Italian · Home & repairs · Elementary

Questions to ask when viewing a flat in Italy

Say “Permesso?” as you step in. Then ask what the rent covers, “Le spese sono incluse?”, and about the heating: “Il riscaldamento è autonomo o centralizzato?”. Check the noise, “Qui è tranquillo?”, ask which way the flat faces for light, and find out what stays: “È arredato?”.

Try it · about two minutes

On a flat viewing with an estate agent, you ask about the heating, the noise, the light and which furniture stays.

Sound on: the estate agent speaks Italian. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

The conversation

Estate agent
Prego, entri.
Come in, please.
You
Permesso? Grazie.
May I? Thank you.
Estate agent
L'affitto è seicento euro al mese.
The rent is six hundred euros a month.
You
Le spese sono incluse?
Are the bills included?
You walk into the living room. It feels cool, and there are radiators under the windows.
You
Il riscaldamento è autonomo o centralizzato?
Is the heating independent or central?
Estate agent
Mi segua, prego.
Follow me, please.
You
Qui è tranquillo?
Is it quiet here?
Estate agent
L'inquilino attuale se ne va venerdì.
The current tenant leaves on Friday.
You
È arredato?
Is it furnished?
Estate agent
Ha un lavoro?
Do you have a job?
You
Sì, lavoro in un'azienda qui vicino.
Yes, I work for a company nearby.

Key phrases

È ancora disponibile?
Is it still available?
Le spese sono incluse?
Are the bills included?
Quali spese non sono incluse?
Which bills aren’t included?
Il riscaldamento è elettrico o a gas?
Is the heating electric or gas?
Qui è tranquillo?
Is it quiet here?
È arredato?
Is it furnished?
La cauzione è di una mensilità?
Is the deposit one month’s rent?
Posso fare la residenza a questo indirizzo?
Can I register my address here?
Posso leggere il contratto prima di firmare?
Can I read the contract before I sign?
Ci devo pensare.
I need to think about it.

Good to know in Italy

At the viewing

1
Say “Permesso?” as you step in.
2
Ask about the heating: autonomo or centralizzato.
3
Ask which way it faces. L’esposizione decides how much light you get.
4
Check you can register your address there.
Can I register my address here?

Autonomo or centralizzato

With riscaldamento centralizzato, the building switches the heating on and off and you share the cost. Autonomo means your own boiler and your own schedule.

Spese condominiali

Ask about the monthly building charges as well as the rent. They cover things like cleaning, the lift and, in some buildings, shared heating.

Quanto si paga di spese ogni mese?

How much are the bills each month?

More situations in Italian

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Keep these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.