A new potential screening tool is entering the housing search process: landlords may now ask prospective tenants to voluntarily provide their official credit score — a self-issued financial snapshot reflecting their overall creditworthiness. Following its publication in Greece’s Government Gazette (FEK), this new credit assessment framework introduces fresh dynamics to the rental market. Tenants will be able to obtain an official, standardized credit ‘score’ ranging from ‘A’ to ‘D’, offering a concise, letter-graded summary of their financial reliability — potentially serving as an additional reference point before signing a lease.
Voluntary, Not Mandatory
The new framework does not make submitting a credit score mandatory for renting residential property. Nor does it grant landlords direct access to tenants’ financial data or the right to run independent credit checks. Instead, because individuals can now retrieve their own credit score electronically, landlords may simply request to see it — at the tenant’s discretion — before deciding who to rent to.
In a competitive rental market — where multiple applicants often vie for a single available unit — this score could become a supplementary evaluation criterion, alongside traditional documents like proof of income or employment status.
Six-Tier Credit Grades for Individuals
For natural persons, six credit rating tiers are defined: A, A−, B, B−, C, and D. The top-tier ‘A’ reflects exceptional credit capacity and reliability. As the grade declines, the estimated risk of delayed or missed financial obligations increases. The lowest tier — ‘D’ — applies to cases with severely weakened credit profiles and significant overdue debts.
This simple, intuitive scale is precisely what makes the score useful for landlords. Rather than relying solely on declared income or job titles, they can now ask applicants to present their officially issued rating. For instance, a tenant with an ‘A’ or ‘A−’ rating may choose to share that document as added evidence of financial responsibility. Conversely, someone with a lower rating is under no obligation to disclose it — the system remains fully voluntary.
What Goes Into the Score?
The financial ‘score’ won’t hinge on a single overdue bill. Instead, it reflects a holistic view of a person’s financial obligations and their track record in meeting them — including repayment behavior toward lenders and tax authorities. Data from Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) will feed into the assessment, among other verified sources.