BLACK MARKET AND RESIDENTIAL TENANCY CONTRACTS IN HOUSING IN SOUTHERN EUROPE: NEW TRENDS IN PRIVATE LAW MEASURES

Abstract

This paper explores the black market in the private residential rental sector in the legal systems of southern Europe, namely Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain. In Part I, the paper overviews some common features of the legal systems in the residential rental sector and their impact on the black market. In Part II, the paper concentrates on the current black market background and, finally, analyses existing and possible future legal measures to tackle this practice, focusing on private law rather than traditional tax law.