What do landlords ask when you rent a flat in Italy?

Landlords and agencies want a stable tenant: a permanent contract, an income in proportion to the rent, ideally money in EU accounts. A fixed-term contract is not accepted even with a good CUD, self-employed people are unwelcome; a student in Rome was refused a 700-euro room with a combined income with her guarantor of 40,000 euro a year - "we want a higher income".

There are no agents searching "for you": almost every flat comes with an agency, listings sit on the big portals, private landlords are rare there. In Milan options go within a day, agents are hard to reach, and hearing non-Italian speech some say at once that the flat is taken. The dearer the flat, the more they ask.

Money at move-in: a deposit and the agency fee, in one case 1,800 euro "for the contract" plus the monthly rent. Ask to see previous bills: one family got a 7,000-euro annual condominium bill for central heating although the agent had quoted other figures.

The contract must be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate - only that gives residenza, tenant rights and the paper for the questura; short lets do not come with an ospitalità, and for a family the questura also wants the housing suitability certificate (idoneità alloggiativa). Paying "the landlady's husband so she avoids tax" means no contract and no protection.