Phrases for Finding & Renting an Apartment in Italy

Che tipo di contratto è?

Note: This article was written by a previous contributor - Rachel Vermiglio Smith. Rachel graduated with a degree in Italian language and literature. After falling in love with Italian art as well, she went on for a master’s in art history with a focus on the Italian Renaissance. You can follow her on Instagram @theitalianista.

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Renting an apartment in Italy can seem like an overwhelming -- sometimes impossible -- task. 

From the lingo to the contracts, there is A LOT to know and understand. If you can’t keep up or don’t pay attention to the details, you risk getting a bad deal (or worse, a bad landlord). 

Having lived in Italy for years, I have seen it all and have had every type of contract imaginable, from those “in nero” (i.e. illegal) to ones that were so strict they practically required I hand over my firstborn child if I were to break something. 

However, there are some basics that will help get you through. Your dream villa in Tuscany awaits!

First things first, there are three types of rentals: