Did they say the water and electricity don't work or aren't connected? Is the water pressure coming from the watermain or do you have a tank and electric pump? If the house has been empty for a while, you'll very likely need to sign up with an electricity supplier. You need a local electrician not a British one (unless you're richer than you sound)! Ask the neighbours. If you start off distrusting everyone including the mayor, you're going to have a hard time. Why did you buy a house in Italy if you think we're all crooks here?
Get moving with the legalities. If they stay there long enough, they get usacapione - the legal right to stay there forever. You also need to go there and, not using any illegal means, make life uncomfortable. For example, take the roof away as part of a long term restoration. Complain to ASL that the toilet facilities are in adequate (if that's the case) etc. There are many things you can and should do - ask the police for advice.
If you're a person who's easily frustrated, Italy might present its problems. However, inflation (very low right now), illegal immigrants and the politcal system are hardly likely to impinge on you - after all, a short time back we were without a government, without a President and without a Pope all at the same time and the country chugged along nicely. North of Rome, bureaucracy is not especially tedious. As the other respondents have said, you need to learn the language and engage with your neighbours (very easy) otherwise you'll be a perpetual expatriate spending your time with similar and complaining to oneanother about everything. I've been here 35 years and even at the start I never really found anything particularly stressful about the life. Now that I'm retired, life is even easier - prune the olives, read a book on my terrace. Yes, not too bad at all.
Give him the table - I can't understand why you hesitated for a second. I would do the same in any country if the previous owner was coming to do the vines, but especially in Italy. This is rural Italy - personal relationships are everything. And you'll never have to ask him a favour - ever? Need to find some water pipes - oh, let's ask the previous owner who still lives in the area. Think about it.
10 euros per hour would be a reasonable amount for the work, but most strimmers add on the cost of gasolio and strimmer wires. I guess you could find cheaper as long as he doesn't have to drive too far to your place. If he works fast, I'm not sure I'd argue about it.
Dampness is the problem. What you'll need to do is the following. Dig up the entire floor and excavate a big airspace under it (30 - 50 cm) with connections to the outside world for circulation. Relay the floor - perhaps lowered for the height issue - using "igloos" to support it. Line all the walls with a false wall also with lots of circulation behind (intercapedine - 7 cm of empty space minimum) and again connected to the outside so that air circulates. There are some modern plasters that are impermable to water - plaster the false wall with this kind of material (not all builders know about them - ask around).The final floor space will be significantly smaller in area but good for living, especially if you're there all year round with doors open etc. Don't put your books and antiques there until you've tested for a year or two!
They are not the same. If the infestation is major, you need to contact a specialist company quickly. If it's just a single beam that's infested, try applying multiple layers of standard woodworm treatment, and look for powdered wood after a couple of months.
Yes, we did a project like that. All you need is a very competent, persuasive and experienced geometra. There will be things you want to do that the Beni Culturali won't allow (punching a window through a wall, for example). It's the task of your geometra to see how far you can go and what the work arounds are. Usually, if it's allowed by the comune architect, the others will go along, but not always. We had no problem - there are things they can't say "no" to - e.g. installing a bathroom - it just has to be done in the least invasive manner possible.
Comments posted
Everything you need to know: http://www.gardens-of-tuscany.net/
Did they say the water and electricity don't work or aren't connected? Is the water pressure coming from the watermain or do you have a tank and electric pump? If the house has been empty for a while, you'll very likely need to sign up with an electricity supplier. You need a local electrician not a British one (unless you're richer than you sound)! Ask the neighbours. If you start off distrusting everyone including the mayor, you're going to have a hard time. Why did you buy a house in Italy if you think we're all crooks here?
Get moving with the legalities. If they stay there long enough, they get usacapione - the legal right to stay there forever. You also need to go there and, not using any illegal means, make life uncomfortable. For example, take the roof away as part of a long term restoration. Complain to ASL that the toilet facilities are in adequate (if that's the case) etc. There are many things you can and should do - ask the police for advice.
If you're a person who's easily frustrated, Italy might present its problems. However, inflation (very low right now), illegal immigrants and the politcal system are hardly likely to impinge on you - after all, a short time back we were without a government, without a President and without a Pope all at the same time and the country chugged along nicely. North of Rome, bureaucracy is not especially tedious. As the other respondents have said, you need to learn the language and engage with your neighbours (very easy) otherwise you'll be a perpetual expatriate spending your time with similar and complaining to oneanother about everything. I've been here 35 years and even at the start I never really found anything particularly stressful about the life. Now that I'm retired, life is even easier - prune the olives, read a book on my terrace. Yes, not too bad at all.
Read this and be prewarned: http://tuscany-toscana.blogspot.it/2013/08/what-you-need-to-know-before-renting.html
Give him the table - I can't understand why you hesitated for a second. I would do the same in any country if the previous owner was coming to do the vines, but especially in Italy. This is rural Italy - personal relationships are everything. And you'll never have to ask him a favour - ever? Need to find some water pipes - oh, let's ask the previous owner who still lives in the area. Think about it.
10 euros per hour would be a reasonable amount for the work, but most strimmers add on the cost of gasolio and strimmer wires. I guess you could find cheaper as long as he doesn't have to drive too far to your place. If he works fast, I'm not sure I'd argue about it.
Dampness is the problem. What you'll need to do is the following. Dig up the entire floor and excavate a big airspace under it (30 - 50 cm) with connections to the outside world for circulation. Relay the floor - perhaps lowered for the height issue - using "igloos" to support it. Line all the walls with a false wall also with lots of circulation behind (intercapedine - 7 cm of empty space minimum) and again connected to the outside so that air circulates. There are some modern plasters that are impermable to water - plaster the false wall with this kind of material (not all builders know about them - ask around).The final floor space will be significantly smaller in area but good for living, especially if you're there all year round with doors open etc. Don't put your books and antiques there until you've tested for a year or two!
They are not the same. If the infestation is major, you need to contact a specialist company quickly. If it's just a single beam that's infested, try applying multiple layers of standard woodworm treatment, and look for powdered wood after a couple of months.
Yes, we did a project like that. All you need is a very competent, persuasive and experienced geometra. There will be things you want to do that the Beni Culturali won't allow (punching a window through a wall, for example). It's the task of your geometra to see how far you can go and what the work arounds are. Usually, if it's allowed by the comune architect, the others will go along, but not always. We had no problem - there are things they can't say "no" to - e.g. installing a bathroom - it just has to be done in the least invasive manner possible.