Since 1 May 2026 a new accelerated procedure for evictions due to unpaid rents has been applied. Payment and return orders will now be issued by certified lawyers instead of judges, according to a Justice Ministry decision. Lawyers should have four years of experience and special training, while having 20 days to issue an order. The fee is set at EUR 400 for a payment order and EUR 300 for an order to repay a lease. At the same time, the full activation of the Renter Solvency Register is expected within 2026, which will assess the consequence of tenants through crossings with ADE.
Analyticalally:
Breathe for them owners who are in trouble with unpaid rents brings the new process of issuing payment and return orders, as it drastically reduces delays and paves the way for faster moves towards underpaid people.
As of 1 May 2026 the relevant orders will no longer be issued by judges, but by certified judges. lawyers, based on its new decision Ministry of Justice, significantly accelerating the recovery of debts rent and real estateThis intervention substantially changes the «game» in leases, first giving owners a more direct tool to deal with cases of delays or full default of obligations on the part of tenants. To date the process could evolve into a real marathon, with fairs set after months, postponements and delays in making decisions. With the new system the process acquires a clear structure and specific time limits. Special lists of lawyers responsible for issuing payment orders and return orders will be drawn up at each Court of First Instance in the country. These lawyers will be selected on specific criteria to ensure their experience and reliability.
In order for a lawyer to be included in the relevant lists, he should have at least four years of professional experience, to be cash-informed to the relevant Bar Association, not to have suffered serious disciplinary penalties and to have attended specific training seminars for this process. The lists will be drawn up by the law clubs and sent to the First Courts. The assignment of cases will be done in a perfectly standard manner, based on an alphabetical order to ensure transparency and avoid interference or selective assignments. Every new case will pass to the next available lawyer on the list.
Speed
The main advantage of the new process is speed. The lawyer undertaking a case is obliged to issue the relevant order within 20 days of the award. This is a clear and binding timetable, which changes the data in relation to delays to date. The procedure covers both the issue of a payment order for the rent due and the payment order, i.e. the removal of the tenant from the property when he does not pay or when the lease has expired and does not leave. At the same time, the cost of the procedure is determined. The compensation the lawyer is set at EUR 400 for the payment order and EUR 300 for the payment order. The amount is paid in advance through the Bar Association by electronic procedure and is attributed to the lawyer after the case is completed.
Renter Solvency Register
An important element is that the new procedure does not abolish the appeal to the courts. Owners still have the possibility to sue, especially in cases where there are disputed issues or a judicial judgment is required. However, for most cases of unpaid rent the new procedure is estimated to be the first option.
Until 30 April 2026 orders will continue to be issued by the competent judges. From 1 May onwards, new applications will be integrated into the new system once the procedures for drawing up the lists and training of lawyers have been completed.
At the same time, the rent market enters a new phase as next to the fastest evictions procedures comes to add a new «filter» before even signing a contract. The Renter Solvency Register, promoted to pilot implementation and expected to be fully activated within 2026, aims to change the way tenants are selected, limiting the occurrence of delays and defaults. Through cross-checks of data with the AIA systems and rental declarations a basic consistency profile will be created, which will be taken into account before any new lease, but without revealing sensitive economic data.
Source: newmoney. gr
