The relevant finance minister on Wednesday confirmed that the government aims to link a rent rebate – an initiative announced recently to deal with a housing shortage and surging lease rates – with electronic payments.

National Economy and Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis also said that a draft provision is being readied to allow property transfers by individuals and legal entities even in cases of arrears to the tax bureau and social security funds, assuming that a payment plan has been made and adhered to.

In terms of the first measure, Pierrakakis said that eligible tenants will have to show electronic payments of monthly rents in order to receive a once-a-year rebate.

Businesses will also have to make inter-bank payments in order to deduct lease expenditures.

He also again referred to incentives for opening closed units, saying the details will be announced by the prime minister at the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in early September.