Another decisive step for the activation of social renting and the creation of new social housing is provided by the Common Ministerial Decision regulating the terms, clauses and content of the relevant contracts.

The decision sets out the contractual framework for the construction of housing, the renovation or repair of existing properties and, where provided, the management of social housing through the use of public property. Public property that has been left inactive can now be developed with rules, transparency, quality standards and a clear social orientation.

The CSA was co-signed by the Minister of National Economy and Finance Kyriakos Pierrakakis, the Minister of Interior Theodoros Livanios, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, the Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikolaos Tagaras and the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Domna Michailidou.

Social renting is a new housing policy tool with a twofold objective:to increase the available housing stock and to create social housing. Through the cooperation of the public sector with private contractors, public properties are used for the construction of housing, while part of them, at least 30%, is made available for social use.

The CBA regulates two main types of contracts. The first concerns the construction contract, i.e. the construction of new buildings or the renovation and repair of existing properties. The second relates to the construction and management contract, which may include the management of part or all of the properties on behalf of the contracting authority.

Thus, the new framework covers both the construction of new housing and the renovation or repair of existing properties to be used for housing purposes. At the same time, it also regulates the subsequent stages, where these are foreseen: their operation, maintenance, management and monitoring, so that social renting becomes a stable and reliable tool for housing policy.

Quality standards

The quality standards foreseen for the properties are of particular importance. Contracts should ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, compliance with environmental criteria, adequate sunlight and ventilation of housing, energy autonomy, fire safety and climate change resilience. Buildings will at a minimum meet near-zero energy consumption requirements, and a corresponding quality of construction and materials is foreseen in each building or complex.

The decision also specifies the contractor’s remuneration, the duration of contracts, the terms of construction supervision, the procedure for establishing horizontal or vertical ownership and the co-ownership regulation. In addition, it regulates the conclusion of leases with social housing beneficiaries, the collection and reimbursement of rents and common charges, as well as the maintenance and repair services of the houses.

In contracts that include management, the duration may cover, in addition to the construction stage, an additional period of up to 50 years for the management part. At the end of the contract, there is an obligation to hold the contractor accountable and a procedure for the delivery and acceptance of the properties by the contracting authority.

The progress of management is monitored by the General Secretariat for Demographic and Housing Policy of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, based on the data recorded in the Register of Contracts for Social Rent. This establishes a clear framework for monitoring and control, from contracting and construction to the management and operation of the housing.

The new CSA is complementary to the recent decision on the first 8 properties of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family Affairs, which are intended to be developed through social rent. After the first properties have been placed under the exclusive management of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, the basic rules of the contracts are now defined, which will allow their development with transparency, quality and transparency. Public properties can be transformed into new homes, with clear rules, modern standards and social targeting. Step by step, a new institution of social housing is being built, increasing the supply of housing and prioritizing our fellow citizens in greatest need.

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