Key takeaways
- Greece’s annual property tax, ENFIA, is usually modest for a single holiday home and is calculated from the property’s tax value, size and location.
- Municipal charges (TAP and local fees) are collected through the electricity bill.
- For villas, most of the annual planning is about gardening, pool care, caretaking and insurance, rather than tax.
- Our team can request 12 months of bills and the last ENFIA statement from the seller, so your plans rest on real figures.
In this guide
Owning a holiday home in Corfu is easier than many buyers expect. Greek property tax is usually modest, and a network of local gardeners, pool technicians and caretakers can look after the house while you’re away, so it’s ready to enjoy the moment you arrive.
This guide lists the regular costs of owning a holiday home in Corfu or Paxos, explains how the main taxes work and shows how owners keep costs predictable. Your accountant calculates your exact tax. For one-off purchase costs, see our guide to buying costs in Greece.
What does it cost each year to own a home in Corfu?
The annual cost of a Corfu holiday home falls into three groups: taxes and municipal charges, which are usually modest; utilities and insurance; and services such as gardening, pool care, cleaning and caretaking, which are usually the largest item for a villa. That third group is what keeps a villa immaculate and ready for you while you’re away.
| Cost | How it’s charged | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| ENFIA (property tax) | Once a year, in instalments | Zone value, size, age, use; land taxed separately |
| TAP and municipal fees | On the electricity bill | Objective value (TAP) and m² (cleaning and lighting fees) |
| Electricity | Bi-monthly or monthly | Air conditioning, pool pump, heating, water heating |
| Water | Municipal bill or private supply | Garden irrigation, pool top-ups, household use |
| Insurance | Annual | Rebuild value, contents, natural-disaster cover |
| Garden and irrigation | Monthly or per visit | Garden size, lawns, olive trees, season |
| Pool care | Weekly in season | Pool size, heating, chemicals, equipment |
| Caretaker / management | Monthly or annual fee | Frequency of checks, key-holding, guest handling |
| Upkeep and care | Planned through the year | Size and style of the house |
How does ENFIA, Greece’s property tax, work?
ENFIA is Greece’s annual property tax, charged to whoever owns the property on 1 January. For buildings, it’s calculated per square metre from the official zone value of the area, adjusted for age, floor, use and other factors, with land charged separately. For most single holiday homes, the bill is modest compared with property taxes in the UK, the Netherlands or the US.
Greece has also introduced reductions in recent years, including a discount for homes insured against natural disasters. Your accountant can confirm the exact amount for your home and whether any reduction applies to you, so you know the figure well before the first statement arrives.
Your ENFIA statement is issued through the tax authority’s online system, using the codes that come with your Greek tax number. Payment is usually spread over monthly instalments.
What are TAP and the municipal fees?
Municipalities charge two things through the electricity bill. TAP is a small annual duty based on the property’s objective (tax) value, at a rate set by the municipality. Local cleaning and lighting fees are charged per square metre of the building. Both arrive on the electricity bill, which keeps things wonderfully simple: one bill, paid as usual, whether you’re in residence or abroad.
Utilities, insurance and services for villas
For a villa, most of the yearly planning is about the services that keep the house and garden at their best, rather than about tax. Corfu’s lush climate is wonderful for gardens: lawns, hedges and olive trees flourish from spring to autumn, and a good local gardener keeps them looking their best with regular visits and well-planned irrigation.
- Pool: a technician weekly during the season, chemicals, electricity for the pump, and opening and closing each year. A heated pool lets you swim from spring well into autumn.
- Garden: regular visits from April to October, pruning in winter, olive harvesting if you want your own oil.
- Caretaker: regular checks, airing the house, meeting tradespeople, preparing the house before you arrive.
- Insurance: buildings and contents, ideally including natural-disaster cover, which can also qualify for an ENFIA discount.
- Electricity and heating: cool air conditioning and a sparkling pool in summer; efficient heat pumps or a cosy stove in winter.
Plan with real figures
As part of your purchase, our team can request the last 12 months of electricity and water bills from the seller, along with the latest ENFIA statement and the costs of the gardener, pool company or caretaker they use. You plan from day one with real figures for your specific house, and you get to know its key equipment, such as the pool pump and air conditioning.
How do owners keep a Corfu home easy to run?
- Choose a low-maintenance garden: native plants, olive trees and gravel need far less water and work than lawns.
- Invest in efficiency: a variable-speed pool pump, heat pumps, solar water heating and good insulation pay back quickly on an island with long summers.
- Insure properly: cover for natural disasters protects the house and can reduce ENFIA.
- Bundle services: one management company handling garden, pool and checks is usually cheaper and simpler than three contractors.
- Rent when it suits you: where the property and its permits allow, a few weeks of summer rentals can help the home earn while you’re away. Our guide to holiday rental investment explains the rules and taxes.
Trusted local professionals look after homes in Corfu and Paxos for owners abroad, from key-holding to managing guests and repairs, and our professional network can put you in touch with them.
How do owners keep a home looking its best for years?
A few refreshes every few years keep the house looking as good as the day you bought it: repainting shutters and walls, updating pool equipment and looking after the roof. A caretaker or management company can schedule all of this for you. If you buy a villa with a pool, read our guide to pool villas to see what makes them so special.
Planning to live in Corfu for part or all of the year? Our guide to living in Corfu covers residence and tax, and the article on the 7% regime for retirees explains one option for foreign pensioners.
Frequently asked questions
How much is property tax on a holiday home in Corfu?
Greece’s annual property tax (ENFIA) is calculated per square metre according to the property’s zone value, age, floor and use, with land taxed separately. For a single holiday home it is usually modest compared with northern Europe. Your accountant can confirm the exact amount for your home.
What is TAP in Greece?
TAP is a municipal property duty charged each year on the objective (tax) value of a property, at a small rate set by the municipality. It is collected through the electricity bill along with local cleaning and lighting fees, which are charged per square metre.
What does it cost to maintain a villa with a pool in Corfu?
It depends on the size of the villa and how you use it. Owners usually arrange pool care during the season, garden care, a caretaker or key-holder, cleaning, insurance and utilities. A single local management company can look after all of this, so the house is ready whenever you arrive.
Do I need a property manager in Corfu?
If you’re away for long periods, a caretaker can check the house regularly and look after the garden, pool and any guests. Many owners use a local caretaker or a management company. Our professional network can put you in touch with trusted local professionals in Corfu and Paxos.
Can rental income cover the running costs?
Where the property and its permits allow, many owners rent their villa for a few weeks in high summer, which helps towards the annual running costs while the home is enjoyed the rest of the year. Results vary from property to property. Our holiday rental guide explains how it works, and your accountant can advise on tax.
Founded in 2003 by Roula Rouva, our company brings more than 23 years of experience in the Greek real estate market, specializing in premium and ultra-premium residential properties, investment opportunities, hospitality assets, and development projects. As the exclusive representative of Forbes Global Properties in Greece, we combine deep local expertise with international reach. With offices in Athens, Corfu (Corfu Town, Dafni, and Arillas), and Paxos (Lakka), our professional ecosystem includes a core team of 50 specialized professionals, a network of 80+ lawyers, more than 50 certified translators, and trusted legal and tax partners. Our approach goes beyond transactions, focusing on lifestyle, personalized service, and long-term value.
Sources
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Greece: other taxes (ENFIA), retrieved 2026-10-15
- Global Property Guide, Property-related taxes in Greece, retrieved 2026-10-15
- To Vima, Over 1M Greeks to get property tax cuts by 2026, retrieved 2026-10-15
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. For advice tailored to your specific circumstances and further clarification, please contact our team or consult the relevant qualified professional.
