cardi's activity

Questions Asked

We would love to spend some time this coming winter in south Italy but based on our previous experience don't think we can afford it.

Mon, 07/19/2010 - 15:57

Comments posted

Sat, 08/24/2013 - 15:00

You understand wrong. Your insurance is still valid.MOT is a UK requirement only and has no meaning outside UK. Some time in the next 50 years maybe there will be an EU vehicle check but not yet.

Sat, 08/17/2013 - 15:56

Do you still have your place?Interested for next February.The forum does not seem to allow pms any more so I can't find old messages

Answer to: letting advice
Thu, 02/07/2013 - 20:24

EU rules are that property is taxed in the country where the property is. This applies to sales as well as rental proceeds. There is a case being contested at the moment because France has slapped a 'social charge' which it defines as not a tax on French residents' property located ownership elsewhere in EU. Having to inform police of any visitors . Very third world.

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 20:53

I posted to see what people thought about dealing with officialdom in Italy. I have owned a house in France for 17 years and have been able to deal with foncs quite well, my French neighbours ask my advice, It's not difficult as civil servants are the same everywhere but, admittedly, it can be quite hard to get some of those French lady foncs to crack a smile. It is my Italian friends who tell me that Italy is bad. The English here as in France, Spain and Portugal are very defensive of their adopted country, much more than locals.

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 14:46

Summum ius summa iniuria. Cicero

Fri, 02/01/2013 - 09:40

Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges (Tacitus, Annals)

Thu, 01/31/2013 - 16:01

I have friends and connections there in the Lecce area and house prices aren't too bad. Like stevemonkseaton (Shiremoor me) says they seem to be able to keep their heads down and generally ignore the excesses of bureaucracy though they all think it is worse than other places. I lived in Argentina some years ago. It has a bureaucracy so complex that any unusual query takes days of 'study' before anyone will make a decision. Despachantes are more than just customs brokers and abound to help people in all matters of the bureaucracy I worked round this by going to the library and finding a clause in my favour before I went to the Ministry as it covers a decision made by an official. Maybe being a foreigner helped. There are a lot of Italians in Argentina.

Tue, 01/29/2013 - 19:05

I have always wanted to move to Italy. I have a second home in France, a country which is a bit bureaucratic but am terrified of the nightmare of Italian bureaucracy even though I am pretty good at dealing with impiagati/foncs.  This post on a France forum confirms my fears   Well, I can vouch for Italy's bureaucracy......I've lived there for 35 yrs. It's a nightmare, not just for foreigners either my husband is Italian and it drives him crazy. Very much 'who you know' set -up. If you want anything done you have to know the right person. When we bought our small house here in France we couldn't believe how everything worked efficiently. People do what they say, at the agreed time and day. It may be early days (12 months) but so far everything is a lot easier. Far less restrictions and red tape. We wanted to change some things inside the house, we were told by the council offices that it was ok to do what we wanted as long as it was inside - in Italy we would need an architect to present plans etc. etc. and not just any architect....someone in the right political party, the winning side so to speak. That's before you start with money all down the line, not necessarily back handers but the proceedure is all geared to costing huge amounts, and I won't start on the amount of time you have to wait for an answer on anything. We find France cheaper so far too. Italy has had huge price rises recently and the taxes are crippling now. Another negative if you need any more .....the tax man cometh. They are now checking bank balances, internet buying, insurance policies to see how many cars you have, credit card spending, holidays, leisure activities, gym membership etc. I know there was a lot of tax evasion but they've gone crazy with checks now. It's many years since I've lived in the UK. So can't compare. I just go back on holiday now but don't know if I could manage the weather full time.

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 18:26

As you have gone through the rigmarole of registering it in Italy you should be able to sell it and get a better price than it's value in UK even if it is RHD

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 16:37

So I think I'll bow out. I have explained the rules and just can't be bothered to find links to all the legal and procedural rules which apply. Some people won't believe it anyway. Let them live with their illusions. It is faith and logic does not come into it.