This Italian tax ID is required before you can sign a lease. Get it at the local Agenzia delle Entrate or through the Italian consulate in your home country before you arrive. It's free and takes 10–15 minutes if you go in person.

Standard Italian residential leases are 4 years + 4 years renewal. Furnished 'transitorio' contracts are common for students and can be 1–18 months, though legally they require a valid reason (enrollment letter works). Most student leases are transitorio.

Landlords typically request 1–3 months deposit. By law, they must return it within 30 days of you leaving, with an itemised list of any deductions. Never pay a deposit before seeing the property.

Italian real estate agents typically charge 1 month's rent + VAT as their fee. When renting directly from landlords (particularly on Nivar), you often avoid this entirely. Always ask upfront.

Scams targeting foreign students are real. Never send money via Western Union, bank transfer, or crypto before you've seen the apartment and met the landlord. A legitimate landlord will always provide a written contract.