The letter from the Property Owners, addressed to the Prime Minister, the political leadership of the Ministry of Economic Development, the Regional Governor, members of parliament from the Aegean, and the Mayor of Mykonos, outlines the following concerns:
The proposed increase in the minimum building permit area for housing outside the building plan from 4 to 8 acres effectively prohibits construction on 90-95% of land plots.
This regulation:
- Abolishes the right to build for many citizens.
- Devalues and renders their property useless.
- Denies their expectation of acquiring housing.
- Causes financial hardship to citizens who have already invested in 4-acre plots of land.
- Violates the constitutional principle of legal certainty, which granted the right to build on 4-acre plots.
Mykonos is currently facing an acute housing crisis, marked by a severe shortage of housing for both locals and workers supporting the tourism economy. The proposed increase in property taxes will only exacerbate this crisis, disproportionately benefiting large properties owned by foreign investors, at the expense of Mykonian small property owners.
Moreover, the ban on legal construction will inevitably lead to a rise in unauthorized construction, which not only creates additional problems on the island but also deprives the state of revenue and undermines the rule of law.
POMIDA's Requests
Maintenance of the 4-acre property tax on existing plots of land that were property taxed before the suspension of permits, to address the ongoing housing crisis.
Continuation of building permit approval procedures for applications already in the pre-approval process, or those that have been submitted and examined under the current building conditions.
Construction of small-scale residential buildings and small agro-tourism facilities (such as wine tasting areas, wineries, bottling plants, and cheese factories) in agricultural and livestock development zones, non-industrial use zones, and zones A5, B1, and B5.
Extension of settlement boundaries to less densely built areas of the island, such as Ano Mera, Agios Stefanos, Tourlos, and Agios Ioannis.
Review of the proposed extensions to the existing settlements of Chora and Ano Mera, which are considered insufficient to meet the island's housing needs.
Increase in the carrying capacity of the island through public infrastructure investments, including road networks, marinas, expansion of water supply and sewage systems, desalination units, and school facilities, to support major investments and sustainable development on the island.
