- Nearly five years after the September 27, 2021, earthquake, most of the homes in Minoa Pediada affected by the earthquake remain uninhabitable.
- Many buildings are still officially classified as “red” or “yellow.”
- Residents continue to live in temporary housing units or alternative accommodations.
- The Association of Earthquake Victims of the Municipality of Minoa Pediada “Elpida” is requesting full ENFIA exemption for 2026, and until final restoration.
- They are asking for equal treatment under the precedent set for Attica wildfire victims.
Five years is a long time in tourism. It is an eternity in construction.
In the villages around Arkalochori, the marks of the earthquake of September 27, 2021, are still visible — not as dramatic headlines, but as quiet, everyday absences. A cracked façade. A sealed door. A roof that never returned.
The majority of damaged homes in the municipality remain officially classified as non-habitable. Bureaucratic delays, rising material costs, and staggered disbursement of housing aid have stretched reconstruction into a slow, exhausting process.
Meanwhile, life continues — in prefabricated units, rented apartments, and borrowed rooms.
And now comes the question of ENFIA.
Paying for What You Cannot Use
ENFIA, Greece’s annual property tax, presumes usable property. Walls. Doors. Functional space.
The Association of Earthquake Victims of Minoa Pediada “Elpida” has formally requested full exemption from ENFIA for 2026 and for every subsequent year until each affected building receives a Certificate of Completion of Works.
Their argument is not emotional but structural.
They cite the precedent established in FEK 239/19-12-2025, Article 129, which extended ENFIA exemptions for properties affected by the 2018 Attica wildfires. The principle was clear: property rendered unusable by force majeure should not generate tax liability.
Residents of Minoa Pediada are asking for the same logic to apply.
A Recovery Still Ongoing
Nearly five years after the quake:
- Hundreds of homes remain red or yellow-tagged.
- Reconstruction timelines extend far beyond initial estimates.
- Building material costs have risen significantly.
- Disbursement of housing support has been delayed due to procedural issues.
For many families, the recovery process has become a test of administrative endurance.
Living in temporary housing while paying tax on a damaged property creates a contradiction. A structure that cannot legally be occupied still carries fiscal weight.
The Association’s letter has been addressed to:
- The Minister of National Economy and Finance
- The Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
- The Secretary General for Natural Disaster Recovery and State Aid
Their request is legislative clarity — not annual uncertainty.
Why This Matters Beyond One Municipality
Initial solidarity often moves quickly. Structural restoration does not.
Crete is frequently presented through its beaches, archaeological sites, and seasonal rhythms. Yet inland communities carry slower stories — ones measured in permits, inspections, invoices, and waiting lists.
Recovery, in practice, is rarely cinematic. It is procedural.
And five years later, the procedure is still unfolding.
Where Things Stand
The request is now before the government. The question is whether the ENFIA exemption model applied to Attica wildfire victims will extend to earthquake-affected properties in Crete.
For residents still navigating reconstruction, the issue is straightforward:
If a house is officially uninhabitable, should it be taxed as though it were whole? The answer will define not only fiscal policy, but the message sent to communities still rebuilding.
