U.S. embassy asks Greek island to lower rent on Athens property 'due to crisis'
The U.S. embassy in Athens has asked the municipal authority on the Greek island of Chios for a 15 pct discount in the yearly rent it pays on a property in the upper-crust Athens district of Kolonaki, saying it should have a lower rent due to the economic crisis.
The house leased by the embassy was part of a bequest left to the municipality and was leased by the embassy in 2004 for the sum of 21,000 euros. The U.S. embassy has asked for a more competitive rent of 18,000 euros a year, saying rents in the area have fallen due to the economic crisis.
The municipality's financial committee is to examine the request after conducting a survey of going rates for rent in the area.
