Selling property in Greece as a UK non-resident: A complete guide

Greece is an attractive choice for British buyers, especially when it comes to purchasing holiday homes. If you’re the lucky owner of a Greek property and you’re thinking of selling, read on.

We’ve put together a handy guide covering everything you need to know about selling property in Greece. This includes sellers fees and property taxes, legal requirements, documentation and much more. We’ll also look at whether you need a solicitor and a real estate agent, and the steps involved in selling your property.

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Selling property in Greece as a non-resident - a step-by-step guide

If it’s your first time selling a property in Greece, you’ll need to get to grips with how the process works.

You might have some knowledge of it based on your experience buying a Greek home, but it’s a little different for sellers.

Let’s run through the main steps, so you know exactly what to expect.

1. Appoint a solicitor and establish the legal status of the property

In Greece, there are strict laws for selling property, relating to whether a building structure is ‘legal’ or not. This is due to decades of planning laws being ignored or flouted in the country.

This means that as the seller, you’ll need to prove your property’s legal status before you can put it on the market.¹

Greece has laws which require property owners to provide documents proving the legality of the building. This involves bringing in a civil engineer to survey the building, produce a floor plan and issue a Certificate of Energy Efficiency.¹ If any extensions or modifications have been made, you’ll need to have evidence that the proper permits or permissions were obtained.

At this stage, you may also need to appoint your own lawyer to help with the research and paperwork required.

It’s critical to iron out any legal or planning issues before putting your property on the market. An accountant could also be handy to handle tax clearance, documentation and other tax-related issues.

2. Get your documentation in order

A significant amount of paperwork is needed before you can put your home on the market. So, it’s a good idea to have the following documents ready:²

• Property title deeds (Symvolaio Agorapwlhsias)
• Property layout/topographical survey plan (completed by an engineer)
• Certificate of planning and zoning legality (from an engineer)
• Occupancy permit (Katoikitiriotita) confirming legal habitation
• Energy performance certificate
• Tax certificates showing municipal and national tax clearance (with no outstanding debts)
• Building permits or regularisation certificates
• Copies of your ID
• Proof of residence
• Lease contract (if applicable).

Your documents need to be translated into Greek by an authorised translator recognised by the Greek authorities.

3. Find an estate agent

You don’t have to use an estate agent to sell property in Greece, but it can be useful.

Local agents can value the property, and they’ll have the market knowledge needed to sell your home quickly. They can also handle time-consuming tasks like buyer enquiries and viewings. If you’re not currently living in Greece - and don’t want to travel there and back for viewings - this can be very handy.

When appointing an estate agent, check that they registered with the local Chamber of Commerce. And ideally, that they are a member of a professional body such as the Hellenic Association of Realtors (SEK) or the European Confederation of Estate Agents (CEI).

4. Market the property

Now it’s time to start showcasing your property to buyers. Your estate agent (if you have one) should handle the bulk of the marketing activity, including taking great photos and listing it online. Here are some of the popular Greek property sites to focus on:

• Spitogatos
• Hellenic Realty
• Tospitimou
• XE.gr

5. The initial purchase agreement is drawn up and signed

Once you’ve accepted an offer from a buyer, the next step is for both parties to sign a preliminary agreement. This can be prepared by a lawyer or the notary, a neutral party in the transaction.

The notary is a vital part of property sales in Greece, there to make sure all legal procedures are completed according to the letter of the law. The agreement includes the terms and conditions of the sale, and is legally binding.

6. The buyer pays the deposit

At the same time that the preliminary agreement is signed, the buyer will pay a deposit to reserve the property. This is usually 10% of the total purchase price.³

If the buyer changes their mind, they will lose their deposit. But if you as the seller back out of the deal, you may have to pay the buyer twice the deposit amount they paid by way of compensation.³

7. Both parties sign the final sale contract

Once all the legal requirements for the transfer have been met, it’s time to sign a final sale contract.

The notary will usually prepare a property transfer declaration for the buyer to submit to the tax office, then a meeting will be held for the final contract to be signed. You’ll need to be there in person, or appoint a legal representative to act for you.

8. Completion

Congratulations, you’ve sold your Greek property. All that’s left to do is for the buyer or their notary to transfer the balance of funds to you, and for you to hand over the keys.

The buyer will register the sale contract at the local land registry, and receive a registration certificate confirming that they are now the legal owner of the property.

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Taxes and fees when selling property in Greece as a non-resident

Now, let’s take a look at the costs of selling property in Greece. The good news is that the buyer pays most fees, but there are still a few you need to know about as the seller:

Estate agent fees

Estate agent commission fees in Greece vary between agents, but you can expect to pay anywhere between 2% to 5% of the overall sale price.⁴ This is likely to be one of the biggest costs you’ll face as a seller.

Legal fees

Another significant cost to factor in is your solicitor’s fees. These vary between solicitors, as well as depending on the value of the property and the complexity of the transaction.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

In many countries, when you sell a property, you’ll need to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on the profit you make from it.

By profit, we mean the difference between what you paid for the property and what you sell it for, minus any fees and expenses.

Greece does have CGT laws, but only on paper. Due to the complexities in determining the acquisition value and enforcing the law, the government effectively suspends CGT on property sales every year.⁵

This is good news for sellers, as it means that you shouldn’t have any additional taxes to pay.

The suspension of CGT on property applies to non-resident sellers too. However, it’s important to check whether UK rules on capital gains tax apply when you sell property abroad. There’s also double taxation to consider, so you don’t end up paying tax in two countries at once.

Tax can be extraordinarily complex, so it’s best to get advice from a tax specialist to help you understand your obligations.

Real Estate Transfer Tax

Another major cost involved in Greek property sales is Real Estate Transfer Tax, which is 3% to 24%³ depending on the value of the property.

Unlike in some countries, this property tax is paid by the buyer - but it’s still useful as a seller to know the rates and thresholds as it will help you when pricing your property.

Does owning property in Greece make you a tax resident?

For anyone considering moving to Greece (or staying there if you’re a temporary resident), it’s useful to know about tax residency and how it relates to property ownership.

Owning property in Greece doesn’t automatically or directly make you a tax resident in the country. Instead, this is determined by the length of time you spend living in Greece.

You’ll also be automatically considered a Greek tax resident if you stayed in Greece for 183 days in the tax year.

However, you may be interested to read about the Greece Golden Visa programme. This grants a five-year residence permit to non-EU nationals who make a suitably large investment in the country, which includes buying real estate.

Do you need a lawyer or a solicitor to sell property?

It’s strongly recommended to appoint a solicitor specialising in real estate or conveyancing work in Greece. They can help you get all your legal documents together ready for the sale, draw up, translate and check over contracts, give you advice about the selling process and so much more.

This could make your property sale go more smoothly and crucially, help you avoid a costly mistake.

It’s important to note that a solicitor is different to a notary public, whose role is to handle paperwork and legal aspects of the sale rather than give legal advice.

Can you use Power of Attorney (POA) to sell your property in Greece?

Yes, you can use a Power of Attorney (POA) to sell a Greek property while living abroad, but you’ll need to complete the correct legal documentation and processes.

This involves drawing up and signing a legally binding document that authorises a lawyer or other designated party to act on your behalf in all matters related to selling your property. In Greece, there’s a specific POA just for property sales, and it’s unrelated to other more general power of attorney documents.⁶

Selling inherited property in Greece

A common situation for foreign citizens and UK expats living abroad is needing to sell Greek property they’ve inherited.

This is certainly possible, but it’s not without its challenges. Here are the key things you need to know:

• You’ll need to formally accept the inheritance, through an ‘acceptance of inheritance’ deed registered at the local Land Registry or Cadastral Office
• You’ll need to pay Greek inheritance tax before the property can be transferred or sold
• You might need to apply for a Greek tax number (AFM)
• You can appoint a Greek Power of Attorney (POA) to act on your behalf.

It’s recommended to use the services of a solicitor and/or a tax specialist to help you navigate the legal processes involved in inheriting and then selling property in Greece.

How long does it take to sell property in Greece?

Selling property in Greece isn’t quick, unfortunately. It takes an average of 6 to 12 months to sell a home,⁷ although it does vary based on individual circumstances.

The time it takes to sell a property can vary based on a few factors, some of which may be beyond your control.

Common bottlenecks which delay Greek property sales include:

• Missing paperwork - especially in relation to the long list of documents the seller must prepare before sale
• Title disputes
• Unrealistic price expectations
• Illegal building modifications
• Inheritance disputes
• The buyers mortgage application being rejected

It may also depend on how fast properties are selling in the local market.

Do you need a Greek bank account to sell property in Greece?

Yes, you’ll need a Greek bank account in order to sell property in the country. If you don’t already have one, it could be an idea to start taking a look at Greek banks and see what accounts are on offer for non-residents.

If you have an international account or offshore account, you’ll need to speak to your solicitor to find out whether it can be used to send or receive money relating to the sale.

Another thing to note is that international transfers could get expensive, especially if the provider adds a margin to the exchange rate to convert euros to British pounds, or vice versa.

Consider checking out the Wise account to handle your international transfers with mid-market exchange rates and transparent fees.

Is now a good time to sell your property in Greece?

Your circumstances will have a lot to do with whether or not it’s the right time to sell your property in Greece. For example, how much you originally paid for the property and what prices are currently like in the local property market.

But looking at the country’s property market in general, now could be a good time to sell. Driven by continued buyer demand and long-standing supply constraints, prices in Greece have been rising over the last few years.⁸

Key takeaways

• Sellers must legally prove the status of their property before listing, which requires a civil engineer to survey the building, provide a topographical plan, and issue a Certificate of Energy Efficiency.
• While Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exists on paper, the Greek government currently suspends CGT on property sales annually, meaning non-resident sellers typically face no additional tax on their profits.
• The primary costs for the seller include estate agent commissions (2% to 5%) and notary fees (1% to 1.5%), while the buyer is responsible for the Real Estate Transfer Tax of 3% to 24%.
• Transaction timelines are relatively long, taking an average of 6 to 12 months to complete, often due to bottlenecks involving missing paperwork, illegal building modifications, or title disputes.
• Non-resident sellers must have a Greek bank account and a Greek tax number (AFM) to complete the sale, though they can use a specific property-related Power of Attorney to manage the process from abroad.

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Sources used:

1. Arencores - A Real Estate Property Buyer's Guide to Decode Greece's Property Law
2. ELXIS - What paperwork is needed to sell property in Greece?
3. Properstar - Buying property in Greece as a Brit: 2025 guide
4. ESales International Property - Navigating Property Sales in Greece: A 2025 Guide to Costs, Taxes, and Procedures
5. ELXIS - Capital Gains Tax in Greece: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know
6. ELXIS - Can you use power of attorney to sell Greek property?
7. ELXIS - Is it easy to sell property in Greece?
8. Global Property Guide - Greece's Residential Property Market Analysis 2026

Sources last checked on date: 19-Mar-2026