Have a question? Our team of experts is here to help. Send your question and receive a detailed answer.
Complete the form below, selecting the appropriate category for your question.
The valuation appraisal and expert's report are fundamental documents in property enforcement proceedings. They inform the judge, creditors and prospective buyers about the property, its value and legal position before auction. Before an attached property is sold, a technical assessment is required under the Code
Read Answer →Recording in the land registers is a fundamental part of Italy's property-publicity system. It makes certain property-related instruments known to third parties, supporting certainty and security in property rights. The framework is in Book VI of the Italian Civil Code, particularly Articles 2643 onwards. Article
Read Answer →Energy performance is the energy needed for a building's heating, cooling, domestic hot water, ventilation and, in some cases, lighting. It expresses efficiency and is summarised in the Energy Performance Certificate (APE). The main framework is Legislative Decree 192 of 19 August 2005, implementing European
Read Answer →Explore our expert's answers to the most common questions
The valuation appraisal and expert's report are fundamental documents in property enforcement proceedings. They inform the judge, creditors and prospective buyers about the property, its value and legal position before auction. Before an attached property is sold, a technical assessment is required under the Code
Read Answer →Recording in the land registers is a fundamental part of Italy's property-publicity system. It makes certain property-related instruments known to third parties, supporting certainty and security in property rights. The framework is in Book VI of the Italian Civil Code, particularly Articles 2643 onwards. Article
Read Answer →Energy performance is the energy needed for a building's heating, cooling, domestic hot water, ventilation and, in some cases, lighting. It expresses efficiency and is summarised in the Energy Performance Certificate (APE). The main framework is Legislative Decree 192 of 19 August 2005, implementing European
Read Answer →A preliminary sale agreement, often called a compromesso, commits seller and buyer to conclude the definitive sale, or notarial deed, later. It does not immediately transfer ownership, but creates binding obligations under Articles 1351 onwards of the Italian Civil Code. To be valid and protect
Read Answer →A tenant obtains a right to use property in return for periodic rent under a tenancy agreement. Rights and obligations are principally governed by Articles 1571 onwards of the Italian Civil Code and, for residential premises, Law 431/1998. Tenants are entitled to full, peaceful enjoyment
Read Answer →A property purchase involves taxes as well as the price agreed by buyer and seller. The amount varies considerably with the type of property, the seller and any available relief. For a purchase from a private individual, the main tax is registration tax under Presidential
Read Answer →Mortgage approval depends on more than income. Banks assess both the customer's ability to repay and the value of the property offered as security. The Consolidated Banking Act, Legislative Decree 385/1993, and Bank of Italy provisions require prudent creditworthiness assessment. Repayment capacity is among the
Read Answer →Improving energy efficiency means upgrading a building and its systems to reduce consumption, increase comfort and lower environmental impact. Results depend on the property's starting condition, structure, climate zone and existing systems. One of the most effective improvements is thermal insulation, often applied as external
Read Answer →Building tax-incentive rules have changed repeatedly in recent years, reshaping how renovations are planned and carried out. Initially designed mainly as deductions for qualifying expenditure, the schemes later gained new mechanisms and repeatedly amended conditions. A major change came with Decree-Law 34/2020, the Recovery Decree,
Read Answer →Buying at auction can be a valuable opportunity, but requires careful advance review. Unlike an ordinary sale, buyers cannot rely solely on a seller's information: they must examine the enforcement documents to understand the property's legal and physical condition. The principal document is the appraisal
Read Answer →This requires careful assessment of the individual case. Not all irregularities have the same effects, and not all prevent a sale. A planning irregularity is a difference between the property's actual condition and the municipal building authorisations. Examples include work without the required permission or
Read Answer →The rogito notarile is the public deed formally completing a property sale. The seller transfers ownership and the buyer becomes the new owner. The article refers to Article 1350 of the Italian Civil Code in explaining the formal requirements for property transfers, executed as a
Read Answer →The new Housing Plan, introduced by Decree-Law 66 of 7 May 2026 and converted into Law 116 of 2 July 2026, aims to address the difficulty of accessing affordable housing. Unlike earlier Housing Plans focused mainly on building extensions and simpler development procedures, its principal
Read Answer →The distinction between the Cadastre and the Land Registry is often misunderstood. They are sometimes treated as the same office, but perform very different, complementary functions. Understanding them matters when buying or selling, handling inheritance, applying for a mortgage or checking a property's legal position.
Read Answer →The main difference is how interest is calculated over the loan's lifetime. With a fixed rate, interest is agreed when the contract is signed and remains unchanged until the loan ends. Instalments stay the same regardless of economic or financial-market developments. Borrowers know their monthly
Read Answer →A landlord grants a tenant use of a property under a tenancy governed by Articles 1571 onwards of the Italian Civil Code. Article 1571 defines a tenancy as an agreement granting enjoyment of movable or immovable property for a specified period in return for rent,
Read Answer →Before renovating, extending or carrying out building work, one of the first questions is which authorisation is needed. CILA, SCIA and a building permit are three different procedures under Italian building law, depending on the proposed works. Choosing correctly is more than an administrative formality.
Read Answer →Before marketing a property that has benefited from building tax incentives, ensure the documentation is complete and consistent. This protects both seller and buyer and helps prevent disputes or delays at completion. First obtain the authorisation under which the works were carried out—for example CILA,
Read Answer →Property enforcement proceedings allow creditors to recover debts when a debtor does not pay voluntarily, for example a mortgage, loan or other amount due. The creditor may ask the court to attach and auction the debtor's property. The proceeds satisfy all or part of the
Read Answer →Buying a home is a major life decision, and taxes and administration can feel confusing. The State offers practical assistance through first-home tax relief, intended to reduce the taxes payable when purchasing a settled home. It is not automatic: specific conditions must be met. The
Read Answer →When buying a home, receiving a property as a gift, taking out a mortgage or forming a company, clients often ask about the cost of the notarial deed. The concern is understandable, particularly because the full amount is often mistaken for the notary's fee. In
Read Answer →Planning conformity is frequently discussed in property sales and renovations, but its meaning and practical importance are not always clear to non-specialists. A property complies when its present condition corresponds exactly to the permissions and plans filed with the municipality over the years. Rooms, windows,
Read Answer →The Energy Performance Certificate (APE) informs a prospective buyer about a building's energy rating, estimated consumption and suggested improvements. It helps them assess not only the property's value but also expected heating, cooling and energy-management costs. The obligation arises from Legislative Decree 192/2005, implementing European
Read Answer →A cadastral floor plan is a fundamental property document: a scaled technical drawing showing the internal arrangement of an apartment or other unit, including rooms, doors, windows and the precise distribution of space. Held by the Cadastre and now managed by the Italian Revenue Agency,
Read Answer →The Attestato di Prestazione Energetica (APE) is an official certificate describing a property's energy characteristics. It provides clear, objective information about energy consumption, helping owners, buyers and tenants understand a building's efficiency. It assigns an energy class, generally from A4, the most efficient, down to
Read Answer →Building tax incentives are tax relief measures introduced by the State to encourage work on existing properties. They aim both to improve the quality and safety of buildings and to make homes more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable. In practice, people incurring qualifying expenses can recover
Read Answer →A property auction is a public sale, generally ordered by a court, intended to satisfy the creditors of an owner who has failed to fulfil obligations such as paying a debt or mortgage. When a debtor cannot pay and a creditor begins enforcement proceedings, the
Read Answer →Cadastral income is the economic value assigned by the Italian Revenue Agency to a property recorded in the Buildings Cadastre. It represents the theoretical income that the property could produce under cadastral criteria. In simple terms, it is a fiscal value used to calculate various
Read Answer →A tenancy agreement is an agreement under which the landlord—the owner or someone entitled to let the property—allows the tenant to use it for a specified period in return for rent. The landlord does not transfer ownership, but grants a right to use the property
Read Answer →A mortgage loan is a contract under which a bank or other lender provides a sum of money that the borrower must repay over time on agreed dates and terms, usually through periodic instalments comprising principal and interest. The Italian Civil Code defines a loan
Read Answer →A property purchase offer is the document through which a prospective buyer formally offers to buy a particular property on specified terms. It generally states the price, payment arrangements, deadlines for the preliminary contract and notarial deed, and any conditions precedent or special agreements. A
Read Answer →A planning designation is the function assigned to a particular area by municipal planning instruments. It specifies the uses permitted on land or within a municipal zone, determining what may be built and which activities may take place there. It is a fundamental planning-law concept,
Read Answer →Building compliance is one of the most important matters to check when buying, selling or renovating a property. It means that the building's actual condition corresponds to what the municipality authorised through the permissions for its construction and subsequent alterations. What exists on site must
Read Answer →The notary has a central role in a property sale, not only because the law requires their involvement in the transfer deed, but because they safeguard the interests of everyone involved. As a public official appointed by the State, the notary authenticates deeds and ensures
Read Answer →A cadastral floor plan is a document showing a property as recorded in the Italian Cadastre. It is a technical drawing of the internal layout of an apartment, office, shop or other property unit, showing its rooms, access points, ancillary areas and overall configuration. Although
Read Answer →