Over 700 auctions in Thessaly – What the debtor can do before losing his property
Hundreds of properties in Thessaly have taken the path of electronic auctioning by the end of 2026, with dozens of houses located only in Volos. About the size of the problem, but mainly about the possibilities a borrower has to react before losing his property, he spoke to ERT Volos and the radio show of Giannis Xynopoulos, lawyer Constantina Efstathiou, vice president of the Association of Consumers Volos and Thessaly, a body with a long-term action in consumer protection and in support of over-charged citizens. She stressed that the auction does not appear suddenly, but there are concrete stages in which the debtor can, if he moves in time, use extrajudicial and judicial means to seek a solution.
743 auctions in Thessaly – 57 houses in Volos
The figures quoted by Konstantina Efstathi reflect the size of the problem. As he reported, based on posts on the official online auction platform at the time of the interview, until 31 December 2026 743 auctions appeared in Thessaly, of which 251 concerned residences. For Volos, respectively, 136 auctions had been posted, with 57 involving residences. These are numbers that capture a specific time, as posts on electronic auction platforms change as new procedures are added, other or re-defined dates are completed.
«It's a tough time. Too many auctions», the lawyer said, noting that debt management companies are proceeding with payment orders and seizures, while many borrowers are also trying to achieve some sustainable regulation.
The auction does not appear suddenly – the stages ahead
The most important message of Constantina Efstathi is that one does not suddenly learn that one's house is on auction. Before posting on the electronic platform, a sequence of actions and official notifications precedes. The first bell, as he explained, may be the extrajudicial termination of the loan contract, whereby the debtor is informed that the loan has been terminated due to its failure to serve. She cited as a typical case the existence of three unpaid monthly doses. From that point on, as he pointed out, the borrower must realise that a procedure has been initiated which can lead to the issue of a payment order.
They follow, if no solution is found, the order of payment, seizure and seizure of the report and eventually the definition and suspension of the electronic auction. At all these stages there are possibilities of reaction, but also strict deadlines.
The first move: Do not ignore the document
The lawyer's advice was conclusive, any document received by the debtor from a servicer or through a bailiff should not remain in the drawer. «Do not ignore any notice coming from the management company and address a specialist», was the message he chose to close the interview with. The timing is crucial, as some of the remedies have very short deadlines.
A typical example is the payment order. According to Article 632 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the debtor who resides or has a seat in Greece has 15 working days from its performance in order to have a heart attack. The caselaw confirms that this is a strict deadline. And there is one very important detail: arresting itself does not automatically mean suspending execution. Under the legal conditions a judicial suspension may be sought, which makes the immediate legal assessment of each case even more necessary.
What can be considered by heart attack
Constantina Efstathiou explained that, following the performance of a payment order, the file must be checked immediately in order to identify possible errors or unlawful and abusive actions that may be brought before the court as grounds for opposition. It does not mean, of course, that any payment order or auction is cancelled. The validity of the opposition is determined by the actual and legal data in this case.
However, she said that in her professional experience she has encountered violations and abusive behaviours of management companies which have led debtors to the courts. The reference in question is its own assessment of cases handled and not a general statistical element.
Before the court there is the possibility of regulation
The lawyer pointed out that the judicial process is not necessarily the first choice. After the first notification communication may be sought with the loan management company and a direct arrangement may be sought. On several occasions, as he said, an extrajudicial agreement is reached. There are, however, cases where the proposed arrangements, according to her, are not viable, as high advances may be required which the borrower is unable to pay.
The next option may be the Extrajudicial Debt Settlement Mechanism of Law 4738/2020, which operates electronically and may include debts to financial institutions, public and social security bodies. The official platform accepts applications for total debts of more than 5,000 euros. The solutions are not the same for everyone. As Konstantina Efstathiou pointed out, there are cases where the proposals cannot be served, but also cases where deletions of part of the debt are achieved and payments adjusted more to the financial capabilities of the debtor.
Stronger position for vulnerable debtors
The current framework for vulnerable debtors is of particular importance. The Ministry of National Economy and Finance states that for those with the Certificate of Vulnerable Debtor, the restructuring proposal produced through the extrajudicial mechanism is in principle mandatory by banks, services and public authorities. The borrower himself still has the right to reject it. By Law 5193/2025 the perimeter of debtors covered by the presumed consent of creditors was also enlarged.
One more. «gun»: Mandatory proposal before auction
There is also a significant newer provision that complements what Konstantina Efstathiou said. Under the applicable institutional framework the creditor shall, under the conditions laid down, submit to the debtor a written proposal for regulation at least three months before the auction. Information can even be made via email. In order to trigger this obligation, the debtor must have indicated the necessary contact details on the creditor's electronic information platform. This is not automatic protection of the property, but creates an additional stage at which a solution can be explored before the process reaches the final act of auctioning.
And after the seizure there are legal means
The impounding report does not mean that all the options of the debtor have been automatically exhausted. The Code of Civil Procedure provides for opposition against acts of forced execution, with different deadlines depending on exactly what is affected. For specific infringements from the cheque to be executed to the publication of the impound report, Article 934 of the Civil Code provides, inter alia, for a period of 45 days from the seizure. This is why there is no general «recipe» for all: the appropriate remedy and its time limit depend on the stage of the procedure, the document served and the specific elements of each case.
The message to borrowers: Time is decisive
Αν κάτι επανέλαβε η Κωνσταντίνα Ευσταθίου στη συνέντευξή της στην ΕΡΤ Βόλου, είναι ότι η μεγαλύτερη παγίδα είναι η αδράνεια. Ο πολίτης που λαμβάνει καταγγελία δανείου, διαταγή πληρωμής, επιταγή προς εκτέλεση ή κατασχετήρια έκθεση δεν πρέπει να περιμένει να εμφανιστεί το ακίνητό του στην πλατφόρμα των ηλεκτρονικών πλειστηριασμών για να κινηθεί.
«Μέχρι να έρθει η ώρα του ονόματος ενός δανειολήπτη στην ηλεκτρονική πλατφόρμα των πλειστηριασμών, προηγούνται άλλα στάδια», τόνισε. Και σε αυτά τα στάδια, όπως είπε, υπάρχει χρόνος για αντίδραση, είτε με προσπάθεια ρύθμισης είτε, όταν συντρέχουν οι νόμιμες προϋποθέσεις, με δικαστική προσφυγή.
Το κρίσιμο, επομένως, δεν είναι μόνο ποια νομικά εργαλεία υπάρχουν, αλλά πότε ενεργοποιούνται. Για τον πολίτη που βρίσκεται αντιμέτωπος με αναγκαστική εκτέλεση, ακόμη και λίγες ημέρες μπορεί να κάνουν τη διαφορά. Οι παραπάνω πληροφορίες αποτυπώνουν το γενικό θεσμικό πλαίσιο και όσα αναφέρθηκαν στη συνέντευξη. Κάθε υπόθεση πλειστηριασμού έχει διαφορετικά πραγματικά και νομικά δεδομένα και απαιτεί εξατομικευμένο έλεγχο.
πηγή: ertnews
