Athens Land Ownership Mapping

This is the 5th blog in the series. The collaboration between Dark Matter Labs and the Institute of Human Rights and Business (IHRB) resulted previously in mapping of Copenhagen, Lisbon.

Through findings in this blog, we aim to point towards the role of land ownership ptterns and related dynamics that led to increasing unaffordability and spatial injustice.

• *Note: We are still in a process of establishing a collaboration with the Municipality of Athens and Ktimatologio to obtain needed data for analysis of the largest landowners in Athens. This article will be updated by a map, visualization and reflection based on further findings.

Introduction

Athens, just like Lisbon, became one of the least affordable cities in Europe for its citizens in the last decade. There are multiple reasons for it which relate to similar patterns as observed in Lisbon. The below outlined findings of the project Eteron — Institute for Research and Social Change (a non-profit organisation based in Athens, produces knowledge, contributes to citizen empowerment and promotes partnerships) reveal some of the contributing dynamics.

Athens soaring prices

Eteron — the Institute for Research and Social Change — a non-profit organization working with production of knowledge and citizen empowerment through its project Housing360 provides a great overview of the present housing problem in Greece. The issues are known:

1. Increasing rents to sky-high levels, causing “79.2% of renters are overburdened by housing costs”, combined with worsening housing conditions, caused by a combination of factors that include, lack of adequate housing policy, regulation or protection of tennants, short-term rentals popularity, financialization of housing so a shift of domestic and international capital to the real estate market combined with little affordable housing supply.
2. Short-term rental induced by platforms such as AirBnb, combined with lack of regulation, and promotion of touristification by the central authorities (see also this article)
3. Speculation and financialization — institutional foreign investments combined with the “Golden Visa” programme (similar to Lisbon)
4. Vacant buildings — large proportions of empty housing in urban centers (31% in Athens in 2011) incl. Significant amount of sqare meters owned by public institutions.
5. Youth housing — increasing difficulties for young men and women combined with high rates of unemployment following the financial crisis in 2008.
6. Issues of ownership — as 74.6 % of Greeks own their home post-financial crisis reality characterized itself by a an over-indebtedness of households.
7. Energy poverty impacting citizens health
8. combined with the Urban planning focus merely on urban space improvements

All contributing to increasing inequality affecting vulnerable groups.

Data transparency review

Establishing land ownership overview has been a long process that finally is being crystalized into a unified set of online data services. The creation of the National Property Registry, also known as the Ktimatologio, has been a laborious process spanning over three decades. Presently, the Greek government expresses optimism regarding the project’s culmination by the year 2026.

Recently, an interactive digital map with all properties currently incorporated into the registry has been released, accompanied by the number for each plot. In adherence to data protection protocols, ownership details will remain undisclosed within the map.

To find out the information on owners, under Greek Law, anyone invoking “legitimate interest” can apply for information held in the land registry, which is provided by the Land Registrar in the form of a certificate or excerpt of the Land Book (ELRA) — therefore the information can be considered public in the sense that anyone can have access in the books. Each property has been marked with a unique number, the so-called Code Number E of the national K thematic catalog ( KAEK ) , which is the exclusive code number for each parcel of land, the identity of the property. The interactive digital map provides for the first time these codes for each plot. One can purchase different types of information upon registration through a Greek digital system Taxisnet for residents with Tax registration number.

As this is a work in progress, property holders are still having the liberty to register their properties and update information conveniently, eliminating the need for physical visits to government agencies with supporting documentation. Though the deadline for property registration has lapsed, the online map aims to serve as an incentive for registration, ideally before November 30th, 2024.

Athen’s largest landowners

• *Note: We are still in a process of establishing a collaboration with the Municipality of Athens and Ktimatologio to obtain needed data for analysis of the largest landowners in Athens. This article will be updated by a map, visualization and reflection based on further findings.