I usually drive to Italy with my old style UK paper drivers licence with no photo. Back in early 2020 this was also good to show for car hire. Have the rules changed since Brexit? is an old style UK paper licence still valid for car hire? The
Just in case it might help anyone not already aware. My comune is discounting the costs of IMU by 37.5% for second home owners resident abroad who are in receipt of a recognized pension as proof of retired status.
Any recommendations on an Italian bank? I have used MPS for years and they are fine and I can manage stuff online but they seem expensive, I assume to pay for an extensive branch network.
As others have said, the buying process is straightforward and once a price is agreed there is a deposit paid and both parties cannot back out without a chunky cost, unlike the UK. Prices are good but i would advise looking beyond the headline price. We used to stay in a place in rural Southern Italy, beautiful countryside, great food, cheap, people as good as anywhere BUT a pain to get to which made short breaks impratical or expensive (always needing a hire car). We changed and settled on a place in small town with a shops, bus and train services all in walking distance and only one hour from airport. We now use it alot (current situation forcing a pause). I would also recommend a more modern place that is easy to maintain and ideally an appartment or terrace with garden but in a small building without or just a small or no condominium charge. Rustic and rural places are charming and cheap but require more maintenance and are not lock and forget.
Agree with everyone that it is important to start learning the language now as youngsters tend to pick up languages better the sooner you start. You could consider getting a satellite that allows you to see for free most Italian programmes on RAI channels including a young persons channel. I used to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning teaching them which is a way of also teaching yourself. You have to view it as fun and there is no escape getting the grammar learned as the essential foundation. Others here are right that the education system is pretty good and the children will have an advantage in English classes. The best thing is that universities are pratically free and Pisa is one of the best and the university of Florence is also not too far.
Agree with everyone that it is important to start learning the language now as youngsters tend to pick up languages better the sooner you start. You could consider getting a satellite that allows you to see for free most Italian programmes on RAI channels including a young persons channel. I used to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning teaching them which is a way of also teaching yourself. You have to view it as fun and there is no escape getting the grammar learned as the essential foundation. Others here are right that the education system is pretty good and the children will have an advantage in English classes. The best thing is that universities are pratically free and Pisa is one of the best and the university of Florence is also not too far.
The publication I read was print when i was last there but I have just had a scan of the internet and there is something called 'luccagrapevine.com' that might help and I think there was a Facebook group (though I have not looked into it).
The normal approach is millesimi as per other replies. Sooner or hopefully later you will need it for other costs. Best avoid informal arrangements as folk can have selective memory.
There is a link to UK so fine has to be paid if you want to avoid serious issues driving across France in the future. A fine is valid if delivered with an English translation and with method of local payment. I have noticed more speed cameras in last couple of years plus the use of average speed checks on tolls. Doesn't help that many roads have reduced the limit to 80 kph.
Agree with previous posts. It took us persistence over several months to finally get a slot here in UK. We also looked at doing it in Italy where they are issued by the police at a questura. The problem is that it has to be the questura where you are domiciled in Italy which is the same place where your dad was resident and then domiciled when he left. If you have not got yourself domiciled then a passport application can't progress.
My father had a house that was damaged in an earthquake back in mid 60s in irpinia. As he lived in the UK he was low priority but the Italian government did finally allocate a suitable replacement in the 80s which was made available, I think, in the mid 90d. As others say, it takes 20 years at least and might be worse now.
Some good suggestions from other posts. One thought is that if you pay a rubbish tax then the council might provide a service. Worth giving them a ring. In my part of Italy south of pisa, you ring up and are given a reference number to display and a collection date from the road. They will not enter the property as it is a single bloke in a truck with a lift arm. Different everywhere but worth a check.
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As others have said, the buying process is straightforward and once a price is agreed there is a deposit paid and both parties cannot back out without a chunky cost, unlike the UK. Prices are good but i would advise looking beyond the headline price. We used to stay in a place in rural Southern Italy, beautiful countryside, great food, cheap, people as good as anywhere BUT a pain to get to which made short breaks impratical or expensive (always needing a hire car). We changed and settled on a place in small town with a shops, bus and train services all in walking distance and only one hour from airport. We now use it alot (current situation forcing a pause). I would also recommend a more modern place that is easy to maintain and ideally an appartment or terrace with garden but in a small building without or just a small or no condominium charge. Rustic and rural places are charming and cheap but require more maintenance and are not lock and forget.
Agree with everyone that it is important to start learning the language now as youngsters tend to pick up languages better the sooner you start. You could consider getting a satellite that allows you to see for free most Italian programmes on RAI channels including a young persons channel. I used to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning teaching them which is a way of also teaching yourself. You have to view it as fun and there is no escape getting the grammar learned as the essential foundation. Others here are right that the education system is pretty good and the children will have an advantage in English classes. The best thing is that universities are pratically free and Pisa is one of the best and the university of Florence is also not too far.
Agree with everyone that it is important to start learning the language now as youngsters tend to pick up languages better the sooner you start. You could consider getting a satellite that allows you to see for free most Italian programmes on RAI channels including a young persons channel. I used to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning teaching them which is a way of also teaching yourself. You have to view it as fun and there is no escape getting the grammar learned as the essential foundation. Others here are right that the education system is pretty good and the children will have an advantage in English classes. The best thing is that universities are pratically free and Pisa is one of the best and the university of Florence is also not too far.
The publication I read was print when i was last there but I have just had a scan of the internet and there is something called 'luccagrapevine.com' that might help and I think there was a Facebook group (though I have not looked into it).
There is an expats newspaper in Lucca. No idea how often produced but if suggests a decent expat community.
The normal approach is millesimi as per other replies. Sooner or hopefully later you will need it for other costs. Best avoid informal arrangements as folk can have selective memory.
There is a link to UK so fine has to be paid if you want to avoid serious issues driving across France in the future. A fine is valid if delivered with an English translation and with method of local payment. I have noticed more speed cameras in last couple of years plus the use of average speed checks on tolls. Doesn't help that many roads have reduced the limit to 80 kph.
Agree with previous posts. It took us persistence over several months to finally get a slot here in UK. We also looked at doing it in Italy where they are issued by the police at a questura. The problem is that it has to be the questura where you are domiciled in Italy which is the same place where your dad was resident and then domiciled when he left. If you have not got yourself domiciled then a passport application can't progress.
My father had a house that was damaged in an earthquake back in mid 60s in irpinia. As he lived in the UK he was low priority but the Italian government did finally allocate a suitable replacement in the 80s which was made available, I think, in the mid 90d. As others say, it takes 20 years at least and might be worse now.
Some good suggestions from other posts. One thought is that if you pay a rubbish tax then the council might provide a service. Worth giving them a ring. In my part of Italy south of pisa, you ring up and are given a reference number to display and a collection date from the road. They will not enter the property as it is a single bloke in a truck with a lift arm. Different everywhere but worth a check.