Housing and move logistics, on the ground in Greece
The permit is only half the move. Finding a flat in Athens without a Greek tax number, a local guarantor or the language is where relocations quietly stall.
- We search, view, negotiate and sign alongside your employee
- Landlords filtered for those who accept newly arrived foreign tenants
- Lease terms and deposits checked before anyone signs
What relocation support covers
Needs brief and budget
Commute, schools, neighbourhood character, pets, furnishing and budget — captured once, so the shortlist is genuinely relevant.
Market search beyond the portals
Listing platforms, agency stock and local networks, filtered for landlords who actually accept a newly arrived foreign tenant.
Accompanied or video viewings
We attend in person for employees still abroad, film the flat, and flag the things photos hide — noise, damp, heating, building condition.
Lease negotiation and review
Terms, deposit, duration, indexation, exit clauses and utilities checked before signature, with the Greek lease explained line by line.
Signing and registration
Lease signature, deposit handling and electronic submission of the lease to the tax authority, which the residence permit file will need.
Move-in logistics
Utilities, internet, movers and shipping coordination so the first week is about the job, not the boiler.
How the process runs
Brief and shortlist
A 30-minute intake with the employee, then a shortlist of properties matched to budget, commute and family needs.
Viewings
Accompanied viewings in person or by video, with honest write-ups after each one.
Offer and negotiation
We put the offer to the landlord, negotiate terms and deposit, and review the draft lease before anyone commits.
Signature and handover
Lease signing, deposit, meter readings, keys, and the lease declaration filed with the tax authority.
Settling in
Utilities, internet and the AFM, AMKA, banking and schools track handled in parallel.
What landlords usually ask for
- Passport or ID of the tenant
- Greek tax number (AFM) — we obtain it if the employee doesn't have one
- Proof of income or an employer letter confirming the contract
- Deposit, commonly one to two months' rent
- Bank account details for standing payments
Landlord requirements vary by property, location and the tenant's employment and financial profile. We confirm what's needed before viewings and before any commitment is made.
Questions we get asked
Do you cover cities outside Athens?
Yes — Athens and Thessaloniki most often, plus island and regional relocations where the employer has a site. Availability and pricing differ sharply by location, and we say so before you commit.
Can you find housing before the permit is issued?
Often yes, and sometimes you should: the residence permit file benefits from a registered lease. We sequence the two so neither blocks the other.
Does the employee need a Greek tax number to rent?
In practice yes, because the lease is declared electronically to the tax authority. Obtaining the AFM is part of our settling-in service.
What about temporary accommodation on arrival?
We arrange short-term housing to bridge the gap when the permanent flat isn't ready, so nobody signs a bad twelve-month lease under time pressure.
Who pays the agency fee?
In the Greek market the tenant commonly pays the letting agent a fee, typically around one month's rent plus VAT. We tell you upfront what a given property will cost in total.
Related services
Most cases touch more than one workstream. Here is what usually comes before or after this step.
Work permits & residence
Employer-sponsored permits, residence cards and renewals.
See how it worksMetaklisi (invitation)
The national quota route for hiring outside the EU.
See how it worksEU Blue Card Greece
Fast-track permit for highly qualified hires.
See how it worksSettling in
AFM, AMKA, banking, schools and family support.
See how it worksMoving someone to Athens?
Tell us the budget, the start date and who's coming. We'll tell you what that gets in the current market.