The Government Committee on Housing Policy approved the National Housing Policy Strategy 2026-2035 at its meeting today, setting in motion a coherent ten-year plan to comprehensively address the housing crisis in Greece. This national plan serves as Greece’s central roadmap for transitioning from fragmented interventions to a permanent, organized, and sustainable planning system. It includes a detailed presentation of 50 specific measures, with a total budget exceeding €6.5 billion. Of these measures, 36 are already included in the unified digital housing policy portal (stegasi.gov.gr), while 14 represent newly proposed interventions.
Three pillars and immediate action
- The full set of government measures is structured around three core strategic pillars:
- Increasing the supply of housing on the market.
- Providing targeted support to households and social groups facing acute housing problems.
- Establishing permanent institutions for monitoring, planning, and implementing housing policy.
With the approval of the National Strategy, specific actions are being immediately set in motion, leading to the construction or renovation of 19,750 affordable homes — with an estimated 60,000 beneficiaries — as well as the creation of over 8,500 new student housing places.
Specifically, the action programme includes:
- The renovation of old or vacant properties by 20,000 citizens, either for owner-occupation or for placement on the market through long-term rental agreements.
- The construction of 2,350 new social housing units on large idle public properties, such as decommissioned military camps and other public land.
- The immediate allocation of 400 homes through the new social land-swap scheme.
- The addition of 8,500 new beds to existing student housing facilities at six public universities.
The construction and delivery of 2,000 homes for military personnel, as part of the specialized residential programme of the Ministry of National Defence.
One year in review and institutional reinforcement
The Government Committee on Housing Policy was established in June 2025, bringing together 10 ministers under the chairmanship of Minister of State Akis Skertsos, responsible for coordinating government work, with the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family serving as the central implementing body.
During the Committee’s first year of operation, significant initiatives were designed and put into effect. In the area of expanding the housing stock, 24,000 citizens purchased their first home through the “My Home 1 and 2” programmes; legislation was passed enabling the use of public assets through social land-swap agreements and the development of housing on military sites; and new renovation and energy upgrade programmes were activated (such as the “Save Energy” scheme). At the same time, restrictions were introduced on short-term rentals, along with tax incentives for long-term leases and new construction.
In the area of support for vulnerable groups, measures were implemented including rent rebates, a special two-month rent subsidy for doctors, nurses, and teachers serving in regional areas, as well as an expansion of the student housing allowance. Finally, to ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative, permanent mechanisms were established — including the operation of the stegasi.gov.gr portal and the planning of a dedicated Housing Policy Agency. It is noted that the final draft of the National Strategy was drawn up by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family and was put out for public consultation, incorporating comments and proposals from organizations and citizens.
Minister of State Akis Skertsos made the following statement: “The approval of the national strategy for affordable housing addresses a major economic problem affecting at least 1 in 3 Greeks, and relates to the ever-increasing cost of home ownership. After a year of intensive work and collaboration with all relevant ministries — Social Policy and Family, National Economy and Finance, Education, Environment, Defence, Labour, and the Interior — we now have in our hands all the tools — legislative, financial, and urban planning — to move forward to the next phase: creating nearly 20,000 social housing units and 8,500 new student housing places. Our goal is to increase the supply of properties with affordable rents and to provide relief for incomes, especially for our most vulnerable and younger fellow citizens.“
Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou stated in turn: “One year of an inter-ministerial committee on housing with tangible results. Such a significant issue cannot be — and is not — confined to the remit of a single ministry. That is why we are joining forces, combining interventions that increase housing supply with measures that reduce the burden of housing costs for citizens. With the National Strategy, we now have a unified plan, with clear targets and a specific timeline for the next decade. Our goal is to make affordable housing a real possibility for young people, families, and our most vulnerable fellow citizens.”
