FAQ
Buying Property in Italy
Q: Can non-EU citizens buy real estate in Italy?
A: Yes. There are no restrictions on non-EU nationals buying real estate in Italy. Of course, property ownership does not confer the right the live in the country. Non-EU nationals wishing to stay in Italy for more than 90 days should apply for a permesso di soggiorno (permit to stay) shortly after arrival - and to get this they may have to provide evidence of financial solvency.
Q: Why are there no prices on your website?
A: We make every effort to protect the privacy of our clients. Prices of properties that are currently for sale are available on request.
Q: Why should I buy a property in Italy, and not for example in Spain where prices are lower?
A: Careful study of the Spanish legal system reveals that it operates to protect the rights of Spaniards over those of foreigners. A few facts that your charming and persuasive real estate agent in Spain is unlikely to tell you: Spain does not operate a 'compulsory purchase' scheme in the same way as other European countries. In most of Europe, if the government wants a hectare of your land, for example to build a road, it must buy it from you after a lengthy statutory period of public consultation. Not so in Spain. In Spain, not only is public consultation widely flouted, but if the government wishes to build a road on your land, it can force you to pay them to do it! Not only will you then receive nothing in compensation, you may have to sell - at a huge loss, of course - to pay for their expropriation of something you believed you owned. In practice, it is usually foreigners who suffer from this unique form of state-sponsored robbery. For more details on Spain's notorious Urban Development Activity Act (1994) see the applicable search. If the Spanish state doesn't decide to take part of your property at your expense, your problems may not be over. In Spain, land is classified as either 'urban' or 'rural'. Properties classified 'rural' are particularly attractive to foreign buyers - partly because they are cheaper than urban properties. In early 2004, in the area around Benidorm in Southern Spain, local officials changed the status of all rural properties to urban, and presented local residents - including hundreds of British owners - with bills of up to 60,000 Euro for new sewers, lighting, roads and other infrastructure. It is hardly surprising that this bombshell caused a great deal of distress. Death duties are another example. In most of the western world, joint assets held by a husband and wife revert to the surviving spouse, free of death duties, on the death of one of them. Not so in Spain, where the surviving spouse must pay hefty taxes on the death of his or her partner. Very frequently these taxes force the sale of the property. The foreign population is hit disproportionately by this, because the typical foreign resident is retired and on a low fixed income. In summary, this is one of the great advantages of owning property in Italy rather than in Spain: property laws in Italy are designed to protect the rights of foreigners and Italians in equal measure.
Property RenovationQ: Do I need a permission to restore a property in Italy?
A: Yes, and it depends on the kind of work you wish to carry out. For ordinary works like fitting new doors/windows, implementing a new central heating /electrical system, or even for structural changes to the property such as restoring the roof or addressing problems with the walls or foundations, you will need a plan/project made by a Geometra.
Q: What is a geometra?
A: A geometra does not have an exact equivalent in English: he (usually a he) is a sort of hybrid between an architect, a surveyor and a works manager - in effect he takes on all three roles. This creates a significant saving on professional fees: instead of paying three professionals, you pay only one. Anyone buying a property in need of renovation will probably want to get a quote from a geometra for the work before committing to a purchase.
Q: Where do I find a competent Geometra and efficient craftsmen?
A: We have a good knowledge of local geometras, notaries, builders, plumbers and electricians.
Our unbiased advice is useful to unsure the right methods could be involved. We have developed skills in project management, essential to a successful completion of a restoration.
Q: Can I renovate a house without being there?
A: If your specification was very clear at the start of the project, periodical visits to your house should be scheduled during the early stages If you can’t spare the time and when the detailed finishing work is carried out you could leave this to our team
Q: How long does a sale take from start to finish, on average?
A: Between signing the Initial Contract and the conveyance of the property (in the UK called the Completion, in the US the Closing) a minimum of 4 weeks is required for the various formalities. No maximum time limit is stipulated by law, but either the vendor or the buyer will usually insist on a maximum: this will be less than 6 months in all but the most exceptional circumstances. The average time between Initial Contract and Completion/Closing is somewhere in the range of 2 to 3 months.
Q: I don't speak Italian, so how do I communicate with the geometra?
A: Much can be achieved with a little rudimentary Italian and a lot of hand waving. However, for critical discussions with the geometra or other people our personnel would be available to act on your behalf.
FinanceQ: Can you help me get a mortgage to buy a property in Italy?
A: We will assist you in obtaining a mortgage, by offering a comprehensive mortgage advice and assistance service. We have a good relationship with some of largest banks in Italy and are able to leverage this relationship to get mortgages for those who need them, with a minimum of fuss and bureaucracy.
Q: What grants are available for renovating a property in Italy?
A: You will only be eligible for a general renovation grant if you create a facility open to the public - a hotel, agriturismo or B&B, for example. There are no public funds available for the renovation of a property for private use. Note that to run an agriturismo (a farm that offers guest accommodation) you must be a registered farmer and offer home produced food or wine.
Q: Are there tax advantages in having my Primary Residence in Italy?
A: Yes, most definitely. You pay much lower taxes when buying a property if you claim Prima Casa (Primary Residence) at Completion/Closing. However, you then have to be able to produce a Certificato di Residenza (Residence Certificate) within 18 months: obtaining this is more difficult for non-EU nationals than for EU citizens.
General
A: Why should I choose north west Italy?
Q: A world away from the languor and dust of southern Italy, Milan's pace is fast and more akin to London than Rome. Business is indeed the raison d'être for the city, and the pace of the creative, thoroughly modern and well-informed Milanesi's working life may well surprise visitors. However, in spite of the pressures at work, they like to enjoy life. Actually in the north west area you can easily reach world-class ski resorts in the winter, and fine Mediterranean beaches in the summer. It is easily accessible, being within easy reach of the three competing international airports of Turin, Milan and Genoa. You have the most sophisticated cuisine in Italy, the finest wines - some say the finest wines in the world. The wine-producing region of South Piedmont has a fantastic climate with more than 2000 hours of sunshine per year. It is a region of outstanding scenic beauty, which invariably surprises the first-time visitor. South Piedmont is like Tuscany without the crowds: a magically undiscovered place where you can still park a car and find a table in a restaurant during the summer months.
Communications
Q: What is the cost of telephone calls in Italy - and how can I reduce my telephone costs?
A: Telecom Italia's 'Hello Gratis' seems to be the default tarrif that you get when you install a new telephone in Italy. The cost of telephone calls under this tarrif can be found here: note that the first 60 minutes of local calls every two months are free. However, a variety of other tarrifs are available - take a good look around the 187.it site. In general, long-distance and international calls are expensive in Italy: the good news is that you don't need to make either. For long-distance and international calls you can use a call-back service: our favourite is the COMXO Call2 service. With a Call2 account you can make high quality, low cost calls from any phone anywhere in the world to any phone anywhere in the world - and no charges whatsoever will appear on your Telecom Italia account. This isn't one of those poor-quality VoIP services that need special equipment: all you need is a regular phone and the use of a normal phone line.
Q: How available are ADSL in Italy?
A: ADSL is widely available in the cities and towns, and is becoming increasingly available in rural areas. For availability of ADSL in specific areas, use the Telecom Italia ADSL Availability Checker. You need to put in a phone number - if you don't have one, just put in the number of somewhere nearby - to find out if you can get ADSL. It's the tool that Telecom Italia engineers themselves use, and the answers it gives can be considered definitive.
Q: How can I get English-language TV and Radio in Italy?
A: There are many possible satellite reception systems that will provide this, with varying degrees of technical sophistication. We can advise you experienced professionals for the installation & configuration of Satellite Equipment for home use.
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