Airbnb lodged properties should be declared or face a hefty fine. According to a report printed in daily Greek financial paper Naftemporiki, the independent public revenues authority of Greece is about to launch an online platform for owners leasing residential lodgings on a short-term basis.
Registration will be mandatory and it will provide property owners with a certification number, which should be declared on any digital platform, website and social media where it is advertised – including the Airbnb website.
The platform will demand the declaration of the property, the names of the renters and the duration of the lease, or otherwise face a fine of up to €5,000 (AUD $7580.13).
According to tourism industry experts, this measure is aimed to appease the official tourist lodging sector (hotels, and rooms-to-let), facing unfair competition by shared economy newcomers, such as Airbnb.
Tax authorities also aim to collect revenue from people who put their property for lease on Airbnb, a practise that is becoming more and more widespread in crisis-stricken Greece, providing people with alternative sources of income.