More than six in ten property renters in 2026 preferred homes with a floor area of up to 75 square meters, while two in ten opted for properties ranging from 76 to 100 sq.m. At the same time, the vast majority of rented properties (approximately 8 in 10) are over 20 years old, while newly built homes (up to 5 years old) accounted for just 6% of total residential rentals.
REMAX Greece rental survey: What homes Greeks are renting and what features they look for
The above data is drawn from the nationwide REMAX Greece survey on property rentals for 2026. The findings reveal notable differences in trends across Athens (Attica), Thessaloniki, and the rest of Greece:
- Nationwide, 35% of rentals completed so far this year (compared to 45% in 2025) involve homes of up to 50 sq.m., while 28% (compared to 22% last year) cover properties from 51 to 75 sq.m. — bringing the total share of rentals for homes up to 75 sq.m. to 63% (down from 67% in 2025).
- While still high, this 2026 figure represents a 4 percentage point drop compared to 2025, marking a slight decline year-over-year. Properties from 76 to 100 sq.m. account for 21%, those from 101 to 150 sq.m. for 12%, while homes of 150 sq.m. and above make up 4% of total rentals.
- Another noteworthy finding is that nationwide, 81% of prospective tenants are looking for renovated properties, 74% want modern energy-efficient windows and frames, and 76% require a parking space. For six in ten renters, natural gas heating is the most important feature a property must have.
- Interest in smart home automation remains low, with 89% of renters in 2026 stating they have no interest in such features. On the other hand, the primary reason for seeking a new home is the expiration of a previous lease (52%), followed by forming a new household — such as moving out of the family home, marriage, cohabitation, or divorce (17%) — and relocation for a new job or professional reasons (15%).
- The energy efficiency rating of a property is irrelevant to 76% of prospective tenants, with only 3% specifically requesting a high energy class (A–B). At the same time, modern energy-efficient windows remain a priority for 74%, as mentioned above. Almost two in three renters (64%) are looking for a pet-friendly home, while half (50%) prefer an unfurnished property. Regarding floor preference, 49% favor a property on the third floor or above. For approximately one in two prospective tenants (49%), the desired monthly rent ranges from €501 to €800.
How the rental market shapes up in Athens, Thessaloniki, and the rest of Greece
In Attica, rented properties were predominantly small to medium in size. Specifically, 23% of rentals involved homes of up to 50 sq.m., 30% covered properties from 51 to 75 sq.m., 27% involved homes from 76 to 100 sq.m., 16% covered properties from 101 to 150 sq.m., while just 4% involved homes exceeding 151 square meters. Regarding property age, the overwhelming majority of rentals (90%) involved homes over 20 years old — a figure significantly higher than the 85% recorded in 2025. By contrast, newly built properties of up to 5 years old accounted for just 4% of total rentals, reflecting the fact that most renters are turning to the older housing stock available in the Attica real estate market as a more affordable option. In Attica, the desired monthly rent for eight in ten renters ranges from €501 to €800. The primary reason for seeking a rental was the expiration of a previous lease (50%), while 25% were looking for a home due to forming a new household.
In Thessaloniki, rentals continue to involve primarily small and medium-sized homes, though compared to 2025, a noticeable shift toward larger properties has been recorded. Properties of up to 50 sq.m. now account for 39% of rentals, down from 63% in 2025, while homes from 51 to 75 sq.m. represent 32%, up from 18% the previous year. Overall, the share of rentals for homes up to 75 sq.m. stands at 71%, down from 81% in 2025. Meanwhile, larger properties are gaining ground: rentals of homes from 76 to 100 sq.m. rose to 19% of the total, up from 10% in 2025, while the 101–150 sq.m. category reached 7%, up from 6% the previous year. Rentals of properties exceeding 151 sq.m. account for 3% of the total. Regarding property age, older homes remain dominant in Thessaloniki as well, with 82% of rentals involving properties over 20 years old, while newly built homes represent just 4% of total rentals. Four in ten tenants in Thessaloniki wish to pay no more than €500 per month in rent.
Originally published in Apogevmatini
