Which quality and comfort can I expect from an average flat in Rome? While living in Rome often implies to be in beautiful surroundings the quality of flats more frequently doesn't compare favourably to the standard in other European countries or North America. The walls, fixtures, kitchen equipment and bathrooms often are outdated, with little or no refurbishments done in the last 20 years. In many cases owners unfortunately tend to believe that it is not worth modernizing their property to rent it, because they think that the tenants will wear it down again. Generally more modern flats are easier to find in residential areas, beyond the historic centre like the EUR and Monteverde Nuovo that have been developed since the 1970's and buildings in the centre might be less modern and comfortable. In any case, nicely renovated flats can be found in any part of town, but they will be more costly than what a foreigner might expect for a quality he would consider normal. Are there different kinds of lease contracts used in Italy? Yes, there are residential contracts and transitory contracts. The former have a duration of 4 years, renewable for another 4 years if the owner doesn't need the flat for himself (or close relatives) or wants to sell it. A variation of this contract that is based on fixed prices agreed upon by the local associations of owners and tenants is available for 3 years renewable for another 2 years. Transitory contracts usually have a maximum duration of 18 months and are designed for temporary housing of students or expats who are not expected to take residency in the rented flat. Is it easier to find a furnished or unfurnished flat in Rome? Generally furnished flats are easier to find if they are small, designed for singles or young couples and often imply a transitory lease agreement. Larger flats are usually unfurnished or semi-furnished with an equipped kitchen and a few wardrobes. The furniture is often a bit outdated or recycled, therefore if you are demanding it is advisable to settle for buying some furniture yourself, even if you don't plan to bring your own. Are the expenses for public utilities as water, heating and electricity included in the rent of an apartment? Normally the expenses are not included and the tenant is expected to pay them himself or reimburse the owner who pays the bills. The same is true for the condo expenses, which cover the cleaning of common areas, maintenance of the elevator and the salary of the doorman if there is one, as well as centralized heating. The utilities and condo expenses are usually included for short term rentals for less than 6 months. Do I have to pay a commission to the real estate agency which is in charge of the apartment I want to rent and how much? Yes, you have to pay a commission which varies in different cities and also from agency to agency. For rental periods that exceed a year, the commission is between 1 and 3 months of rent. In Rome, Property International charges one months' rent, once the contract has been signed. Can I expect a proper handover of my apartment with a detailed check-in or do I only receive my keys from the owner? Property International ensures a proper handover with a walk through the flat to check the condition of the property together with the tenant and a reading of the utility meters. In case of furnished apartments an inventory is drawn up as well. Upon termination of the lease agreement a walk out is done again to check if any damages have occurred and to do the final reading of the utilities. Property International also ensures the change of the utility contracts to the tenants name if this is requested and the set up of new contracts, as telephone and ADSL. How do I proceed if I find damages after I moved in already? Usually you have between 10 days and 1 month to report damages to the owner after you moved in. Damages that take place afterwards should be reported within 48 hours of their discovery. How is my relationship to the other neighbours in my building regulated? Most buildings have a list of rules that have been agreed on by the owner's assembly, the so called "regolamento condominiale". These discipline the cleaning of the areas, the hours in which you have to be quiet and other details. You can demand a copy of these rules and ask us to translate them. If there are any unforeseen problems, apart of common sense and trying to talk to your neighbours or the landlord, we will be happy to assist you. Is it easier to find long term or short term rentals in Rome? It might be a bit easier and less expensive to find long term accommodation, but there is also a whole area of the rental market specialized in short term rentals. Which are the best areas to live in with children in Rome? In Rome the best areas are those residential neighbourhoods that are adjacent to the historic center as Monteverde, the Aventine, the EUR and also the suburbia close to the sea in Casal Palocco and to the North along the Cassia where there are also several foreign schools. The historic center is less advisable, because it is often noisy, houses don't necessarily have lifts and there are not many green areas apart from Villa Borghese. Is it a good idea to bring my car to Rome and where can I park it safely? Even if traffic in Rome is chaotic, without a car you are lost because public transportation is not very comfortable and efficient - even though much better than a few years ago! - and most lines run only until midnight. In most residential areas you can park on the street, but it is better to take your radio out of the car and buy an alarm. Private parking spaces come with about 50% of flats, especially in residential areas and often you can rent a space in a private garage. The monthly rent of a parking space is between 60 and 200 Euros depending on the area you live in.