The home as the first step towards the future: initial general information

Moving to a new area also means finding a home, a place where you feel welcome and comfortable. The Metropolitan City of Bologna offers a wide range of housing options to meet the diverse needs of those who choose to live and work here.

The Bologna metropolitan area features a diverse real estate market, from modern apartments and co-living spaces in the city center, to detached houses and villas in nearby municipalities, and more affordable housing in peripheral areas.

Both rental and purchase options are available, suitable for young professionals, families, and workers.

Choosing the right area or type of accommodation largely depends on your budget, proximity to work, and family needs. For more information about neighborhoods, see the Territory section of the “Moving to Bologna” page.

To find the most suitable housing solution, you can consult:

• Online platforms for buying or renting homes, either through real estate intermediaries or private listings.
• Local real estate agencies, offering personalized advice and support with negotiations.
• Newspapers and specialized magazines featuring property listings from agencies across the area.
• Informal groups, such as social media pages dedicated to offering or seeking rooms and apartments.
• Municipal offices, for information on public housing and application calls.

Real estate agencies in the Bologna for Talent network:

• Case 4.0 (services available in: Italian, English, Spanish, German)
• Giordani Immobiliare (services available in: Italian, English, French, Spanish, Albanian)
• Studio Giannerini S.A.S (services available in: Italian, English)
• Ranuzzi Immobiliare (services available in: Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese)

Rental contracts in Italy vary, and each type comes with specific rights and responsibilities for tenants and landlords. The most common types are:

• Open-ended contract (4+4 years): lasts 4 years, renewable for another 4, with rent freely agreed between the parties;
• Agreed rent contract (3+2 years): lasts 3 years, renewable for 2, with rent regulated according to local agreements;
• Transitional contracts: for temporary needs related to work or study, lasting from 1 to 18 months.

All rental contracts include the possibility of termination, usually with six months’ notice.

To rent a property, a valid identity document and tax code are required. Landlords may also request proof of financial reliability, such as recent pay slips, a copy of your employment contract, or a bank guarantee covering rent payments.
In addition to the monthly rent, you should consider:

• Utility costs (electricity, gas, water, Wi-Fi), usually not included in the rent and requiring separate contracts with providers;
• Condominium fees for ordinary building management (stair cleaning, elevator maintenance, etc.);
• Municipal waste tax (TARI), payable by the tenant;
• Any annual boiler maintenance costs.

Additionally, the real estate agency fee, typically 1–2 months’ rent plus 22% VAT with issuance of a regular invoice, is charged at the start of the rental contract, along with any contract registration fees.

The Municipality of Bologna has developed a Housing Plan, investing in an ambitious program that includes:

• the construction of social housing and public student residences,
• the redevelopment of public housing,
• the promotion of collaborative and supportive housing initiatives,
• the creation of a social housing agency, aimed at providing concrete solutions to the housing emergency.

This structured program is designed to address the housing crisis in the city, offering accessible, adequate, energy-efficient, and socially inclusive solutions for residents. The plan involves an extraordinary public investment of around 200 million euros, with the goal of creating 10,000 new housing units over the next 10 years (by 2034).

A key component of the Housing Plan focuses on supporting newcomers, helping them integrate into the local housing system for work or study purposes.

As part of this initiative, the Fondazione Abitare Bologna was established, a Participation Foundation acting as a Social Rental Agency, founded by the Municipality of Bologna, the Metropolitan City of Bologna, and ASP Città di Bologna.

The Foundation’s main goal is to address housing needs in the metropolitan area by offering rental properties at sustainable (agreed) rents to individuals and families with specific economic and social profiles.