A new housing support measure set to be submitted to parliament will provide enhanced rent relief for around 50,000 public sector employees working away from their permanent residence, including doctors, nurses, and teachers serving in regional areas.
The scheme introduces a structured system of reimbursements equivalent to up to three months’ rent in 2026, applied retroactively from 2025. It is designed to ease the financial burden on workers required to live in rented accommodation outside their home regions, excluding those based in the wider metropolitan areas of Athens and Thessaloniki.
How the payments will be distributed
The first payment is scheduled for early summer 2026 and will cover rent paid in 2024. A second and third installment will follow in November 2026, corresponding to rent paid during 2025, alongside an additional annual reimbursement already foreseen under the policy framework.
The benefit will be granted without income criteria, aiming to incentivize staffing in underserved areas where shortages in essential public services are more pronounced.
Eligibility requires that the rented property is located within the same regional unit as the place of employment.
Amounts and eligibility conditions
The maximum monthly reimbursement is set at €800 for primary residence rent, with an additional €50 per dependent child. However, the total reimbursement cannot exceed one-twelfth of the declared annual rental expenditure recorded with tax authorities, ensuring alignment with actual costs.
To receive the full amount, monthly rent must exceed €800 and be paid consistently throughout the year. In cases of multiple rental agreements, the total annual rent paid will be taken into account.
Administrative process
The 2024 retroactive payment will be issued automatically based on tax declaration data, without the need for a separate application.
For the November 2026 payments, beneficiaries must ensure that their rental agreement has been registered with the tax authority and properly declared in their 2025 tax filings.
Broader housing support expansion
The measure forms part of a wider housing support package funded through surplus fiscal resources, expanding the number of households eligible for annual rent reimbursement. Around one million households are expected to benefit from the broader scheme.
Income thresholds have also been increased to widen eligibility, with higher limits for married couples and families with children, as well as adjusted criteria for single-parent households.
From October 2026, all rent payments will be required to be made electronically through banking channels. Cash payments will no longer be recognised for tax purposes, meaning tenants risk losing eligibility for reimbursements, while landlords may forfeit associated tax benefits linked to rental income declarations.
