10 Questions Every Athens Landlady Should Ask Before Accepting a Renter

Article by Dr Sotiria Moschopoulou, Founder of RooMate Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash

I say this as someone who has been an Airbnb Superhostess for three years in London and a landlady for five years in both London and Athens. I have welcomed hundreds of guests into my homes. And what I have learned, every single time, is that the questions you ask before someone walks through your door matter more than anything that comes after.

This is not a legal checklist. It is a practical one- the questions I would ask, and that I built into RooMate, because they are the ones that actually tell you something true about a person.

1. Can you show me a valid form of ID?

Non-negotiable. A verified identity is the foundation of every safe arrangement. On RooMate, this step is built in before anyone can even browse listings,because trust has to start somewhere, and it starts here.

2. What brings you to Athens, and how long are you planning to stay in the city?

Understanding someone's situation-work, studies, relocation, a fresh start- helps you gauge whether this arrangement genuinely fits both of you. Someone planning to stay six months needs something different from someone who is still deciding whether Athens is home.

3. Can you provide a reference from a previous landlady or flatmate?

A short conversation with someone who has already lived with this person tells you more than almost anything else. Not a written reference- an actual conversation. Ask what they were like to live with, not just whether they paid rent on time.

4. What does your daily routine look like?

Early riser or night owl. Quiet evenings or a social home. This is not about right or wrong- it is about compatibility. Two people with completely opposite rhythms can make a home feel like a battleground within weeks, even when both are perfectly lovely people.

5. Do you have a stable income or proof of employment?

A simple, respectful way to understand whether rent will be manageable for them long-term. You are not interrogating anyone- you are both making sure this works.

6. How do you handle conflict or disagreements?

You are not looking for a perfect answer. You are looking for someone who has thought about it. Someone who says "I just go quiet" is telling you something important. Someone who says "I prefer to talk things through early" is telling you something different.

7. Do you smoke, and how do you feel about guests staying over regularly?

Small lifestyle details that matter enormously once you are actually living together. Ask directly. The time to find out is before the contract is signed, not after.

8. Can I meet you in person, or on a video call, before we finalise anything?

Never skip this step. A real conversation-even fifteen minutes on a screen- reveals things a message thread never will. Pay attention to how they respond to your questions, not just what they say.

9. What is important to you in a home?

This one tells you whether someone is looking for a house or a home. Whether they want somewhere quiet to work, or a social space, or somewhere to finally feel settled. The answer tells you more about what kind of tenant they will actually be than any of the practical questions above.

10. Do you have an emergency contact you would be comfortable sharing?

A small, practical detail that protects everyone. It also signals something about the person-someone who takes safety seriously, who has people in their life, who is not navigating this entirely alone.

When someone expresses interest in a listing on RooMate, they confirm the following- not as a formality, but as a genuine commitment:

I will do a video call before visiting any property or meeting in person

I will tell a trusted friend or family member where I am going and share the full address

I have not sent any money or deposits to this person before viewing in person

I will trust my instincts -if something feels wrong, I have every right to walk away

I have read the RooMate Safety Disclaimer and understand that RooMate cannot guarantee the safety of any introduction

These are not rules imposed on renters. They are habits that protect everyone-including you as a landlady. A renter who takes these seriously is a renter worth meeting.

Trust is not something you assume. It is something you build, one honest question at a time.

If you are a landlady looking for verified, trustworthy renters in Athens, theroomateapp.com was built exactly for this.

Just start. 🤍

Sotiria

Dr Sotiria Moschopoulou is a Greek dentist, Airbnb Superhostess and landlady based in London, and the founder of RooMate, a trust-based roommate matching platform for women in Athens. RooMate operates as a single-sex service under Schedule 3, Part 7 of the Equality Act 2010.