Italy has been seducing expatriates for decades with its legendary food, wine, history, architecture, beaches and natural landscape. Thanks to certain cities, areas and tourist attractions, this Mediterranean country has a reputation for being rather expensive in terms of real estate, but these rumors are largely false. Indeed, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in a large city center is about €600 per month. Even in the most popular cities for expats, such as Milan, Rome and Naples, it is easy to find a comfortable one-bedroom apartment in the city center for less than €1000. In addition, if you plan to live outside of a major city, the cost of living is likely to be much more reasonable than it is in other European capitals. Whether you are looking to move to Italy for its beautiful countryside, to start your own business, or for your retirement, one of the biggest obstacles may be finding an apartment to rent or share. The time to find the ideal property to buy, renting is the ideal temporary solution. Lisbob will guide you through the most important points to know when you start your rental search. How to find an apartment or a house to rent in Italy? What are the rental rules for real estate leases? What are the documents and conditions to rent a property in Italy? Lisbob, your expat assistant in Italy, tells you everything you need to know about renting.

Real estate agents or brokers

The Italian real estate market is a bit different, as most apartments are rented directly by their owners. It is quite rare to have entire buildings of rented apartments or companies with a large number of rental properties. As a result, most private landlords choose to work with an agent or broker to manage the lease negotiation, rather than spending their time managing the lease themselves. 

So, you might be lucky to find an apartment online or through word of mouth that you can rent directly to the owner. This will save on agency fees, but if you want to be on the safe side and possibly get a better price, it is best to work with a real estate agent. To go directly with a landlord when you don’t master the language or the rules in force is to run the risk of committing yourself to an adventure that may not be worth the effort with a poorly drafted lease or conditions that are not understood.

Here are some key Italian terms to keep in mind when looking for a rental in Italy:

Appartamento in affitto - Apartment for rent

Contratto di affitto - Rental contract

Arredato - Furnished

Bilocale - One bedroom

Due camere da letto - Two bedrooms

Monolocal - Studio

Servizi - Utilities

Edificio moderno - Modern building

Furnished or unfurnished

Whether or not you can find a furnished rental depends on the type of rental agreement you are looking for. Generally, long-term rentals (2 to 4-year leases) are unfurnished. You will have to think about furniture or moving your existing furniture in your budget. It is important to understand that in Italy, ‘unfurnished’ means totally devoid of everything but the walls!

In fact, you probably won’t have a refrigerator, stove or even lights. On the other hand, for a short-term lease (six months - one year) the property will probably come with furniture.

Is it possible to get an apartment without income or work?

Whether you are able to get an apartment without a job depends heavily on where you live. Other EU residents are not required to have a job to get an apartment. However, most landlords require proof of income before they will allow you to move in, which in itself is normal. Non-EU residents will have to prove their legal residence in order to obtain an apartment. Although it is possible to obtain a visa as a student or in other circumstances, most visas are work visas and will only be issued to those who have obtained employment in Italy.

Is it possible to negotiate the rent with the owner?

Yes, and actually it’s a good idea to do so. Since most rentals are from private landlords, their prices are usually slightly negotiable and they are less likely to be as inflexible as a rental agency. That being said, your real estate agent or a ‘friend’ in the area will have a much better chance of negotiating with the locals than you will. Italians tend to raise the price of rent for expatriates, as in other countries, because they are thought to have larger budgets. Having local knowledge works in your favor.

Rules for renting in Italy

In general, tenants have the same rights and duties in Italy as in other European countries. The landlord must generally approve all cosmetic improvements or alterations in advance and tenants must not damage the apartment, do anything illegal inside it or disturb the peace of their neighbors.

The owners reserve the right to remove a tenant if it is proven that he/she is destructive, disruptive or uses the apartment illegally. Since the apartments are mainly rented directly by their owners, the rules for subletting vary from one apartment to another. If you wish to sublet your apartment or part of it, Lisbob advises you to discuss this beforehand.

Contracts, security deposits and charges

There are three types of lease contracts legally recognized in Italy, which vary according to the duration of the lease:

• Temporary, for stays up to 18 months;

• The 3 + 2 contracts are for a period of three years, with the possibility of renewal for two additional years;

• The 4 + 4 contracts are for four years and can be renewed for an additional four years.

The exact content of your rental agreement in Italy will vary from apartment to apartment, but by law it must contain at least the following information:

• Full name and address of owner;

• How much you will pay in rent and any anticipated changes to that amount: The amount of rent can be negotiated directly with the owner. As a general rule in Italy, the rent must be paid within the first seven days of the month, and the landlord cannot demand more than one month’s rent in advance.

Regarding the method of payment, it is possible to pay the rent in cash or by bank transfer, but in all cases the landlord must provide a receipt.

• Deposit amount: The security deposit corresponds to the rental amount, i.e. one month’s rent. The tenant must provide the deposit in cash and it will be returned to him at the end of the rental agreement provided that the property is returned in good condition in which case the deposit will not be returned. It is important to know that the owner cannot keep the deposit, which must be sent to the organization designated by each autonomous community.

In addition to the deposit, the landlord is entitled to request other guarantees, such as a guarantor or an insurance policy in case of loss of employment or income.

• Conditions to terminate your contract early;

• Conditions for the landlord to terminate your contract early

In Italy, it is the tenant’s responsibility to pay all charges and certain taxes. These include:

• Garbage Collection Service;

• Gas;

• Electricity;

• Cable;

• Internet/Wifi;

• Television tax (if you own a television)

What documents or requirements are there for leasing?

Renting an apartment in Italy can be a lot of paperwork as landlords are very careful to protect themselves when renting out their properties, and that’s normal. It is best to have your agent or broker take care of everything for you, aside from signing your lease, of course.

Is it possible to pay bills from abroad?

Most Italian landlords will ask for a bank transfer or give you the option to pay via an online payment gateway. In both cases, you should be able to use your foreign bank. However, for tax reasons, it may be advisable to pay your rent from an Italian bank in order to keep track of your payments.

What are the best sites to find an accommodation?

Here are some good sites to start your search for a rental apartment in Italy:

• Subito;

• Idealista;

• Kijiji;

• Mioaffito.

If you are looking for a room in a shared apartment then you can also consult the following sites:

• Uniplaces;

• Spot-a-home

• Roomster;

• Erasmusu.

What precautions should I take to avoid being scammed?

As in all countries, there are unfortunately people with bad intentions. When you don’t know the Italian language or the rules of renting, it is normal and important to take precautions. Although scammers change their tactics every day, there are some rules to keep in mind so you don’t lose your money:

• Never pay the owner in cash before signing the rental agreement. Having a record of a wire or transfer is the key to getting your money back if it is stolen.

• Never agree to send money to a landlord you have never met. It may seem obvious but some people still fall into the trap and see their money go down the drain.

• Never allow your new landlord to mail your keys. This is far too great a risk.

• Try to confirm that the landlord is the owner of the apartment or make sure that the person has the right to sublet the apartment or house before agreeing to sign a document.

With this, you are ready to start your search for a rental in Italy. Good luck!

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