Capo Boi's activity

  Maureen, I would doubt very much there are any grants available but I'm sure I could be corrected here. There are tax deductions available for solar but to take advantage you must be an Italian taxpayer. (Reduces your tax bill in Italy, but does'nt help if you are an non Italian taxpayer).

 OK...these are mine.... (1) The post office. Been covered above..... (2) 'I could have done this/that cheaper'. Conversation goes something like this. 'But your quote was 30% more expensive than anyone else'. ' I could still have done it cheaper though, you only had to ask'. (3) Follows on from (2). 'If only you had taken my advice'.... Not a bad life though......

  Hello David, Site is www.homelidays.com I do believe, however, that if you know of a good local Italian agent, then it may be better to link up with them. Concentrating purely on the UK rental market could be a mistake. July and August is the main market with a window in October when the Swiss and Germans have two weeks of school holidays. A lot of Italians will now have already booked up but two things that can make a difference are air conditioning and an outdoor shower. Good luck.

 What Penny says is pretty much correct in my opinion. (but UK employees, pensioners etc normally have to fill in a tax return as well).  I've withdrawn my original post and am happy to be corrected by SirTK. Hope this link helps though. http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/faqs_general.htm

 Two angels were taking a walk in heaven one day. It was a cloudy day in Italy. "Where do you think we are above?" said Gabriel. Thats easy said Gabriela, sticking her hand through the clouds, "we are directly over Pisa" "How do you know that?," said Gabriel, clearly impressed. "Well" said Gabriela, "when I stuck my hand through the clouds I could feel a tower leaning at an angle, so I knew it must be Pisa". They walked on. "Where do you think we are now?" said Gabriel. Gabriela stuck her hand through the clouds again and said "Rome". "How do you know that?" said Gabriel even more impressed. Gabriela replied, "when I felt below the clouds my hand was wet. Its easy, must have been the Trevi fountain" Again, they walked on. "Where are we now said Gabriel?" Once more Gabriela stuck her hand through the clouds. "Naples" she replied. "How do you know that?" said Gabriel, more impressed than ever. "Thats easy" said Gabriela, "someone just pinched my wristwatch".

 Alanino, what a nightmare. Wish you well. You really need a lawyer specialising in property disputes here. (not a generalist). As Penny says, maybe Charlotte Oliver can help. Alternatively, The Italian chamber of commerce in the UK (1 Princess Street, London 020 74958191- I think) may be able to point you in the right direction). Your point 2 was interesting. I'm not sure how generally well known this is, but its by no means uncommon for those involved on a site to be "paid" by receiving part of the build.

 I think what you say is true pianopiano. I wish you the best of luck.

  pianopiono, I don't disagree with you. But if you have had a property on the market for three years and it is still unsold maybe the market is saying that the price is too high. 

 Penny, I think we are on the same wavelength and I have no argument with what you say.  All I was trying to do was bring home the effect of exchange rate movements on one's "financial" well being. (not quality of life or anything else). If you are dependent on a sterling income to finance euro expenditure then you have a currency mismatch which can either work in your favour or alternatively against you. Likewise you can borrow more (or less) in sterling against an euro asset that has increased (decreased) in price. As I said, I have no crystal ball but sterling at 0.90 to the euro seems to me as entirely feasible as a rate of 1.45. I'm not for a moment suggesting that either event will happen but what if one of these does?