Do I need an AFM before I can rent in Greece?

To sign and legally register a lease, yes. The landlord declares the lease electronically to AADE and your AFM is a required field in that declaration. You can stay in a short-term rental without one, but you cannot have a registered long-term lease in your name.

Is my landlord allowed to end a lease after one year?

Residential leases in Greece carry a minimum three-year protected term, even when the written contract states something shorter. The tenant may leave earlier by agreement, but the landlord cannot simply cut the term short.

Can I use my rental contract as proof of address?

Only once it is registered with AADE. The registered declaration — not the paper contract — is what residence permit applications, banks and public services accept.

Renting an Apartment in Greece as a Foreigner

Q: How much deposit should I expect to pay?

Usually one to two months' rent, paid on signing alongside the first month. Greece has no state-run deposit protection scheme — your landlord holds the money directly, which is why the condition report and photos at handover matter so much.

Finding somewhere to live is usually the step that surprises people most about moving to Greece. The tax side is well documented and predictable; the rental market is informal, fast-moving and largely conducted in Greek. Knowing the mechanics in advance is what separates a smooth arrival from two months in an expensive short-let.

Here is how renting actually works, in the order you will encounter it.

1. You Need an AFM First

Before a lease can exist on paper, you need a Greek Tax Number. The landlord is obliged to declare your lease electronically to AADE, and your AFM is a mandatory field in that declaration. No AFM, no registered lease.

This creates a sequencing problem for new arrivals, and the practical answer is almost always the same: get the AFM first, bridge the gap with a short-term rental, then sign a long lease once the number is in hand. Our guide on what an AFM is and how to get one covers that process — and it does not require a Greek address, so you can obtain one using a foreign address or a tax representative.

2. Budget for the Move-In Cost, Not the Rent

The advertised monthly rent is rarely what leaves your account in month one. Expect to pay:

First month’s rent, up front.
A deposit of one to two months. Two is common in Athens.
An agency fee, if a broker (mesitis) is involved — typically one month’s rent plus 24% VAT.

On a €700 apartment, that realistically means €2,100–€2,500 on day one. Greece also has no state-run deposit protection scheme. Your landlord holds the money personally, and recovering it depends largely on the relationship and on evidence. Photograph everything at handover and get a written condition note, however informal.

3. What the Contract Should Say

Leases are frequently in Greek only. You are entitled to understand what you sign, so have it translated if there is any doubt — and check these points specifically:

Duration. Greek law gives residential leases a minimum three-year protected term, even if the contract says one or two years. This protects you, not the landlord.
Who pays the koinochrista. These are the shared building charges — cleaning, lift, stairwell lighting, and in older blocks central heating. They are usually not included in the rent and can add €30–€150 a month in winter.
Heating type. Autonomous (you control it) versus central oil heating (you pay a share of the building’s tank). The latter can be brutal in an Athens January.
Utility accounts. Establish whether electricity and water move into your name or stay with the landlord, and confirm there are no outstanding balances attached to the property.

4. Registering the Lease with AADE

This is the step newcomers most often skip, and the one that matters most administratively.

Your landlord must submit a Declaration of Lease Information through the AADE portal, generally by the end of the month following the start of the tenancy. You then log into myAADE and accept the declaration from your side.

Do not treat this as paperwork between the landlord and the tax office. The registered lease is what gives you:

Proof of address for a residence permit or Digital Nomad Visa application.
Supporting documentation when opening a Greek bank account.
A verifiable record if a deposit dispute ever arises.

A signed paper contract that was never declared is, for official purposes, close to worthless. Confirm the declaration has been filed before you hand over a deposit — or at the very least, before you need it.

5. Red Flags

The market moves quickly enough that scams find willing victims every season. Walk away from:

Any request to wire a deposit before viewing. The “I’m currently abroad, I’ll post the keys” message is the single most common fraud aimed at foreigners.
A landlord who refuses to register the lease. This usually signals undeclared rental income — and it leaves you with no proof of address at all.
Rent quoted well below the area average. Compare against our cost of living breakdown before assuming you have found a bargain.
Holiday lets dressed as long-term rentals. A furnished flat offered at a suspiciously round monthly rate is often a short-let owner filling the winter, who will want it back in April.

Summary

Secure your AFM first, budget two to three months’ rent for move-in, read the contract for koinochrista and heating before you read it for the rent, and treat the AADE lease registration as non-negotiable. If you are still deciding where to base yourself, our comparison of Athens, Thessaloniki and the islands is the place to start.

[!NOTE] Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual legal or tax advice. Immigration laws and tax regulations are subject to change. Please consult a qualified professional before making relocation decisions.