

To learn more about EOT licences, renting and buying property in Crete
click here to get a copy of the book.

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Stage 2
Includes the following documents: (this is not an exclusive list, rather a guide)
  • Certificate of Fire Safety from the Fire Department
  • Certificate of Water Clarity for the drinking water supplied to the house
  • Copy of your criminal record (Ποινικό Μητρώο)  
  • Certificate from the Tax Office to show you owe no taxes.

The process requires the co-operation of an architect or civil engineer to get
started, followed by a long paper chase and various inspection visits to the
property.

If you do not live here, or do not speak Greek you will need to appoint and
pay someone to do the running around for the paperwork and liaise with EOT,
the fire department, the local council etc throughout the various certifications.
This can be your architect, civil engineer, lawyer or an agent, although not all
lawyers and architects are willing to undertake this.

They normally charge in the region of 3,000 to 5,000 euros.

The whole process can take many months to complete.

When you register your property with EOT you are in effect registering a
business so you should always consult a Greek accountant as to the tax
implications.

Once you have obtained an EOT licence it is valid for 5 years. The costs
involved in renewing the licence after 5 years are minimal compared to the
initial outlay.