To be fair it is very difficult to provide an accurate cost of renovation as a lot depends on the finish you specify. Most estate agents will quote a price range per sqm for renovations in your particular area. This should give you some idea. A geometra should prepare a document called a "computo metrico" which lists every job that need to be done during the restoration and a "notional" price per sqm/cubic metre etc for each job. This will give you a better idea. When deciding which builder to engage, the computo metrico should be sent to the various builders with no prices and they give you a quote based on that. One word of warning, I have seen many different things missed off these documents. For example one that we had did not include scaffolding - a big cost. I would suggest getting your computo metrico translated. That way you can understand it and check nothing obvious is missing. When you talk about service charges do you mean bills or prefessional fees? Again, fees for permissions depend on what you want to do to the property. No-one can give you an accurate quote for that until your plans have been drawn up. The Geometra can tell you what his fees would be, however. It is usually a %age of the renovation costs (in my area, somewhere between 8% & 10%). Make sure you choose a geometra that has been recommended to you and go and see his previous work and speak to previous customers. Don't just necessarily use the one the agent uses because it is easier. IMHO it is better to pay a translator to accompany you on your geometra hunt and when speaking to people if you don't speak Italian. It is money well spent. As for moving to Italy and getting residency, this is straightforward enough. There are of course tax implications as there would be in any emigration where you keep a property in your home country. Italy is no different in that respect. The health cover is straight forward for most people. Generally speaking, if you have been working in the UK then you will get 2 1/2 years cover by presenting the relevant E12n form (last digit depends on your contributions - speak to the NI people in the UK for more details ). You will however need to finance your own health cover for the remaining 2 1/2 years until you become a permanent resident at which point you are entitled to health cover like an Italian. If you are a pensioner then it is even easier and you just present the relevant E12n form and you are covered. Hope that helps.
We looked into these for our cycling business and there are a lot of rules about what constitutes an electric bike and when it becomes a scooter. If your electric bike does more than 20kmph then it is a scooter (even if it looks like a bike!) and requires tax, insurance etc. Electric bikes that would cope with the hills around here cost a LOT of money. Same price as a scooter basically although they don't need taxing & insuring. That is why we didn't buy any in the end. Just in case anyone had any crazy ideas!
There is a very good nursery on the road to Marina di Altidona. It is just after a restaurant called I Cedri (on the left hand side) if you are coming from inland towarsd the coast. Sorry but I can't remember it's name. They have lots and lot of greenhouses and you can find most things in there. They have a much wider selection than the nurseries at the coast for shrubs and bedding plants. The yare also very good for vegetable plants and I have found lots of things there I couldn't find elsewhere.
We paid €10 a sqm approx 4 years ago so I would say that is far too much. Remember to count all faces of a beam though when calculating the no. of sqm. You need a sabbiatrice to do the work. I am sure builders will do it but there are specialists.
I wouldn't recommend anything other than a credit card to be honest otherwise you are not insured if someone commits a fraud on your card. It has happened to us twice on our Italian credit cards and Visa were great and refunded the money immediately. A friend of mine had this happen on her debit card and the bank took more than a year to refund her €700! Most Italia suppliers will let you pay in cash on delivery or by bank transfer too (but will charge extra). Why not give them a call?
Thanks Charlotte! Just another question or two... If we took Italian citizenship (dual really as we would keep our British one) would our baby be an Italian citizen (assuming we have enough time to do this still)? Also, if we became Italian citizens after it is born, would the baby "inherit" our Italian citizenship or could we apply on the baby's behalf, or would it still have to wait until it is 18? Thanks.
Hi Gala & Jana, yes we are thinking dual nationality. We do want our child to have Italian citizenship for lots of reasons not least of which is not having to pay inheritance tax in the UK. The British citizenship is automatic and we do not have to apply or claim it. It just seems ridiculous that our child will be born and brought up here but not be able to have Italian citizenship. Just seems a bit ridiculous as it will be a lot more Italian than British, having been to Italian school etc.
They have recently abolished National Service in Italy so not a consideration really. Gala, in your response then we would fall under category 3 but our baby would not get it as our child would automatically have British citizenship by descent even thought it will be born in Italy - ehich was my original understanding. I just wondered if it was bad translation on the consulate website by saying "2. by being born in Italy : including cases in which the parents are unknown, stateless or do not transmit their own citizenship to their child according to the legislation of the State to which they belong" Do they really mean "including" as that implies just by being born here our child would have Italian citizenship (if you see what I mean). It was the naturalisation that interested me too. Does that mean if our child does not qualify under point 2. then could it become a naturaralised citizen after it's third birthday? You can see why I'm confused!!
What you are describing is house purchase tax (like UK stamp duty). There is only VAT payable if you buy a new property or buy from a company. The 4% and 10% do not apply depending on whether you are resident or not. You can pay 4% if you choose to designate the property as your "Prima casa" or main residence. This will necessitate you obtaining residency in the comune in which the property is sited within 18 months of the purchase date. You will not be able to claim residence via the consulate abroad, so I can't imagine what the consulate is getting her to sign that entitles your wife to pay only 4%. That does not sound correct to me. If you fail to claim residency within 18 months then the tax man will come after you for the difference plus fees and interest (he definitely will - believe me!). There are other circumstances where it is not possible to claim prima casa benefits (e.g. the property is classed as luxury). The notary or your lawyer should be able to clarify whether your property qualifies.
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To be fair it is very difficult to provide an accurate cost of renovation as a lot depends on the finish you specify. Most estate agents will quote a price range per sqm for renovations in your particular area. This should give you some idea. A geometra should prepare a document called a "computo metrico" which lists every job that need to be done during the restoration and a "notional" price per sqm/cubic metre etc for each job. This will give you a better idea. When deciding which builder to engage, the computo metrico should be sent to the various builders with no prices and they give you a quote based on that. One word of warning, I have seen many different things missed off these documents. For example one that we had did not include scaffolding - a big cost. I would suggest getting your computo metrico translated. That way you can understand it and check nothing obvious is missing. When you talk about service charges do you mean bills or prefessional fees? Again, fees for permissions depend on what you want to do to the property. No-one can give you an accurate quote for that until your plans have been drawn up. The Geometra can tell you what his fees would be, however. It is usually a %age of the renovation costs (in my area, somewhere between 8% & 10%). Make sure you choose a geometra that has been recommended to you and go and see his previous work and speak to previous customers. Don't just necessarily use the one the agent uses because it is easier. IMHO it is better to pay a translator to accompany you on your geometra hunt and when speaking to people if you don't speak Italian. It is money well spent. As for moving to Italy and getting residency, this is straightforward enough. There are of course tax implications as there would be in any emigration where you keep a property in your home country. Italy is no different in that respect. The health cover is straight forward for most people. Generally speaking, if you have been working in the UK then you will get 2 1/2 years cover by presenting the relevant E12n form (last digit depends on your contributions - speak to the NI people in the UK for more details ). You will however need to finance your own health cover for the remaining 2 1/2 years until you become a permanent resident at which point you are entitled to health cover like an Italian. If you are a pensioner then it is even easier and you just present the relevant E12n form and you are covered. Hope that helps.
We looked into these for our cycling business and there are a lot of rules about what constitutes an electric bike and when it becomes a scooter. If your electric bike does more than 20kmph then it is a scooter (even if it looks like a bike!) and requires tax, insurance etc. Electric bikes that would cope with the hills around here cost a LOT of money. Same price as a scooter basically although they don't need taxing & insuring. That is why we didn't buy any in the end. Just in case anyone had any crazy ideas!
If you look on the Marche healthcare group you should find links to all the relevant documents. The 5 year thing is true but you must have residency.
There is a very good nursery on the road to Marina di Altidona. It is just after a restaurant called I Cedri (on the left hand side) if you are coming from inland towarsd the coast. Sorry but I can't remember it's name. They have lots and lot of greenhouses and you can find most things in there. They have a much wider selection than the nurseries at the coast for shrubs and bedding plants. The yare also very good for vegetable plants and I have found lots of things there I couldn't find elsewhere.
We paid €10 a sqm approx 4 years ago so I would say that is far too much. Remember to count all faces of a beam though when calculating the no. of sqm. You need a sabbiatrice to do the work. I am sure builders will do it but there are specialists.
I wouldn't recommend anything other than a credit card to be honest otherwise you are not insured if someone commits a fraud on your card. It has happened to us twice on our Italian credit cards and Visa were great and refunded the money immediately. A friend of mine had this happen on her debit card and the bank took more than a year to refund her €700! Most Italia suppliers will let you pay in cash on delivery or by bank transfer too (but will charge extra). Why not give them a call?
Thanks Charlotte! Just another question or two... If we took Italian citizenship (dual really as we would keep our British one) would our baby be an Italian citizen (assuming we have enough time to do this still)? Also, if we became Italian citizens after it is born, would the baby "inherit" our Italian citizenship or could we apply on the baby's behalf, or would it still have to wait until it is 18? Thanks.
Hi Gala & Jana, yes we are thinking dual nationality. We do want our child to have Italian citizenship for lots of reasons not least of which is not having to pay inheritance tax in the UK. The British citizenship is automatic and we do not have to apply or claim it. It just seems ridiculous that our child will be born and brought up here but not be able to have Italian citizenship. Just seems a bit ridiculous as it will be a lot more Italian than British, having been to Italian school etc.
They have recently abolished National Service in Italy so not a consideration really. Gala, in your response then we would fall under category 3 but our baby would not get it as our child would automatically have British citizenship by descent even thought it will be born in Italy - ehich was my original understanding. I just wondered if it was bad translation on the consulate website by saying "2. by being born in Italy : including cases in which the parents are unknown, stateless or do not transmit their own citizenship to their child according to the legislation of the State to which they belong" Do they really mean "including" as that implies just by being born here our child would have Italian citizenship (if you see what I mean). It was the naturalisation that interested me too. Does that mean if our child does not qualify under point 2. then could it become a naturaralised citizen after it's third birthday? You can see why I'm confused!!
What you are describing is house purchase tax (like UK stamp duty). There is only VAT payable if you buy a new property or buy from a company. The 4% and 10% do not apply depending on whether you are resident or not. You can pay 4% if you choose to designate the property as your "Prima casa" or main residence. This will necessitate you obtaining residency in the comune in which the property is sited within 18 months of the purchase date. You will not be able to claim residence via the consulate abroad, so I can't imagine what the consulate is getting her to sign that entitles your wife to pay only 4%. That does not sound correct to me. If you fail to claim residency within 18 months then the tax man will come after you for the difference plus fees and interest (he definitely will - believe me!). There are other circumstances where it is not possible to claim prima casa benefits (e.g. the property is classed as luxury). The notary or your lawyer should be able to clarify whether your property qualifies.