According to the company, this issue encompasses social, economic, and institutional dimensions, directly impacting both the housing market and the overall functioning of the economy.
Current data reveals that Greece has approximately 6,500 pending inheritance cases, of which about 4,500 remain dormant with no legally recognized owner. Simultaneously, over 75,000 properties owned by foundations and public entities remain inactive, unused, and without any development plans.
Furthermore, around 25,000 properties are currently frozen within debt management companies, while hundreds of thousands of residential units across the country remain vacant and underutilized.
This issue assumes even greater significance in the present socio-economic context. In recent years, housing affordability has become an increasing challenge for thousands of citizens. Rental prices have risen sharply, access to homeownership for young couples and families remains limited, and statistics from ELSTAT reveal that over one-third of households in Greece allocate more than 40% of their monthly income solely to housing expenses.
These figures clearly demonstrate that the housing crisis is among the most pressing social challenges facing the country today.
The situation grows even more paradoxical considering that, according to a recent study by BluPeak Estate Analytics, over two million homes remain vacant or unexploited.
Most concerningly, a substantial portion of these properties belong to the State or Local Government Authorities, yet there is no unified system for their registration and management. Currently, these assets are fragmented across the Cadastre, the E9 registry, and various administrative databases, with many lacking clear ownership status. The result is a significant portion of property that exists on paper but remains inactive and unavailable for productive use.
Vasilis Iliopoulos, founder and CEO of BluPeak Estate Analytics, emphasizes that the establishment of a National Digital Property Registry is the essential first step toward resolving this problem. Comprehensive mapping and digitization of real estate assets are prerequisites for gaining a clear, accurate understanding of State-owned properties, which are in use, which are idle, and which can be leveraged for development. Only through the integration and cross-referencing of data from the Cadastre, E9, municipalities, ministries, and other databases can a holistic picture of national property assets be created.
“Accurate Property Registration Is Crucial for a Unified Registry”
“This registry would enable precise evaluation of the potential for social housing, investment, and energy-efficient building upgrades. Additionally, a unified property registry reduces bureaucracy, expedites procedures, and facilitates the implementation of policies capable of delivering meaningful solutions at local and national levels. The government’s initiative to develop such a registry is a commendable step forward. However, for its effective execution, a complete and thorough mapping and digitization of the country’s real estate assets must precede it,” Mr. Iliopoulos concludes.
