Greece's lawmakers are debating legislation aimed at tightening rules for short-term rentals, including a ban on windowless basements and converted storage spaces.
Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni emphasized the need for minimum operational and safety standards for properties used in tourism, insisting they must allow natural light and ventilation.
A one-year moratorium on new short-term rental registrations in popular Athens districts accompanies the proposed ban, with hefty fines for violations.
This regulation seeks to manage the balance between tourism benefits and housing accessibility amid rising living costs in Greece.
Opposition lawmakers criticize the government's focus on profits, arguing it exacerbates the housing crisis and alters neighborhood dynamics.