Girl in Florence

A Tuscan Texan immersed in Florentine life

rentinginitaly

Renting in Italy: They Even Took The Kitchen Sink

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“And they even took the kitchen sink”, sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. Maybe one that one of my grandma used to tell at the kitchen table of my aunt’s house, as we played trivial pursuit while sipping sweet tea (as you do in the south).

But the most interesting thing about this, is that in Italy, the disappearance of the kitchen sink wouldn’t make anyone bat an eye.

Why? 

Well quite simply, many unfurnished apartment rentals often don’t include the kitchen.

Don’t get me wrong the pipes are all there and thank living god but often people move their kitchens to new rented or purchased accommodation as normally as you would enjoy torta colomba on Easter Sunday.

This means when looking for a place, the first obvious means of filtering options is to look out for vuoti (with no furniture, light fittings or even a fitted kitchen) semi-furnished parzialmente arredati  which normally includes the fitted kitchen and light fixtures, and lastly  completely furnished aka arredati.

This Wednesday, as part of my ‘Ask an Expat’ series, my fellow Italy blogger round-table member ‘Englishman in Italy’ Peter are both writing about renting in Italy, you have to read his hilarious (and very true) post here.

It’s a common question I get on the blog, people moving abroad and seeking advice on renting a place. It can be tough, I know from personal experience. I found this article about renting an apartment (in general) that I think offers some sound advice for an additional read.

Also check out this post by friend Gina about her own personal search for a place in Florence and well, the actual ‘places’ she found, yikes! The scary shower/toilet/sink combo is a very real, and frightening truth, I’ve seen it myself and it isn’t pretty. Also, one word to the wise is please do not find something on craigslist and then send money via wire, sight unseen. If someone is pressuring you to send them money and being a little vague with details, tell them Ma vai a cagare (they will get the hint)

There are way too many scams out there which sadly only seems to be getting worse so try to see if someone in Florence can check out the place beforehand. Going with a reputable agency will help if you can’t go to check out apartments yourself. Since there is a lot to go over, I figured I needed to categorize this post on the most importnt things you need to know while renting an apartment in Florence and Italy in general.

Location is Everything (sorta)

Obviously when factoring in renting an apartment, plenty of people ask me where should they look? What areas are safe and which aren’t? I cannot stress enough that Florence, Italy is a safe city to live in, to study in, to eat pasta and drink wine in. For first timers to the city, it probably is a better idea to live in the historical center, or inside the inner ‘ring’ of the city, where the city walls were once located and then torn down in the 19th century. You can still see remnants of this wall by Borgo San Frediano, Beccaria and San Niccolo.

Personally, some of my favorite areas to live in are the oltrarno, or ‘other side of the river’ which is undergoing such an interesting transformation that makes living here a real gem. If you need further proof, just check out this recent article via The Guardian newspaper.

Living in the oltrarno means I can shop at places like this daily!
Living in the oltrarno means I can shop at places like this daily!

If you have a car, this can be a pain in the ass because parking in the center depends on what time of day you come in, the dubious ZTL. Nico has a car, and since we both have residency, he was able to get a permit to park his car in the center close to our house, winning! Not next to our house because naturally there are no spaces but we usually have no issues finding a spot pretty close to the Ponte Vecchio. Pretty impressive right?

The oltrarno can be extra annoying because the street directions often change, I am convinced the city planners are messing with all of our minds. There are even rumors now to make Ponte della Trinita pedestrian (great for tourists, horrible for oltrarno residents with cars) which means we will soon need a helicopter to arrive on this side of the river.

ponte vecchio florence
Ponte Santa Trinita or as I like to call it ‘prime people watching’

San Frediano which is next to the oltrarno is a wonderful place to live because you are still on the ‘other side of the river’ and close to the historical center but the area is more quiet than Santo Spirito and you would be close to piazza tasso (great geleteria & Aurora an open-air bar in the summer) plus an Esselunga supermarket located on via pisana. Also via camaldoli which is located here, which just opened up some cool new places like Black Springs independent Bookshop and Gnam.

Other areas that are nice include the Sant’Ambrogio which means you have access to their morning fruit and veg market and all of the wonderful foodie spots in that area. I also like Piazza Beccaria because while it is a little further out, the fact that it is so residential means you have peace and quite at night and they have some cool shops and a Coop supermarket. San Marco is also a nice area, especially near via san gallo and going towards Piazza Liberta, very residential and quiet but still fairly close to everything.

Personally I actually like Santa Maria Novella and some areas around the train station, but like any city, some streets can be a little busier at night in this area so it could be noisier.

Santa Maria Novella has been revamped!
Santa Maria Novella has been revamped!

Living further out is great because rents are often less but you may find yourself up close and personal with ATAF which is awesome when things are good but when there is a strike/accident/or it rains? If you bike regularly, you can expand the zones you are looking at. Campo di marte, cure, statuto and gavinana are all areas that are popular with Italians and can be reached by bike, bus or car.

Lastly for more advice about neighborghoods in Florence, read this article by Lourdes Flores via Visit Florence, very in-depth on what to expect. 

Agencies: Good Idea or Bad?

Renting an apartment can be a challenge anywhere. In the USA they demand credit checks, a nice large deposit and your first-born (kidding – well only sort of), while in Italy it can often be more casual, but a bit more daunting if you do not speak Italian. Many people might opt to go for an Agenzia to help find a place, which I could see being a valid option if you don’t speak the language or are looking for something very specific. You can see a list of options via Studentsville, The Florentine, or Windows on Italy. Looking to rent only a room? Then check out the site EasyStanza, which I have used in the past. It’s a paid service, but I found it to be useful.

I did use an agency when I studied abroad in Florence and it was an ok, not great, experience. I have had friends who have had positive experiences so I wouldn’t tell people to never go with them, I just think it depends on your personal situation.

My experience is that often they just hand you a list of places, which you have to arrange and see yourself with the landlord (or they might call ahead for you) and they will take care of the contract and you get to pay them one month’s fee or 10% of the entire rent. I have often tried to help friends in the past deal with agencies, especially with tricky situations like when the agency asks for a renewal fee which personally I don’t agree with. But on the other hand, you can work with your agent to get a lesser price for a rental, for example if you plan to stay for sometime, the landlord might agree to reduce the initial price in favor of a short-term stay.

I mean the one-off fee is fine in order to see the list of properties and create the rental contract, but if you renew a year or two later, wouldn’t it make more sense to deal directly with the landlord? After having an agent scream in my ear for a good five minutes when I just asked  dare ask why this renewal price was so high, he finally agreed to lower the price of the renewal, ugh. In any case, it just pays to ask a friend or advice from a seasoned local.

If you choose to look for something without an agency, you have a few options.

The best is to ask a friend who knows someone renting a place, this is the easiest route. Also you can walk around the center to see ‘Affittasi’ signs with a short description and phone number to call and see the place. Of course you can search online, there are the Italian websites like Subito, Kijiji and Bakeca, which you can filter to show only ‘privato’ options.

Often the pictures are so horrible, it may deter you from looking at the places but many times, the places are actually better in person than the photos as crazy as it might sound. I have seen places with dirty beds, dishes in the sink, and wanted to write the person to say, really? Obviously a normal person would put their ‘best foot forward’ and a nice, well-lit photo of their apartment up, but alas, it is often not the case.

Landlords: How Close is [Too] Close

Always a fun topic with my friends and I, the landlord and renter relationship. I rent an apartment in the center of Florence and my landlord lives a block and a half away, and we have a wonderful relationship. I actually taught her kids English many year’s ago and she is a smart, quick-witted woman.

Most of my friends who rent have had good experiences, with landlords even bringing them presents, inviting them for dinner, it can be a relationship that lasts far longer than the rental contract. Nico rented a place in Bagno a Ripoli for many years before we moved in together last year and his landlord loved him, maybe a little too much, I think they cried when he left. Plus his neighbor used to leave him cake, which makes me supremely jealous.

The bad experiences are usually a bit quicker, and painful. For example, a friend of mine who moved to Florence three year’s ago rented a small studio apartment from a guy that seemed fairly normal. That was until he started to drop by unannounced and let himself in with his master-key.

Obviously when you rent a place, you expect that for maintenance reasons or anything else, advance notice is (and should) be required, a phone call, an email perhaps? Nope my poor friend was in the living room of her apartment in nothing but a towel as her landlord proceeded to try to show the place to potential buyers. I think I would have gone mental. Or another time when my friend called to report a case of mold after the roof started leaking, and the woman told her to call the agency, and the agency said to call the landlord, needless to say, that mold is still there. The stories can be endless.

Contracts: What You Need to Know

I hate talking about anything slightly bureaucratic but as someone living in Italy and choosing to write about it, I feel it my duty to approach boring but important topics like visa renewals and rental contracts. In Italy, it can be confusing to know your rights. Landlords can be wary in Italy because it can really hard to kick out a tenant who isn’t paying but that is a story for another day.  I highly recommend reading this article by Wanted In Rome which really details how contracts work in Italy.

Which is why it certainly is in your best interest to have a contract when renting an apartment. It is quite easy to find a place without a contract but honestly, in 2015, why would you? This would guarantee you little to no rights, plus it’s illegal. I’ve had friends who have done this who didn’t even get their deposit back or were made to feel like a ‘guest’ in their own home. There are also temporary one-year or short-term contracts which work a little differently.

Contract = rights

That being said, what’s out there? I am not expert but I will try my best. The most typical type of contract is the contratto di libero mercato, or free market contracts.  This normally lasts for a total of four years with an automatic renewal of another four, the tenant and landlord agree on the conditions together (things like who fixes the boiler or replaces appliances etc). You can also residency at your apartment with the type of contracts, which is important.

Make sure to ask if there is a condominio fee (building maintenance fee for the cleaning of the stairs) and ask if you have to pay for it. Also while it may sounds like forever, when it comes to vacating the apartment you normally need to provide six-months advance notice (written). On the other hand your landlord must also give you at least six-months notice if they wish to take back the apartment, and you get the first option to buy if they plan to sell.

When in doubt, send a registered letter or raccomandata (with pretty much anything in Italy) 

There is also something called a convention contract or contratto convenzionati which contains pre-determined conditions. This lasts three years with a two-year option for renewal. And speaking of rental deposits, the norm is anything up to three months rent + the first month which should be returned with interest within two months of the lease’s termination (of course after damages are factored).

Just like you would anywhere else, take photos of the apartment and write down any damages that already are there to then sign and send to your landlord to protect yourself later. How you pay is up to you, I direct deposit to my landlord because working as a freelancer from home, my rent is tax-deductible (to some degree). The contract has to be registered with the local government which every landlord knows.

Useful Questions

Lastly, some questions you want to ask when you looking for a place include:

1. Are utilities included in the rent? Often only the case for short-term rentals or if you are renting only a room in an apartment.

2. Is there a washing machine and oven? And does the kitchen have everything? Often missing from rentals in the historical center but so, so very important. Someone once tried to rent me an office and said ‘you’re American, you don’t need to cook’ when I complained about the lack of a kitchen, no joke! Also you need to know what the kitchen comes with (pots, pans, utensils). Don’t expect a dryer because most people don’t use them here, instead they often hang their laundry outside, or in the house. Some apartments have washer/dryer combos.

3. Can I bring my dog (or cat)? Like anywhere, every landlord has different rules regarding pets.

4. What floor (piano) is the apartment on? Sounds straightforward but remember that an apartment on the third floor is like the 4th floor to Americans. If it’s on a high-level, ask if there is a (working) elevator so you don’t kill yourself every-time you get groceries.

Lastly for short stays in Florence, take a look at Airbnb, Homeaway, Flipkey and VRBO, which have some good options.


Now I want to hear from you? What is your own experiences renting in Italy and what should people know before signing that contract? This is such an important topic so I really value any and all comments! 

 

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21 Responses

  1. I’ve heard about apartments with no kitchen. Why on earth IS that?! I can’t imagine more of a pain-in-the-arse (or expense) than having to haul around sinks, cabinets, stoves, refrigerators! What is the though-process behind it?

    And living in the Oltrarno would be amazing – I love that area. When I stayed in Florence for three weeks just over a year ago (AirBnB), I was a few steps from the Mercato Centrale…bliss!

  2. I figured out the kitchen thing years ago. The first person that rented out the apartment, rented it totally unfurnished. The renter(s) then fixed it up to their likings. When and if they moved they took their belongings with them to their new place. Well, unless the belongings were junk. Then the landlord(s) cleaned the place out. Or something like that. Like this story as you again mentioned places the we’ve been to.

    1. It’s sort of like a traveling circus. I cannot imagine trying to bring my ‘kitchen’ with me because it seems so unique to this apartment and how would you ever take it out? But I suppose ikea makes for an easier ‘fit’ for most houses. I think you see more unfurnished abodes outside of touristic cities since people are looking at renting more long term.

      1. If you’re renting, it definitely seems weird, but it seems to me that most people buy their houses or apartments in Italy and in those cases, the places are almost always “vuoti”… because of course… you have your own style, and even if you are not just moving your previous kitchen and light fixtures and all from your previous place, you certainly don’t want those that were LEFT behind!

        Yikes… they were left behind for a reason. In fact most people don’t leave anything behind, because the new buyer will insist on your taking that trashy, bad-taste stuff out to the dump yourself. So of course, you would bring or buy your own new stuff that matches your taste and sensibilities. How can a civilized person behave any other way???

        It’s very Italian. The American idea of “stuff attached to a house, like kitchen cabinets, sinks, toilets, light fixtures, etc. all convey with a sale of a home.” is absurd to an Italian. I’m going to pay you for used, yucky, out of date, in bad taste (fa bruta figura…) stuff? Americans are nuts! 🙂

        -al

        1. I’ve been in Italy for 12 years now and yes at first it was shocking to me but now I get it completely, trust me! I want to pick out my own kitchen lol but I still think it might come as a shock to many. I also think it’s simply something you need to budget.

  3. Apartment with no kitchen, how weird is that! We experienced tenant, who didn’t pay and didn’t want to leave the apartment. It took almost 1 year to finally kick him out, involving layers and court in the whole process. Really a nightmare!

    After years living in Hong Kong, one of the “inconvenience” for me to live in a city like Florence is living in a building with no lift. But eventually it is just a matter of habit. The city make it worth. Can’t wait to move to Italy! 🙂

    1. Yes an apartment with no kitchen can be a real reality and it’s still a little weird for me, even after all of these years. I heard about tenants that won’t leave but my question is, do they have to pay all of the back rent and how does it all work? I find that so bizarre because I can’t imagine insisting on living on a place I refuse to pay rent or! As for the no ‘lift’ you do get used to it, and the one good thing is that you could technically get some of your groceries delivered to your house, for example Conad and Esselunga supermarkets both offer that service which is great for heavy items like potatoes, water or wine. I wish you the best of luck!

      1. To ask the back rent, it also request lawyers getting involved. But in our case the tenant was an entrepreneur (not a very sucessful one), almost no way to chase his income. At the end the lawyer may cost much more than the back rent. At th end we were just happy to finally got the apartment back. :S

  4. Hi Georgette,

    I love how you managed to put so much information into your post, unfortunately my post is just horror stories. Oh by the way Mrs Sensible told me this morning a little story of two families that rented the same house, one couple worked night shift so they lived in the house during the day and the other couple worked the day shift and got to use the beds at night. I forgot to ask her what happened at the weekend!!

    You mentioned how close is too close for the landlord.. We looked at one house and the landlady assured us that if there was any problem with the house she would fix it straight away and contacting her would not be a problem as she would come to our house every Sunday to look after her roses. I nudged Mrs Sensible and said “tell her my husband said; I am thinking of digging them up and planting pretty flowers”

    1. Thank you Peter, I am so happy you suggested writing about this (valuable) and (not always fun) topic. We all have horror stories and I had a laugh reading yours. I’ll never forget when a friend told me about an apartment she was living at where all of her roomates locked their doors when leaving and when one of the guys actually brought newspaper from the local bar that he stole to use as toilet paper. Uh… creative? I have looked at some really shitty places but I feel like this is what happens when you’re on a budget in a popular city like Florence and Rome. I always wonder how many gorgeous, luxury apartments must be sitting empty at any given moment. I’m assuming you didn’t take the house with the roses ;-).

  5. Very detailed and useful article, as always, Georgette!
    We also had a bit of a learning curve when looking for a flat to rent in Vicenza. My husband actually flew out for a couple of days in order to see as many places as possible and contact as many agencies as possible. He did see close to ten properties and, touch wood, we are very happy so far with the one we rented. Thank God, it has a kitchen – actually, the landlord installed a brand new one, after the previous tenant left. We had to pay a rather large deposit plus a large commission to the agency, which was a huge initial expense for us, but what to do?! Also, the contract is on one sheet of paper, whereas in England the contracts can easily stretch on ten pages. Anyway, I have lots of horror stories (both personal and heard) about renting in London, so it works both ways, I guess.
    Best wishes!
    Rossi 🙂

    1. Ciao Rossi! Thank you so much for your comment. You did the smartest thing possible, go before and see the places for yourself. Which I know isn’t always possible but you really need to in Italy or be stuck with what might be a huge issue. While I do see the point (rarely) to go with agencies, especially if you have your heart set on a certain house, you can find places agency-free and avoid that fee. But I know that’s tough and if you love your place, than that is all that matters :). The contracts in the USA are crazy and it is much worse (credit check etc) but you normally get taken seriously when something happens to the place. Pros and Cons everywhere I suppose. Thanks again for sharing your experience, I’m hoping everything gets the place of their dreams in Florence.

  6. Really useful info and a great blog.

    I am moving to Florence in a few weeks and am trying to gather as much info as I can.

  7. Great info, Georgette – thanks! My husband and I are coming to Florence in March for a month as an “exploratory visit”. I wanted to see it with less tourists – ha! We are going to try to figure out which neighborhood we want to live in and plan to meet with an agent, so this was really helpful. We live in Seattle and are putting the family home on the market in April and downsizing so we thought, why not downsize in Italy? Also have our application for dual citizenship in the bureaucratic pool at the consulate here, so when that happens…. You’ve given much food for thought!

    1. Ciao Jann! My pleasure and coming for an exploratory visit is a wise decision indeed. I definitely think sticking to a neighborhood that is a little out of the tourist trail (piazza tasso, frediano, beccaria, sant’ambrogio) might be a wise idea :). That is very cool that you guys are looking to downsize, I am seeing more of that trend which means that people are looking for a better quality of life rather than a quantity of things. Progressive to say the least! Good luck with the dual citizenship process and please do stay in touch!

  8. Interesting; couldn’t enter a comment using Chrome.

    So, I found an apartment I love in Rome. It doesn’t have a kitchen. I’m okay with that; when in Rome ….

    My questions are, how much does it cost to have a kitchen installed and where does one go to get one? All the things I’ve been able to find on the Internet assume I’m outfitting a Tuscan palazzo not a two room apartment in Rome.

  9. Thank you
    As to visa, if I buy a place or long term lease in Italy, does that extend my 3 month visa? (I’m assuming as an American we get an automatic 3-month visa in the EU and then must leave)

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Georgette Jupe

Welcome to my personal blog by a curious American girl living and working between Zug, Switzerland and Florence, Italy with my husband Nico, our newborn Annabelle and Ginger the beagle. This space is primarily to share about my love for Italy (currently on a 13 year romance) with a fair amount of real talk, practical advice, travel suggestions and adjusting to a new culture (Switzerland). Find me on IG @girlinflorence @girlinzug

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