€10 million allocated to Eastern Macedonia and Thrace for affordable housing

The Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace is set to receive €10 million in funding for affordable housing under Greece’s 2021–2027 Partnership Agreement, marking the third-largest allocation among Greece’s regions after Attica and Central Macedonia.

Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsidis highlighted the importance of the funding while participating on Saturday, September 5, in a conference at the Thessaloniki International Fair focused on the new “Home Renovation” initiative for affordable housing.

The event was organized by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, the General Secretariat for Public Investments and the National Development Programme, and the Hellenic Development Bank.

Topsidis said the funding represents an opportunity to increase the available housing stock and create more quality, affordable homes across Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

“The goal is for this money to be transformed into real interventions and real solutions for citizens,” Topsidis said.
Funding targets vacant and outdated homes

The “Home Renovation” initiative focuses primarily on vacant and inactive properties that can be renovated and upgraded energetically before being returned to the housing market, either for owner occupation or long-term rental.

For homes made available for rent, the programme aims to ensure that the average rental cost remains below 30% of the average household income. Energy upgrades are also expected to help reduce household living costs.

The programme also provides funding for occupied homes used as primary residences that require renovation or upgrading because of their age.

The deadline for obtaining an eligibility certificate has been extended until September 30, 2026. In addition, the minimum ownership or usufruct share required for vacant properties has been reduced from 50% to 20%, while applicants can now submit applications for more than one vacant home.

Who can apply
The programme is open to individuals who have:

• Full ownership or usufruct of at least 50% of a vacant home.
• A property right, including full ownership, usufruct or bare ownership, in an occupied home that serves as their primary residence.
• Income eligibility is based on the actual or imputed taxable income reported for the 2025 tax year. For married couples and civil partnership households, family income is taken into account.

The income thresholds range from €18,000 for a single-person household in Income Category I to €35,000 for a married couple or civil partnership with two children. Additional thresholds apply to single-parent families and households with additional children.

Applicants whose 2025 income exceeds the relevant threshold may still qualify if their average taxable income over the three years from 2023 to 2025 falls within the programme's limits.

Which homes qualify
The programme covers two categories of properties.

Vacant homes are properties that were not used during 2024 and 2025 and will, following the funded renovation, either be occupied by the owner or rented exclusively as a primary residence.

Occupied homes are properties already used as the owner's primary residence but requiring renovation or upgrading because of their age.

To qualify, a property must be legally existing and not designated for demolition, have residential use, and have a building permit issued by December 31, 1990, or an equivalent legalization document.

The property must also have a main living area of no more than 120 square meters and have an energy performance rating of category C or lower.

For families with three or more children, homes of up to 150 square meters may exceptionally qualify when they are intended for owner occupation.

Properties registered in the short-term rental registry, including Airbnb properties, are excluded. Homes that have already benefited from energy-saving or renovation programmes after January 1, 2020, are also ineligible.

Grants cover up to 95% of eligible costs
The basic grant rate is 80% for Income Category I and 70% for Income Category II.

The rate can increase by five percentage points for each qualifying criterion, including:

• The property being located in a mountainous or island area.
• The applicant being a single parent or a family with three or more children.
• The applicant, spouse, civil partner or dependent household member having a disability, in cases involving homes intended for owner occupation.
• The maximum grant rate is capped at 95% for Income Category I and 85% for Income Category II.

The grant is calculated based on eligible renovation costs and the applicable grant rate. Funding is capped at €300 per square meter, including VAT, meaning the maximum grant can reach €36,000 for an eligible 120-square-meter home.

Five-year obligations for beneficiaries
Beneficiaries must maintain the property's use in accordance with the purpose for which funding was approved for at least five years after completion of the project.

For rented properties, beneficiaries must maintain a fixed rent for the first three years and are prohibited from using the property for short-term rentals, subletting or granting its use to another party.

The property may also not be transferred during the five-year commitment period. If it is transferred, the entire grant amount must be returned.