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Italy · Housing & Relocation

Renting in Italy

Partially verified Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Italy's standard long-term lease is the "4+4" free-market contract (contratto di locazione a canone libero) that runs four years and auto-renews for four more, with shorter transitory (1-18 month) and student (6-36 month) contracts available for newcomers. Expect to pay a deposit plus, when using an agency, a broker fee upfront, register the contract with the tax authority, and declare your address (residenza) at the local comune.

The rental basics

Typical lease
4 years
Deposit
3 mo rent
Furnished
Furnished + unfurnished
Mid-term market
Moderate mid-term market
Address registration
Required

Agency fee: When renting through an agency, the tenant typically pays the broker fee, usually equal to about one month's rent plus 22% VAT (so roughly 1.2 months' rent); some direct-from-owner platforms avoid this fee.

Address registration

Residents must file a declaration of residence (dichiarazione di residenza / iscrizione anagrafica) at the anagrafe of their local comune to obtain residenza — the official municipal address registration, due within 20 days of moving (Art. 13, DPR 223/1989) and required for healthcare enrollment and most administrative services.

Your rights as a tenant

The common 4+4 free-market contract gives tenants strong tenure (up to eight years); a tenant can end it early with six months' written notice if the contract includes a withdrawal clause or for serious justified reasons (gravi motivi, under Art. 3 of Law 431/1998). Rental contracts longer than 30 days must be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate within 30 days, with registration tax split equally between landlord and tenant.

Good to know

  • Long-term 4+4 contracts give tenants secure tenure of up to eight years, with early exit on six months' notice for serious justified reasons or if a withdrawal clause is included
  • Transitory (1-18 month) and student (6-36 month) contracts plus platforms like Flatio and Uniplaces serve mid-term, furnished stays suited to nomads
  • Large, well-developed listing portals (Immobiliare.it, Idealista, Casa.it) make searching by city, neighborhood and budget straightforward
  • Furnished apartments are available in expat- and student-oriented city markets, though move-in-ready furnished units can be scarcer for shared flats and in peak season

Watch out for

  • Upfront costs are steep: a deposit (commonly two to three months' rent) plus an agency fee of roughly one month + 22% VAT means setting aside several months' rent before moving in
  • Apartments listed as unfurnished (non arredato) can be near-empty shells, sometimes lacking kitchen cabinets, appliances and light fittings
  • You must declare your address (residenza) at the comune within 20 days of moving; the municipality verifies the self-declared address, including a check by municipal police, within 45 days
  • Online listings, especially on social media, attract scams — verify the property and never pay before viewing or before a written contract

Where to look

Immobiliare.itIdealista.itCasa.itSubito.itFlatio / Uniplaces (furnished short/mid-term)

Platforms are listed for orientation only — we don't endorse or rank them.

Renting in Italy: FAQ

Renting in Italy: FAQ

How much deposit do I need to rent in Italy?

Landlords typically ask for around 3 months of rent as a security deposit, on top of the first month upfront, plus any agency fee (when renting through an agency, the tenant typically pays the broker fee, usually equal to about one month's rent plus 22% vat (so roughly 1.2 months' rent); some direct-from-owner platforms avoid this fee.). Budget for that as a lump sum before you arrive.

Do I have to register my address in Italy?

Yes — Residents must file a declaration of residence (dichiarazione di residenza / iscrizione anagrafica) at the anagrafe of their local comune to obtain residenza — the official municipal address registration, due within 20 days of moving (Art. 13, DPR 223/1989) and required for healthcare enrollment and most administrative services.

Can I find furnished or short-term rentals in Italy?

Furnished + unfurnished and the mid-term market nomads rely on is moderate mid-term market. Start your search on Immobiliare.it, Idealista.it, Casa.it.

Sources