ITALY – Guide To Setting Up Utilities
Damien O'Farrell
Global Mobility Expert | 30+ Years of Experience | Immigration & Italian Citizenship | High-End Real Estate | Trusted Specialist for Private Clients, Corporates & Luxury Brands | Strategic, Personalized Advisory
In order to set up utilities in Italy, there are certain documents that the Destination Service Provider (DSP) will need:
The DSP may need to send you a letter of authorization (a proxy document) for you to sign in those cases where the utility company would like your authorization for the DSP to request service on your behalf.
For most utility companies, you will need to open an Italian bank account, as most providers do not accept foreign credit cards for payment.
Some landlords may allow you to keep the utilities in their name, and then you would be responsible for paying the landlord for the utility usage during your tenancy.
The DSP will assist in the set-up of the following utility services:
Water
If you move into an independent property, you will have a meter that will be read at check-in so that the utility bill can be transferred or opened in your name. Typically, there is one water company for each city (depending on where you are moving). Water bills can be paid depending on the city: monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, or yearly. The bill will arrive in the mail, and you can pay it at the post office or at any Tobacco store that has that service (for an additional fee of €1,50–€2,50 per bill paid).
If the water utility is part of the condominium service, then the charge for water usage will be included in your condominium fees. At the end of the year, the condominium administrator will check your usage and determine if you have used more than you have paid for within your condominium fees and will advise you if there is a difference to pay.
Waste
A garbage tax is a charge that the garbage company for the town or city requires every renter or homeowner to pay for the disposal of waste (garbage). The garbage company will vary from city to city. The DSP will apply for the garbage tax for you. There may be a document that you will need to sign and send back to your DSP representative. This tax will need to be completed within the first 90 days of tenancy. The amount of tax will depend on the town or city you move to, the number of people living in the property with you, and the size (square meters) of the property. If you do not pay the tax, you will be subject to fines.
Electricity
There are multiple electricity providers in Italy. Most times, the choice of electricity provider is the landlord's, as they may have an ongoing relationship with that vendor. If there is electricity on the property, the transfer of the utility into your name will occur once you have completed the check-in and the meter reading has taken place. The timing from the date the transfer is requested to the date you receive your contract can be on average 20–30 days. The standard voltage in Italy is 3 KW. If you feel that 3 KW is not sufficient, you may request an upgrade. The cost of the upgrade can vary depending on the provider and the type of upgrade (if you upgrade to 4.5KW or 6.0KW)—on average, the cost can range from €150,00 to €400,00. The upgrade can only be requested once the provider has sent you the contract.
Gas
Some properties have a gas utility as well for either the stove or the heating system. There are multiple gas providers in Italy. Most times, the provider is a landlord’s choice, just like the electricity utility. The timeframes for the gas utility are the same as for electricity: 20–30 days from the meter reading at check-in.
If the heating system is independent, you are responsible for the routine maintenance of the boiler (annual check-up requirements based on city or town), and if it is centralized, the condominium regulates the operating hours. The annual check-up is recorded by the technician in the boiler’s logbook. The technician's choice is typically the landlord’s.
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Television
In Italy, any television owner is required to pay the Television tax. The tax is paid annually and can vary from year to year.
There are multiple cable and satellite companies throughout Italy, depending on the area you live in. The DSP will provide you with options for the different companies, the packages that they offer, and the costs for the services, so you can decide which option works best for you. It can take about 2 to 3 weeks for service to be completed once the request for service has been made by the DSP. It will also depend on the providers’ schedule for their technicians to come out to your home and set up the dish, decoder box, etc. Please note that most technician appointments will not be scheduled after 17:00 on weekdays or weekends. Most providers schedule appointments to be within a two-hour timeframe, and sometimes these appointments are not kept without any notification of the cancellation.
Internet/ Telephone
There are multiple providers of phone and internet service in Italy. Telecom Italia is the main provider of telephone service in Italy. All other providers use their lines or offer Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) lines for their customers. Please keep in mind that VoIP lines are not as reliable as actual phone lines. The providers offer a variety of package deals that can include landlines, internet, and cable. The packages are designed to save you money as opposed to purchasing the services separately. Please note that some apartment buildings or condominiums only allow certain companies; therefore, it is important that the DSP representative check with your building administrator to see what will be allowed for your property.
Internet connection speed depends on the area your property is located in; however, there is no way for your DSP representative to check with the provider before your contract is set up and/or installation is completed to verify the connection speed. The set-up time can vary between 15 and 30 days, depending on the provider. A technician will come to complete the installation of the internet or telephone line. The outcome of the set-up is beyond the DSP’s control, but the provider is obligated to complete the installation based on the terms of the contract (again, the timeframes in some cases can be several weeks). If any issues with service arise, most providers will not accept a proxy for the DSP to call on your behalf. You can coordinate a call with the provider and your DSP representative so that you are in front of the device to resolve the issue, and the DSP can assist with any language barriers.
Cell Phones
There are several major cell phone providers in Italy as well. Service coverage can vary from one area to another, even with the same carrier. The cell phone providers also provide package deals on service that can also include the phone.
Car Purchase
Residency must be confirmed in order to purchase a car. The DSP can assist you in the search for a car to purchase. Dealerships selling new cars in Italy will usually handle all the necessary paperwork on the buyer's behalf. A specialized agency known as an "Agenzia di Pratiche Auto" carries out this process. The cost is included in the on-road price of a new vehicle.
The following documents are needed from the buyer:
A valid driving license issued by a European Union or European Economic Area (EU or EEA) member state is automatically accepted in Italy: you can exchange it or get the license recognized when possible. Holders of a standard driving license issued from a country outside the European Union or European Economic Area (Non-EU or EEA) and from a country that does not have a reciprocal agreement with Italy may drive in Italy using the foreign license for up to one year after requesting residency. After this period, you will need to sign up with a driving school and complete the required theoretical and practical tests before the end of the first year of residency. The driver’s exam is only offered in Italian, German, or French.
Appliance Purchase
The DSP can assist you if you are interested in purchasing appliances for your new property.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]