Extension of property values to beaches

The government is planning to extend the property values even to the coastline. Obviously the aim is not to sell the seashore and the beach, but to establish a framework of rules when leasing them. Whether it is leasing to hotels, catering or umbrellas, or for agricultural crops, or even for industrial purposes, will be based on the property values that will be determined for each beach and seashore. Just as there are different zone prices in the regions of Greece depending on supply and demand, so will there be zone prices in the seashore depending on supply and demand in the area. That is, for example, a different zone price will apply to the seashore in Mykonos and a different one in Porto Rafti.

Today, in order to acquire the right to use the seashore, auctions are held, while hotels and restaurants are awarded directly for a price. With the implementation of zoning prices the system will be differentiated. There will be a minimum price which will be derived from the zone values and other parameters added to the algorithm.

According to reports, the plan is still under discussion, as various legal issues need to be resolved. It should be noted that, according to the Constitution, beaches and shores are public (non-transactional) and common areas. Their main purpose, as public domains, is «the free and unfettered access of the public to them, as well as the communication of the land with the sea, lagoon, lake or river». Exceptions are permitted only to serve an overriding public interest.

- The beneficiaries of a concession of the right of simple use are, according to the law:

1. Existing municipal joint stock companies, if included in their purposes, for their own use and without the right of further concession.

2. Main hotel accommodation, organised tourist campsites, leisure centres, operators of motorhome or trailer recreation facilities (canteens).

3. Nautical sports clubs recognized by the General Secretariat of Sports, provided that their statutes provide for the exercise of activities related to the service of bathers and public recreation.

4. Marine recreational craft businesses, provided that the conditions of the General Port Regulation are met.

5. Furnished rooms - apartments that are adjacent to the seashore and the beach and operate legally, which may be granted in exchange for the simple use of the seashore and the beach, without an auction.

At the same time, an extension of the system for the objective determination of the value of real estate will be launched in 2023 in 2,500 areas. According to information, the 2,500 settlements reportedly account for about 20% of all settlements in the country. However, their population does not exceed 1.5% of the total population of the territory. The last out-of-system areas were identified through the Statistical Authority, in particular the last census, where it was found that in some out-of-system areas there are properties and in some others, permanent residents.

It should be noted that with the last update, which took place in 2021, and the prices were activated in January 2022, 3,463 areas were included in the system. And in the 2021 update the large volume was for island areas. For example, Kythera, Ikaria, Astypalaea, Karpathos, Symi, Tilos, Halki, Ithaca and Kefalonia were excluded, as well as large parts of Corfu, Rhodes, Samos, Chios and Lemnos.