File photo. [InTime News]
A new court ruling has added momentum to the debate over short-term rentals, with an Athens court banning the tourist use of an apartment after finding that the building’s regulations allowed properties to be used only as residences.
The Single-Member Court of First Instance of Athens accepted injunctions filed by the apartment building manager, ruling that the building’s regulations are binding on all co-owners and function as law within the building.
The dispute began after a company started renting out the apartment to tourists through short-term rental platforms in the summer of 2025. Other residents argued that the practice caused ongoing disturbances, including noise during quiet hours, increased wear and tear on shared facilities, and security concerns due to the frequent arrival of unknown visitors.
The court noted that the building regulations were written before the emergence of short-term rentals and did not specifically ban them. However, it ruled that the existing ban on using apartments as hotels or for activities that cause excessive crowding and disturbance also applies to tourist rentals, based on the purpose and spirit of the regulations.
