Faye, at 53 years old, wakes up every morning at 4 o'clock to go to work. Katerina, just five years younger, at 6 a.m. Stephen, an hour later. Sakis is retired. But he worked hard in his life, from a young age, in order to get a satisfactory pension. But life did deny him.
The accuracy, even in emergency situations, «galloping» and Rent They've taken the uphill. Alone, without help, he is unable to cover the expenses of the month. The same goes for Faye, Katerina, Stephen and tens of thousands of other people who are now in the middle or the early age who are forced to go to a decision that only students in Greece dared to take: to cohabit with people they do not know.
Thus, the model of living room applied for several decades in London, Paris, New York and other large cities due to the difficult rents seems to have also come to Athens.
Thousands concerned
The demand for cohabitation in our country is so great that in the last three and a half years the two initiatives created in Athens and Thessaloniki with the aim of finding places for the creation of symbiosis communities are already listed the first 11,000 members and 14,500 the second.
«Interest in living in old age is strong due to high rents and high cost of living in nursing homes» says in «Step» Sakis Kavakopoulos who was inspired and organized by one of these communities, the Panhellenic Association of Beneficiaries of Living Friends 60+ and 60-. «As soon as we made the first call to live together, about three years ago, 500 people showed interest.» Keep going. «Now we're 14,500 people. And it makes sense, because monthly income does not exceed 800 and 1,000 euros and the costs are a lot. With the increases in rents, electricity and food, we cannot live».
The idea was born of his personal need. «I live in Thessaloniki» says Mr. Kavakopoulos. «I was looking for a place in my money, and I couldn't find one. My pension, along with an allowance I get, is 730 euros. You understand I can't give rent more than 300 euros. I had to leave the house where I lived when the owner informed me that he would increase my rent to 400 euros. After a lot of searching, I found a house at 300 euros.But concern continues to exist. For me and many other people. At the club we have members with a monthly income of 500 euros. A month not to pay rent, they risk becoming homeless in an instant. That is why we are working on the idea of living in communities. We search places, we talk to municipalities, we investigate European programs... There are thousands of empty buildings that collapse in Greece. I think we will soon reach our goal.» Report.
The data of the study of the Centre for Liberal Studies in the EU-27 for 2025 are alarming: Greece recorded the second largest annual increase in rents at a rate of 10.1%.
In Athens, the average rent for an apartment with one bedroom now corresponds to 70.2% of the average monthly salary, while for an apartment with two bedrooms the corresponding rate reaches 93.6%. When rent for a small apartment absorbs more than two thirds of the average salary, autonomous living becomes extremely difficult. According to the authors of the study, the increase in housing costs is disproportionate to those who do not own a home, makes the purchase of housing more difficult and increases social and intergenerational inequalities.
In search of a roommate for the sharing of rent and other expenses is 48 year old Katerina Markos. «I started moving in six years ago, because I couldn't afford to be alone.» says in «Step». «I've been living with another lady lately and I'm very happy. We share the expenses, which is the point, but I have a company at home. I like that, too. However, My roommate made some other decisions about her life and I have to move.Rents, especially in Athens, are very high. You want at least 800 euros and I don't have it. I can't afford more than 250-300 euros for everything. So I'm looking for a house and a roommate.» Keep going.
In a similar position is the 53-year-old Faye R. As a private employee with the basic salary she cannot pay rent more than 300-400 euros per month. «That's my tavani.» says, expressing the certainty that he cannot with this money rent a house in Athens. «The rents are gone, the prices of the products themselves. He can't live alone who gets a salary and doesn't own a house. So my reasons that lead me to living together are purely economical. From now on, it's nice to have home and company. You learn to share, cooperate, respect, and that's a challenge.».
Stefanos, although getting a better salary – around 1,200 euros – is also looking for a new roommate, since his current roommate will leave. «The reasons are clearly economic» specify. He is younger – near 40 – and more familiar with the idea, after he cohabited during his years in England. The house that rents today is located in a central neighborhood of Athens. «In ’21 I paid a rent of 400 euros. Today he's gone to 600 euros. Fixed is another 200 euros. I need to live with her, just look at the other being close to my age and somehow fit in. This is important too.».
