RENT REDUCTION: SIX “WHYS” AND FIVE SUGGESTIONS OF POMIDA FOR THE UNFINISHED “MEMORY WITH A FOREIGN HOUSING”!

The Minister of Finance Mr. Christos Staikouras announced yesterday that the forced reduction by 40% in the rents of businesses and the first and student homes of their employees’ children will continue in the month of May for all affected businesses, while he effectively announced that the measure apparently will continue indefinitely for businesses that do not open in May.

“Regarding this announcement, which has angered the property owners and because again it was not accompanied by the slightest measure of their support, POMIDA addresses the following to the Prime Minister and the ministers questions:

1. Why while POMIDA recognized from the first moment the need to support the businesses that have either closed by state order, or are objectively suffering a serious reduction in their activity, the government refuses to recognize the need to support the owners who are also suffering a reduction in their incomes by state order? 
2. Why while the government according to the statements of Mr. Staikoura, has implemented or is planning measures totaling 24 billion. euros to deal with the effects of the corona virus, within this spending package, which is well given, not even one (1) euro is provided for property owners who are literally left to their own devices?
3. Why while 100,000 self-employed professionals without staff refuse to submit declarations to ERGANI and arbitrarily and illegally cut rents, depriving their landlords of any right and any hope of relief, all the relevant ministers “blow the whistle indifferently” and no one deals with this very serious but “orphan” issue?
4. Why among the measures that the government supposedly legislated in favor of landlords who are experiencing a reduction in their rents (four-month suspension of regulations and a 25% reduction), in essence none apply, and no one cares why?
5. Why while for all others benefits are provided in cash and “in the palm of the hand”, the only measure that does not burden the state budget is implemented immediately and in a bloody way for the owners , is not the slightest promise given of what they can actually hope for as a counterweight to their exsanguination? 
6. How long will it finally continue, and when will it end what is happening at the expense of the owners, which is really the definition of what the Greek people characterize as a “memorial with foreign huts”?

POMIDA asks for an immediate answer to these questions and repeats again its requests for substantial relief for the owners:

1. Put an immediate end to this unacceptable method and injustice at the expense of the owners, which has already whetted the appetite of some who propose a return to the Middle Ages of the Tenement. Any further rent reduction should be included and financed by the 24 billion of the support measures, and not by the already occupied owners.   
2. To legislate expressly and unequivocally that all professionals without exception who claim a rent reduction, for their request to be valid, must submit the relevant declaration either on the ERGANI platform, or on a special platform of AADE if they do not employ workers.   
3. To remove 50% of the cuts from this year’s tax burdens of the owners.
4. Or to immediately legislate that all 2020 rents collected at a reduced rate will be tax-free in 2021. 
5. Enact a substantial discount on the timely payment of ENFIA 2020.