Apokoronas halts auction of family home after council intervention

Summary

The forced auction of a family home in Apokoronas has been suspended after the municipality intervened with the Piraeus Bank and the Bank of Greece on behalf of a five-member family that was at risk of losing their only residence. The family includes a child with special needs. The suspension gives the family time to stabilise their finances, though it does not resolve the underlying debt situation.

Apokoronas halts forced auction of family home

A five-member family in Apokoronas will keep their home, at least for now. The forced auction of their primary residence has been suspended following intervention by the municipal administration with two banks and an unspecified creditor company.

What happened

The family, which includes several children — one with special needs — had accumulated debts that led to a court-ordered auction of their only home. The prospect of losing that home meant more than losing a roof: for a family with a child requiring specialised support, it threatened to upend the stability the child depends on.

The municipality contacted the creditor company, the Piraeus Bank and the Bank of Greece, pressing for the auction to be suspended. According to the municipality's announcement, this intervention, combined with what it describes as the unity of the local community, produced a result: the auction was called off and the family has been given breathing room.

What this means in practice

A suspension of a forced auction is not the same as cancellation of the debt. The family now has time to seek a longer-term solution — whether through debt restructuring, legal protection or other means — but the underlying financial pressure has not disappeared.

The municipality has stated it will continue to intervene in similar cases where residents face acute hardship. Apokoronas residents in comparable situations are encouraged to contact the municipal offices.

Mayor's comment

Bürgermeister Charalampos Koukianakis was quoted in the announcement: "Today is a good day for Apokoronas. We didn't win something 'big' on paper — we won something human. A home is still standing, a family was not uprooted. Behind the numbers there are people. And those people deserve a chance."

Note: This report is based on a press release issued by the Apokoronas municipal administration.

Official source

PRESS RELEASE – The family's home was saved – A just struggle was vindicated

March 19, 2026, 1:49 PM

With great relief and emotion, we announce that the auction of the primary residence of a five-member family from our area has been suspended. The home has been saved.

This is a family that has gone through difficult times, with children — one of whom has special needs — who found themselves facing the danger of losing their only home, their security, and by extension their dignity.

From the very first moment, the Mayor of Apokoronas, Charalampos Koukianakis, and the Municipal Council stood beside the family, with a clear position: no one should be alone in such a trial.

The institutional interventions directed at the company, the Bank of Greece and the Piraeus Bank, as well as the persistence and unity of the local community, produced a result. The auction was stopped and a breath of life was given to a family that wants to fight and stand on its own feet.

The Mayor stated: "Today is a good day for Apokoronas. We did not win something 'big' on paper — we won something human. A home remained standing, a family was not uprooted. Behind the numbers there are people. And those people must have a chance. That is what we asked for, and that is what happened.

We will continue to stand beside every fellow citizen who is in need. Because here in Apokoronas, we leave no one alone."

The Municipality of Apokoronas will continue to intervene wherever necessary, with the aim of protecting the people and our community. Because above all, what matters is that we can look each other in the eyes and know that in difficult times we stood by one another.