Renting Property in Italy

Finding accommodation can be a long and difficult process, especially in a foreign country. If you are thinking of moving to Italy and are a worker, student or intern, there are several things you should know about Bella Italia. The aim of this guide is to help you in your search for accommodation in Italy, a country which will hopefully impress you with its history, culture and entertainment.

Italy is a peninsula bathed by the Mediterranean Sea, politically divided into regions, provinces and municipalities. Geographically it is divided into three main areas: the North, the Centre and the South, which differ in many ways. The North is the most industrialized area of the country, with cities such as Milan and Turin; in the Centre of Italy you will find Rome, the capital, and artistic, traditional cities such as Florence; the South is the poorest area in Italy, but with plenty of culture and tradition, and characterised by busy, fiery cities such as Naples and Palermo.

The cost of accommodation in Italy is no different to the European average, excluding big cities such as Milan and Rome, where rental prices are high and continue to rise. On average, the cost of accommodation makes up around twenty-five percent of an Italian family's outgoings.

The average Italian will live with their parents until they are about thirty years old. Afterwards, when starting a family, they tend to buy their own house rather than rent one. Around seventy percent of Italians own a house, compared to eighty percent of Spaniards, and forty percent of Germans. In big cities, Italians will opt to buy a flat rather than a house, which would often be too expensive.

Nevertheless, the rental market in Italy is vast and includes every kind of property. If you are staying in Italy for a short time, it is a good idea to search for a flat or for a furnished house. However, these more convenient options are often the most difficult to find, since landlords tend to rent their property out to people aiming to settle in the area for a longer period.

However, with the right research and a bit of luck you should be able to find partly furnished or fully furnished accommodation; partly furnished accommodation has a fitted kitchen and bathroom and perhaps some basic furniture, whilst fully furnished accommodation will include all the regular furnishings typically found in a home.

For more details on renting in Italy, see:

To view this guide in Italian see Cercare Alloggio.

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Renting Property in Italy