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A landlord in Kallithea, a southern suburb of Athens, says she was shocked to find her apartment in what she described as a “health hazard” after a tenant left following a six-year rental.

The property had originally been renovated, fully furnished and equipped with new appliances. The owner said all the necessary paperwork was in place, including a formal rental contract.

But after the tenancy ended, she said the apartment was left in dramatically different condition.

Images from inside the property showed mold, accumulated trash, damaged household items and a heavily soiled mattress. Garbage was also found inside appliances, including the refrigerator and washing machine.

The condition of the apartment was reportedly so severe, and the odor so intense, that it spread throughout the apartment building.

A specialized cleaning crew had to be brought in to restore the property. Workers wore protective masks and special protective clothing while carrying out the cleanup.

Landlord says eviction took years

The owner said the apartment had been rented through a real estate agent under a formal contract and that the tenant had paid the agreed rent.

She said she had tried to remove the tenant from the property for two to three years, but found the process extremely difficult.

“I tried for two or three years to get him out of the house, but it couldn’t be done. It was very difficult,” she said.

According to the landlord, her lawyer had warned that the legal process would be expensive and time-consuming, while also telling her that tenants have legal protections.

The tenant eventually left after the situation had, according to the owner, reached an untenable point. The rental agreement had also expired.

Owner seeks tenant’s next landlord

The case has emerged amid Greece’s wider housing crisis, which has been marked by high rents and large numbers of vacant apartments that remain outside the rental market.

Property owners have cited concerns over tenants failing to pay rent and potentially causing damage as reasons for hesitating to rent out their properties.

In this case, the owner said she was concerned that the former tenant may have already rented another property in the same area.

“I made a post to find the next owner who has rented him a home,” she said, explaining that she wanted to alert the landlord who may now be renting to him.