Rush to clear lots as deadline nears

Property owners across Greece are scrambling to clear overgrown lots before a June 22 deadline, driving up prices and creating shortages of available crews as demand surges in the final days of compliance.

Authorities granted an extension to the deadline, but unusually heavy rainfall this year prompted many owners to delay clearing vegetation to avoid paying for the work twice. The result has been a last-minute rush. Five days ago, about 370,000 lot cleanings had been declared on the government platform. By Tuesday afternoon, declarations had risen to 522,495, still far below the roughly 1.3 million properties estimated to require cleaning.

One property owner in Keratea said quotes rose sharply within days. “At first they told me €70-80 per 0.1 hectares. When I called back to book an appointment, the price had risen to €250 per 0.1 hectares,” she said.

Contractors contacted in several parts of Attica said they were fully booked for at least two weeks. One contractor in Spata said costs depend on the equipment used and the condition of the lot. He acknowledged that the current situation has created opportunities for profiteering. “Because of the rains, people delayed clearing. Now everyone is rushing at once, and someone tells you €200 in 15 days, but if you pay €500, I’ll come tomorrow morning,” he said.

Municipal officials also report problems with illegal dumping of vegetation and other waste. Spata-Artemida Mayor Dimitris Markou said about 600 uncontrolled dumping sites have been identified in the area. Meanwhile, Halandri Mayor Symeon Roussos said strict enforcement has improved compliance.

Owners who fail to clean their lots face fines of €1 per square meter, while false declarations can result in six months’ imprisonment and a €5,000 fine.