According to the annual 2024 report on Greek Commerce by the Institute of Commerce & Services (INEMY) of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE), the percentage of businesses renting their commercial space has increased, approaching 71%. This marks the highest percentage in the past nine years.
The trend observed in recent years regarding the ownership status of commercial properties in the retail sector highlights the challenges of acquiring or maintaining owned premises, due to the rising costs of purchase and significant financial pressures.
The category of businesses using a mixed ownership model (partially owned and partially rented) remains consistently low, confirming the dominance of the two main trends in the industry.
Rent Reductions in Attica and Rent Surge in the Aegean Islands & Crete
In Attica, the average rent decreased from €938 in 2023 to €911 in 2024, reflecting a percentage change of -2.8%. In Northern Greece, there was a notable increase, with the rent rising to €761 in 2024 from €682 in 2023.
In Central Greece, the average rent remained steady with a slight upward trend, increasing from €701 in 2023 to €714 in 2024.
The largest increase was recorded in the Aegean Islands & Crete, where the average rent rose to €829 in 2024 from €714 in 2023.
