Renting in Heraklion as an Erasmus student: AFM, deposit and rent

Renting in Heraklion as an Erasmus student usually means three things: a Greek tax number (AFM) so the lease can be declared to the tax authority, about two months’ rent upfront (one month’s rent plus a deposit of the same amount), and paying rent by bank transfer, which has been required since April 2026. If you go through an agency, budget for a third month on top. Below is each step in order, with a source for each, and then how we handle it at homie hub.

Last checked: 28 September 2026.

First, what the University of Crete tells its students

The most useful plain statement of Greek renting habits comes from the University of Crete itself. Its Erasmus and exchange students page tells incoming students to expect three things:

• one month’s rent paid upfront, plus a deposit of the same amount;
• rent that usually does not include electricity, water or phone;
• furnished flats that usually come without bed linen or towels.

UoC also states, in its 2026-27 fact sheet, that it does not provide accommodation for Erasmus students. So if you are coming to UoC you will be renting privately, and the steps below apply to any private lease, whichever university you are coming to.

What agencies often ask for

If you rent through an estate agency, budget for more. According to ESN UoC’s accommodation page, going through an agency often means paying three rents upfront: two to the landlord and one to the agency as its fee.

Here is what that looks like in money, using a €500 monthly rent as an example:

Route	What you pay before moving in	On a €500 rent
Private landlord, UoC’s usual terms	first month + deposit of one month	€1,000
Through an agency, as ESN describes	two rents to the landlord + one to the agency	€1,500

Whichever route you take, read what the contract says about the deposit before you pay anything.

If you are sending money to someone you have not met, our guide on how to avoid rental scams when renting in Heraklion from abroad is worth ten minutes first.

Step 1: get your AFM (you can do it remotely)

The AFM is the Greek tax identification number. You need it to rent because of how Greek leases work: a residential lease is declared electronically to AADE, the Greek tax authority, and that declaration needs the AFM of both the landlord and the tenant.

You do not have to be in Greece to get one. AADE says non-residents can apply in two ways:

1. Remotely, through myAADE, with a myAADElive video call to confirm your identity.
2. Through a representative in Greece who applies on your behalf.

AADE’s page lists no fee. It does not give a processing time, so do not leave this until the week you fly. Starting as soon as you know your mobility dates is the safe choice.

Step 2: the lease declaration to AADE

The lease is declared electronically to AADE, using both AFMs. The tenant then confirms the declaration from their own AADE account.

That second part matters. It means you need access to your own AADE account, not only the number on a piece of paper. When you get your AFM, make sure you can also log in, because the confirmation is yours to do.

Step 3: rent goes by bank transfer (since 1 April 2026)

This is the newest rule. Since 1 April 2026, under Law 5222/2025, rent must be paid by bank transfer to the landlord’s declared account. Both To Vima and Greek City Times reported the change.

The consequences reported so far are on the tax side. A landlord who is paid another way loses a tax deduction, and a tenant may lose eligibility for some benefits. So if someone asks you for rent in an envelope, the right answer is that rent must go by bank transfer to the account the landlord has declared. A transfer also leaves you with a record of every payment.

Step 4: register as an EU citizen if you stay over three months

EU citizens staying in Greece for more than three months apply for a registration certificate with the police Aliens department. The source for this is the University of Athens guide for EU students, so check the current requirements locally in Heraklion when you arrive, and ask ESN if you are unsure.

A single semester can take you past that point. At HMU, for example, winter teaching alone runs from 28 September 2026 to 15 January 2027, according to the HMU academic calendar.

Step 5: bring your EHIC

If you are an EU student, bring your European Health Insurance Card. The European Commission’s page for Greece confirms you can use it at public hospitals. Save two numbers in your phone before you land: 112 for emergencies and 166 for an ambulance.

Renting in Heraklion as an Erasmus student: the checklist

Step	When	Where
AFM	As soon as you know your dates	myAADE with a myAADElive video call, or a representative
Money for moving in	Before you sign	Usually one month’s rent plus a deposit; a third month if there is an agency
Lease declaration	Once the lease is agreed	Declared to AADE with both AFMs; you confirm from your own account
Rent	Every month	By bank transfer to the landlord’s declared account
Registration certificate	If staying over three months	Police Aliens department; check locally
EHIC	Before you travel	Carry it; public hospitals accept it

How we do it at homie hub

We are the owners, and we run our two buildings ourselves. We are not an agency and not a platform, which is why there is no agency fee: nothing goes to a middleman. You can read more about us on the about page.

A few other things that differ from the usual picture UoC describes:

• Bills included, with the detail on each home’s page. UoC warns that rent usually excludes electricity, water and phone.
• Fully furnished, including bed linen, pillows, blankets and kitchenware. UoC warns that furnished flats usually come without bed linen or towels.
• A written contract in English, so you can read every term yourself before you sign.
• A video walk-through of the actual home before you commit.
• No online payment on the site. Nothing on our site asks you for money.

The minimum stay is two months, and most of our tenants stay for one Erasmus semester. Our rents run from €400 a month for the top-floor studio to €1,200 for the renovated three-bedroom, which comes to €400 each if you share it three ways. Every home is listed on the homes page.

Ask us about the deposit, or anything else in this guide, before you sign. The contract is in English, so you can check every term against what we told you.

One honest note: both of our buildings are a short walk from the Hellenic Mediterranean University gate. If you are studying at the University of Crete’s Voutes campus, which UoC puts about 10 km from the city centre, weigh the daily journey before you choose; our guide to getting to campus in Heraklion by bus covers the lines.

Next step

If you have your dates, the easiest start is to tell us when you arrive and how long you are staying. Send a short note through the request page and we will reply with what is free.