Ram's activity

Sabina is talking about the prezzario regionale which is price list issued for every region which details every job and how much it costs - eg - intonaco with 'bio' producets - 14 euros psm, intonaco with colour 15 euros pesm etc etc.  These are the legal prices set by the region for every job done on a property - they are the basis for every calcolistas computometrico which must be done according to the book.  Then you start on the discounts - and should expect to pay 10 - 20% less than the book price.  You will never pay more.  

I wasnt being picky - but in my experience when the E106 expires, its because you no longer live - ie are fiscally resident  -in the Uk and therefore fall under the Italian system - so at some point the two coincide - if you continue to pay NI in the UK to keep your E106 alive, you will also be eligible for UK tax as you are deemed to be fiscally resident in the UK, which - if you have Italian residence and work over here, is just going bring alot of problems-  All the money you save on your medical insurance will be spent on the commercialisa! 

How could you calim to be self employed in the UK when you are living permanently in another member state? You could only possibly be self employed for less than 184 days a year in the UK and then would fall under Itlaian tax for your UK income- ---- easier to pay up in Italy.

it is usually on a sliding scale and on square metreage.  The ground floor pay more for sewers than you would, and you take more of a hit when it comes to the roof.  If you have a terrace that may be entirely your problem - diritti di suoli - but the roof is shared.... 

But surely it was the post office in the far away country that was inept - unless the man who wrote on the envelope wrote a places that didnt exist such as galles?

Chalk and cheese!  You will find Palermo very expensive - now you can pay about 4000 euros psm in the centro storico - people have finally discovered the reason for living in a city again, so price are comparable to Florence.  In FLorence anywhere within the city walls is fine to live, though I would always opt for the slightly cheaper Oltrarno out towards the Porta Romana.  Palermo obviously has zones that you should avoid - but you will learn this when you visit.  It depends what you are looking for, but most stranieri buy near the Politeama which have large houses, wide streets and is more 'user friendly' than the little vicoli in the true centro storico.  Good luck

Well, it should be!  But it isnt... you have to assume the following....  A British agency or buyers agent cant sell property legally in Italy, so they should be working with an Italian agent.  On that basis it will be the Italian agent that has the mandate - and the others are just inflating the price.  If there is more than one Italian agent, it will 90% of the time be the agency with its base in the same region as the property.  The Italian based portals advertise on behalf of local agents and often just grab the info - so its possible the local agent will have a reduced price while the national will still have the original asking price. Even if you choose to use the non mandate holding agent, at least by scouting around the internet you should know how 'trattabile' the price is. There is an unpleasant practise from some estate agencies - mostly Italian - to just go and take photos of rivals houses and put them on the web with a lower price.  When someone enquires they go to the owner and tell them they have a buyer and get in under the wire.  FOr the buyer the agent will turn round and say that the owner has put the price up - usually when you actually go and see the property.   So any agent especially in the south of Italy - who only has exterior shots and doesnt offer the interior shots on request, may be just trying it on with a ridiculously low price.  

It all sounds quite normal to me!  The reasons are many and various, but usually are 1. online property services want their cut, especially som British based 'buyers' agents who often split the extra with the man on the ground. 2. the difference between the asking price and the price that the seller wants 'in tasca' 3. The odd vendor who thinks that foreigners will pay more 4. The strange Italian mentality that if a house doesnt sell then its because its too cheap 5. Vendors complete inability to pick up a phone and tell agents that they have changed the price 6. Online property services are just trying it on, and have no mandate from the original owner.  If someone is interested they approach the owner with the 'new' price. The motto - always use the agent with the mandate. 

You have no choice - it seems a bit unfair but thats the way it is. It is a long term plan to a) change the way fabbricati rurali are registerd as enti urbani and b) make some money for the state.  As an ente urbano the house will be liable for ICI and other taxes that you could have avoided having a mere FR. Slowly all of Italy is making the changeover, and there are fines if you dont do it in the time prescribed by the region.  I am surprised that you can do it yourself - usually it must be done by a 'professional' - ie an architect, geometra, tecnico - and they charge according to the size of the building and so on - so when you say agent what do you mean? IF its an 'agent', they are just being the middleman and will cream off some money for the privilege.   

Capo Boi is right, in that a notaio does not work for you - but for the state.  However, a good notaio will practise all due diligence on a sale, a bad notaio will to the minimum possible.   If you are buying using a good estate agent, a solicitor is not necessary. The estate agent - ie someone who is registered and qualified to be an estate agent in Italy - should do all the checks that the notaio can't or won't.   If you're buying via a bloke a the local caff who knows someone, or via a 'buyers agent' or spiv who doesnt want to appear in the act of sale, you need to take all the precautions you can, because you have no come back in law against any of them.   In a straightforward sale there is no need for a solicitor to act on your behalf, and they often can just complicate matters unnecessarily.  If you are planning on buying a house with multiple owners via an offshore company and want to divide between you, your wife and mistress its not a bad idea to get some help!