Strict 2004 flat-letting standards
Travel and real estate agents, in addition to the two official contractors chosen by Athens 2004, the Olympics organizers, will be able to rent houses and apartments to visitors at the Athens 2004 Olympics, the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) has decided. Apartment owners must let their property to the above-mentioned agents and contractors, who will sublet them to the visitors. Interested owners must act immediately; applications from the agents and contractors to use specific properties must be made to GNTO by April 30. Properties built after 1982 will be preferred. GNTO’s concern is to prevent individual operators and owners from providing substandard accommodation at inflated prices. «On no account can we allow our visitors to fall victim to profiteering,» GNTO President Yiannis Patellis said. GNTO sets stringent accommodation standards and prohibits the simultaneous renting of an apartment’s rooms to different clients. There is an extensive list of items and amenities to be provided, down to a non-slip mat in the bathroom.
