Where to look for an apartment: real estate agencies and online websites

Finding a house or room to rent can be difficult. It can take a long time and you may have to go through a lot before you find the right one for you. Try to understand how renting works in your city and stay motivated during your research.

There are various ways to find a place to rent. Here are the main ones:

Housing ads websites and platforms

One of the most common ways is to search the internet. There are some websites that publish announcements of available homes in all areas of Italy.

Among the most used sites there are Idealista, Casa.it and Immobiliare.it.

You can search on these websites by entering the city and area of the city where you would like to find an apartment. You can also enter the maximum cost you’re willing to spend, so you’ll only see homes with a cost that’s right for you.

If you find a room or an apartment that you like, you can get in touch directly with the owner by email or by calling the telephone number included in the ad. If you don’t speak Italian well, get help from someone who knows the language.

Estate agencies

Another way to find a place to rent is to ask a real estate agency. It is a type of agency that helps people buy or rent a home by organizing viewings and connecting them with landlords.

There are many real estate agencies and the advice is to look for a real estate agency in the area where you would like to live.

You will be followed by an agent who will inform you about the available houses and show them to you. However, remember that if you choose one of the houses that the agency has shown you, you will have to pay the agency an amount equal to at least one month’s rent.

Other ways to find a house to rent

Another possibility is to ask friends and people in your cycle if they know of any place available. Often asking the people you hang out with can bring good results. 

You can also search on Facebook. In fact, there are many groups on Facebook where people post ads about places to rent. Some are regional groups, others were created for just one city. You can search on Facebook and look for the right group for you.

Beware of scams!

If you want to avoid being scammed online, trust the most popular sites.

It can happen, especially in Facebook groups, that a person posts fake information to get money. Be very careful with the photos and the price. If it’s too low, it could be a scam!

Always try to talk over the phone to the person who posted the ad and not only through messages and comments on social media. Always ask to see the apartment you are interested in and if the person is not available for a meeting be careful and never give any money in advance!