Italy: taxes on the sale of a house, a notary’s advice

Interview with the national advisor of the Italian Notary Board Valentina Rubertelli Contrary to popular belief, even the seller, and not just the buyer, is required to pay taxes in a real estate purchase deed. Valentina Rubertelli, National Notary Board Advisor, explains to Idealista/news which direct and indirect taxes affect the sale of a house In Italy. Even those who sell a property may be required to pay certain taxes, which are split between direct taxes (where the difference is the time elapsed between the purchase of the property and the resale) and indirect (where the discriminating factor is between the first and second house) Direct taxes on the sale of a home or house If you are not resident in Italy, because you reside in another country, you do not have to pay the personal income tax, known as Irpef, in Italy. You should pay this tax in your country of residence. “In the case of direct taxes, or personal income tax – explains Rubertelli – it is the time variable combined with the price variable that comes into play. The Irpef is always paid by the one who resells, at a higher price than the purchase price, his house before 5 years from the time he bought it: if he bought it at 100 and sells it at 200 before 5 years, he has a plus-value of 100 on which the state wants taxes. These can be paid in two different ways: When declaring income (then the personal income tax rate which from time to time is applied to this taxpayer according to his income bracket, will be applied to this capital gain of 100) In the hands of the notary using a mechanism similar to that of the dry coupon: that is to say by paying the notary (who acts as an intermediary with the Public Treasury) a flat rate of 26% to close the accounts with tax authorities (which is handy for those who know they have a normally higher personal tax rate). There are cases where one is exempt from paying personal income tax on the realized capital gain in the event of resale of an inheritance property in the event of resale of a house in which he has lived more than half the time (if I resell after 3 years of purchase, I must have lived there for at least 1 year and 6 months + 1 day). To prove this, the certificate of residence is sufficient, or in the case of domicile, even utility bills. in the event of resale of a house from a donation, he pays capital gains taxes only if more than 5 years have passed since the date of purchase by the donor. Indirect taxes on the sale of a house or accommodation In the case of indirect taxes, what makes the difference is having bought the house as a first house (thus having received the benefits) or as a second home. “Those who bought as their first home received benefits precisely according to the need to satisfy a primary need, which is to have a roof over their head. If they resell within 5 years, the state assumes they have basically “cheated” that is, they speculated. Then, he wants to recover this differential delta on what the early seller has saved (either 7% on the cadastral value or 6% on the price if VAT) and in addition he wants a penalty of 30% and late interest on the same differential. ” “However, if I show that the resale before 5 years is itself motivated by primary needs (for example, I have to move to another bigger house because I had children) then the state does not impose the forfeiture of benefits, as long as a new first house is bought back within one year of the resale of the previous one. In fact in this case it also gives me an incentive (tax credit): it allows to deduct the tax paid on the first purchase from the new tax (if registered) “. A little complicated but logical, right?

Italy: how to buy real estate at auction and get good deals

What are real estate auctions? In all parts of the country there are many properties available for auction at often very low prices whereby attractive real estate investments can be made. What is the sale of a property at auction The sale of real estate at auction, more correctly called judicial sale, is a civil legal procedure by which a magistrate establishes that, in order to settle the debts of an individual or a company, it is necessary to sell by force one or more of its assets with the intention of satisfying the creditors with the proceeds of the sale of the building. These are measures taken in extreme situations in which the auction of one or more goods is the only possible solution to satisfy the creditors, after exhausting all other possible methods. The owner of the property sold at auction, on the other hand, will have the right to retain the full balance of the amount obtained from the judicial sale, naturally after having satisfied the creditors, and it is therefore in his interest that the auction be concluded as soon as possible and with the best possible result. In many cases, this particular buying and selling mechanism achieves the objective of making the buyer carry out an excellent real estate transaction and of raising the situation of the defaulting debtor, who will be able to settle his disputes with the creditors and who, we hope, will also have a good amount of money to continue his life with more serenity. From the point of view of those who buy properties at auction, as mentioned, excellent deals can be made as the base auction price established by the Court is usually much lower than the market price of the property and therefore, with a good auction management strategy and with caution, you can buy apartments, houses or commercial properties with great savings. Often times, properties for auction turn out to be excellent investments, for their location, for the type of building and, in general, for the prospect of earning income through leasing or other schemes. Is buying properties at auction easy? To be honest, the answer to this question should be no. Or rather, one could say that buying properties at auction can only be easy if one relies on the advice of an expert in the sector, such as a real estate agency. Indeed, the legal, economic and financial aspects of this very particular type of sale are not very easy to manage for the layman and there is often the risk of making, through inexperience, procedural or valuation errors which may then be very heavy from the point of view of consequences, especially economic. First of all, we must distinguish the cases in which the property auctioned belongs to a company, in which case we will talk about bankruptcy proceedings, liquidation or arrangement with creditors, from those in which the debtor is an individual, for which we will talk about real estate execution. Indeed, the two situations provide for procedures and conditions of access to participation in auctions that are quite different from each other and it is therefore necessary first of all to ensure that you have the necessary conditions to participate in an auction. Specific auction of a property If you meet the conditions, you will have to carefully follow a series of specific procedures to obtain, for example, the opportunity to visit the property, to sign and deliver the offer, to participate correctly in the auction itself, etc. Are real estate auctions safe? The question of the safety of buying real estate at auction stems from a fact that not all non-experts may be aware of: the Court can also auction off an asset which has a predatory mortgage, in part or in whole, or not in conformity with the conditions of habitability or the exercise of a commercial or professional activity. In other words, real estate units that could not normally be put on the market, can on the contrary be the subject of a judicial sale, precisely because of the urgency and gravity of the debt situation of the owner who allows an exception to the normal rules of real estate sale. While this criterion is undoubtedly a help for both the debtor and the creditor, it can prove to be a stumbling block for the buyer who may not take into account certain problems linked to the property that he’s getting ready to buy at auction. Unforeseen events to be incurred after the purchase Therefore, a careful review of all the legal documentation that accompanies the auction notice, such as appraisals, floor plans and final accounts of the condominium and any heating costs that may still be due, is necessary, in order to be able to fully assess the profitability of an investment made by auction tool. There is no doubt that great deals can be made by buying properties at auction, but it is necessary, as we have attempted to briefly illustrate above, to pay attention to a series of issues, even of considerable complexity. This is why the advice of an Italian lawyer specializing in real estate law can be the key to progressing safely in the world of judicial real estate sales without fear of having missed a procedural step or of ending up with expenses.

Lockdown in Italy, hunt for vacation homes

Affordable prices drive sales Especially couples between 45 and 54 are looking for a property (preferably independent and with three bedrooms) in tourist resorts. Telework is expected to become a permanent dimension once the pandemic is over. ROME – Sales analysis for the first nine months of 2020 seems to confirm the good trend for the vacation home. Compared to the same period of 2019, there was an increase in the percentage of purchases of this type, which rose from 5.9% to 6.5%. A result in line with what the agencies of the Tecnocasa group saw, which immediately after the lockdown recorded a greater willingness to buy a house in tourist resorts. And the stability of prices, in the first part of 2020, would seem to confirm this trend. Immediately after the first lockdown, many flocked to tourist resorts in the beautiful country which, although being orphaned by international tourists, was able to benefit from increased local tourism. Great prices, and the expectation of many that teleworking will become a stable dimension in the future when the pandemic is over, are contributing to this trend. Telecommuting, two out of three Italians plan to work from their vacation home Political decisions and economic forecasts therefore only give impetus to this trend. The decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of October 12 indicates that, to stem the spread of Covid, 50% of employees work remotely in the public administration. And European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde recently said that of the 50% of workers who switch to smart work thanks to Covid, only 10% have to return to the office. The results of an Airbnb survey The main reasons are the desire to be closer to the family, the need for more space or a change of environment to be more creative. And there are also those who, following the pandemic, plan to settle permanently in the countryside or by the sea. The three-room apartment is confirmed as the best-selling type, collecting 35.6% of purchases over the period considered. Independent solutions are growing, concentrating 28.4% of transactions, up from the same period a year ago when they stopped at 26%. This data can also be read in light of what happened during the lockdown, during which time independent solutions were particularly sought after and appreciated. Who is the target who buys the holiday home? Especially couples, up slightly compared to 2019 (from 50.7% to 51.2%) and families with children (34.2%) who remained stable. If we analyze the age of buyers, again the range between 45 and 54 is confirmed as the one who is most interested in buying a vacation home. It collects 31% of purchases made during the first nine months of the year. After the 35-44 age range with 22.1%, a slight increase from a year ago.

Italy, house prices up after the summer

0.7% over the quarter, 1.5% in one year. Discover the values ​​of your city. After the summer months, the average house price in Italy is 1,733 euros/ m2.Source: idealista.it. Housing prices reported by Idealista’s search service after the summer months rose 0.7%, to an average of 1,733 euros / m2. The annual trend has also improved, with a positive balance of 1.5%.For Vincenzo De Tommaso, head of the idealistic research office: “the lockout gave the decisive impetus to those who already had the idea of ​​moving, so that the demand for housing quickly picked up during the months of been fueled by historically low interest rates, limited supply, and families’ desire to move into homes with larger spaces to customize or update them to meet current housing needs. All of this has given owners the feeling that they don’t have to lower their claims to close operations, although this may not attract bids from potential buyers and thus slow the market in the coming months while waiting for prices to drop ”. Real estate prices in the regions The last quarter saw prices increase in half of the Italian regions, with Trentino Alto Adige (2.4%) and Lombardy (2.1%) leading the upward trend ahead of Veneto and Lazio, all two with increases of 0.8%. Among the declining regional areas, the largest decrease concerns Basilicata (-1.4%), followed by Marche and Abruzzo with decreases of 0.8%.Trentino Alto Adige becomes the region with the highest real estate values, with an average of 2,503 euros per square meter, ahead of Liguria (2,482 euros / m2) and Val d’Aosta (2,432 euros / m2), in a classification which sees in the lower part of the classification Sicily (1,064 euros / m2), Molise (919 euros / m2) and close Calabria to 909 euros. Real estate prices in the provinces Prevalence of decreases in 61 of 106 provincial markets analyzed. More than 80% of macro-zones remain in a range between -2% and 2%. The strongest increases in the quarter are due to Modena (5.5%), Milan (5.4%) and Verona (4.6%). On the other side of the table, we find Trieste (-4.8%), ahead of the provinces of Vercelli (-4.7%) and Messina (-4.2%). Despite the last slight quarterly drop, Bolzano (3,605 euros / m2) is confirmed as the most expensive province in Italy, ahead of Savona (3,104 euros / m2) and Florence (2,752 euros / m2). On the other hand, Biella (630 euros / m2) is the cheapest, ahead of Caltanissetta (724 euros / m2) and Isernia (743 euros / m2). Capital cities After the summer months, there is a slight prevalence of capital cities in a negative trend (58 centers out of 110 followed). The biggest drops are due to Nuoro (-4.9%), Macerata (-4.3%) and Monza (-3.8%). In contrast, Agrigento (9.3%), Lecco (5.9%) and Modena (5.6%) recorded the biggest rebounds.Among the big real estate places, Milan and Turin see the demands of the owners increase by 2.3%. Prices are also increasing in Palermo (0.6%) and Rome (0.4%). Florence (-0.9%), Genoa (-1.1%) and Naples (-1.3%) fell.

Italy: Covid-19 empties stores in city centers

  Some are already transforming them into homes. A real estate investment opportunity? Empty of tourists and students, the historic centers of many Italian cities, but not only, are preparing to face a difficult autumn. Take the case of Reggio Emilia, also recently examined by Resto del Carlino online: how many shops will survive and how many will have to close because they are unable to pay the rent? Covid-19 has made worse a commercial real estate crisis that has been going on for some time The problem of commercial activities that do not fall within the cost of renting is certainly not new, but the health emergency has undoubtedly magnified it. However, the trade associations do not seem to agree on the strategy to remedy it: already in pre-crisis times, on the one hand the National Confederation of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprises (Cna) complained about the high prices, on the other Confedilizia spoke of too much taxes. Points of view and solutions compared By examining in detail the opinions of Dino Spallanzani of Cna and Annamaria Terenziani, president of Confedilizia (building companies confederation), different interpretations of the rental problem emerge. The first accuses the owners of not being willing to revise the rents despite the general crisis, with the risk that in the coming months there will be more shops without tenants and that, in the long run, this will end up disqualifying the entire historic center of the city. Terenziani has a different opinion, speaking of too high taxation on the question of prices, with about half of the rent ending in taxes. Among the solutions proposed to help small businesses are for the Cna the balances and free parking in the afternoon, for Confedilizia the restoration of the dry coupon also for the shops as happened last year, when the Irpef taxes at 21% had allowed to renegotiate downward leases.

Country houses increasingly demanded in Italy

The fact that Covid-19 has also had a strong impact on the real estate industry is now evident. Among its consequences, for example, the boom in demand for houses in the countryside, as illustrated in a recent article by Sole24Ore. While waiting to understand whether this trend will continue in the coming months, favored by the spread of smart working, or if it was rather a temporary phenomenon linked to the need for open spaces during and after confinement, let’s examine a closer look at the figures of it. Back to nature Demand for cottages and farms in villages and small municipalities has increased by around 30% compared to the pre-Covid period. Prices often less than a thousand euros per m / q The prices also encourage investment in rural areas. Prices which are generally much lower than in large cities and which have not undergone major changes despite the increase in demand, on the contrary: on average they have remained stable (+ 0.1%) compared to the pre-Covid period. There are obviously positive exceptions such as the provinces of Rome (+ 25.4%), Pisa (+ 20.1%) and Bologna (+ 18.9%) and negative (Pesaro-Urbino lost almost 12%, Rimini about 10.5%). As for the cost per square meter, the situation is very varied: ranging from the record figures of Montalcino (around 6,700 euros per m / q) and Monte Argentario (5,045 euros / m2) to those much more affordable in Asti (838 euro / m2) , Ragusa (799 euro / m2) and Alexandria (508 euro / m2). In total there are over 100 locations where you can find properties spending less than a thousand euros per m / q. The future of Italy is in small towns The future is in small towns: where there is life, clean air, slowness, healthy food. It is in these characteristic villages where time seems to have stood still, we breathe clean air, the rhythms flow more slowly and food and wine promote a diet capable of enhancing the territories, that man should return. Rural life, not lighter and still able to stop on faces. And maybe even know the names of the neighbors. Well-known architects Stefano Boeri and Massimiliano Fuksas have supported the need to encourage residential dispersal, a kind of “city escape”, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. An “escape from the city” to small towns, the countryside, places currently the least populated. Open and uncontaminated spaces. The challenge of reconnecting the country to repopulate the villages Francesco Tarantini, president of Legambiente Puglia, also reminds us of this. The environmental association has just celebrated on June 2 “Loving Italy 2020”, the feast of small municipalities which this year – perhaps not surprisingly – focuses on an important issue for the development and future of Italian villages : let’s reconnect the country. Because without (re) connection, the dreams of repopulating these magnificent districts are much more difficult, because the comfort and services offered by cities and large urban centers are still lacking in many small municipalities. “In small municipalities there is more life than you can imagine, but these territories are constantly struggling against abandonment” – explains Francesco Tarantini, president of Legambiente Puglia-. An inherent law exists but the implementation of the decrees is delayed. We remind you that Law 158/2017 is aimed at centers of less than five thousand inhabitants and provides for accompanying measures including the extension of ultra-broadband, an education plan for rural areas, upgrading of school services, redevelopment of neglected buildings, construction of energy plants from renewable sources, promotion of short-chain agrifood, construction of accommodation facilities. Where is all this? In 2017, we celebrated the approval of the law to safeguard the districts after sixteen years of battles. When will we celebrate its implementation? “. For this reason, from Puglia, as well as in the rest of the country, Legambiente appealed to the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, signed by many mayors. The aim is for support measures to be put in place for small municipalities. “The pandemic – we read the appeal – has drawn everyone’s attention to the need to rethink the organization and use of territories and, in this regard also, the role of small municipalities in maintaining communities. To do this, a great deal of work to reconnect the country is necessary, by recomposing the original polycentrism and the harmonious model of urbanity. At the center of the infrastructure for restarting the economy, there must necessarily be fast connection as a right of citizenship, which bridges the void of the digital divide at certain times. In fact even today more than 3,900 municipalities do not have fast Internet, 1,200 municipalities do not receive a stable signal for mobile telephony and 5 million Italians do not receive adequate television service. It is a precondition for the territories and the communities to be the protagonists of the rebirth of the country ”. Without disturbing architects Boeri and Fuksas, it is probably a dream shared by many that of living in less polluting, stressful and deceptive environments. In short, places on a human scale and for children, where to live without giving up all the services and comforts to which we are all used today. Because maybe the future really is in the small municipalities, which represent about 54% of the Italian territory. Territories of less than 5,000 inhabitants focused on innovation and sustainability, local tourism, development and protection of the environment, gastronomic and oenological circuits, promotion of cultures and traditions. These are the ingredients that small municipalities aim to fight against depopulation and the reduction of essential services.

Home staging, present it well to sell it better

In an increasingly competitive real estate market, home staging, the presentation of your home to potential buyers, can really make a difference. But what if you don’t have big budgets to invest? Here are some practical decoration and DIY tips. Why home staging is important Being able to imagine the possibility of living in this house: this is the main objective of home staging which, in the eyes of potential buyers, can represent a real plus. This is also a very important thing for those selling the property as these strategies lead to faster deals and higher selling prices. Relying on a professional can undoubtedly be very useful, especially if it is a luxury property, but this involves an expense that is not within the reach of everyone. Just to get an idea, according to estimates from the National Association of Realtors, the association of real estate agents in the United States, the average amount of this service is around $ 400. However, there is no discouragement: the staging of a house with limited budgets is possible, thanks to some useful arrangements. Tips for a successful arrangement If it is a house where you live that is put on the market, the main thing to favor is the decluttering, thus limiting the presence of furniture and objects in the space. Put off family photos and overly personal furniture, neutralization is the password to arouse the interest of buyers. In fact, the more personalized the pieces, the more difficult it is for potential buyers to think about how to adapt them to their tastes and needs. On the contrary, if an empty good is offered for sale, the situation becomes more laborious and it is essential to conduct a first phase of research, for example by taking advantage of seasonal opportunities to sell better. It goes without saying that it is often more difficult to sell an empty property. In the opinion of experts, it is not important to stage all the rooms in the house, you can choose to focus only on a few, the most important. Like the living room, for example, where you can focus on the seats and mirrors, which allows you to make the rooms brighter and larger. The bedroom is also considered attractive: a bed and a bedside table are the basis, to be enriched with new furnishing fabrics, perhaps a book and a small piece of furniture placed directly on the bedside table; if you have a wardrobe, you can put clothes inside. To stage the kitchen, it will be enough to be very careful to keep the environment clean and tidy, including the pantries. If you have too many small appliances on the worktop, remove them. Make sure all rooms are well ventilated and lit. Cleanliness is essential. What else? A bowl of fruit and bright colors to revive the environment by giving a touch of originality.

The condominium administrator: general guide

The condominium administrator represents an essential figure for the management of the building and its common parts, as well as for translating the condominium will into concrete actions and for carrying out all the necessary operations to protect the team. Powers of the administrator The administrator is required, in the first instance, to take care of compliance with the condominium regulation, as well as to regulate the use of common things and the use of services in the common interest, so that the best enjoyment is ensured to each of the condominiums. In case of conflict, just contact an Italian lawyer. The administrator is also responsible for carrying out the resolutions of the condominium meeting, which the law requires him to convene annually for the approval of the annual management report, which he himself is required to draw up. Current account required In addition, the duties of the administrator also include the execution of tax obligations, the collection of contributions and the disbursement of expenses necessary for the ordinary maintenance of the common parts of the building and for the performance of common services. The administrator is, in fact, obliged to pass on the sums received for any reason by the condominiums or third parties, as well as those for any reason disbursed on behalf of the condominium, on a specific current bank or postal account, in the name of the condominium (not himself); each condominium, through the administrator, may request to view and extract a copy, at its own expense, of the periodic reporting. Condominium documentation and records The law also attributes to the administrator the task of taking care of the keeping of a whole series of important registers concerning the condominium, including the condominium registry, which contains the generality of the individual owners and holders of real rights and personal rights of enjoyment, including the tax code and the residence or domicile, the cadastral data of each real estate unit, as well as any data relating to the safety conditions of the common parts of the building. Furthermore, the administrator will have to take care of keeping the register of the minutes of the meetings, the register of appointment and revocation of the administrator and the accounting register (the latter can also be held in a computerized manner). Again with regard to documentation, the administrator is required to keep all the documentation relating to his / her management relating both to the relationship with the condominiums and to the technical-administrative status of the building and the condominium. He must provide the condominium requesting a certificate relating to the status of the payments of the condominium charges and any ongoing disputes. Who can perform the condominium administrator activity? The office of administrator of the Condominium can be held either by one of the condominiums or by a subject unrelated to the team and specifically appointed. Given the particular function, the person called to perform the functions of condominium administrator must possess certain requirements, both personal and professional, set out in detail in art. 71-bis of the provisions for the implementation of the civil code. Personal requirements In particular, the administrator must have the enjoyment of civil rights, must not be interdicted or incapacitated, nor subjected to prevention measures that have become definitive (unless rehabilitation has taken place) or convicted of crimes against the public administration, the administration of justice, public faith, property or for any other culpable crime for which the law imposes the sentence of imprisonment not less than, in the minimum, two years and, in the maximum, five years. Finally, his name should not be noted in the list of promissory notes. Professional requirements With regard to professional requirements, the administrator is required to have obtained at least the secondary school diploma and to have attended an initial training course and to have carried out periodic training activities in the area of condominium administration. Condominium administrator company The functions of administrator of the Condominium can be entrusted not only to natural persons, but also to companies. Duration of the assignment and remuneration Pursuant to the civil code, the office of director lasts one year and is considered renewed for the same duration. The shareholders’ meeting convened for the revocation or resignation will deliberate on the appointment of the new director. Upon termination of the assignment, the administrator is required to deliver all the documentation in his possession relating to the condominium and to the individual condominiums and to carry out urgent activities in order to avoid prejudice to common interests without the right to further compensation. In addition, unless expressly dispensed by the assembly, the administrator must proceed with the forced collection of the sums due from the obliged within six months of the end of the financial year in which the credit is included. Given this postponement and the specific nature of such an assignment, the administrator is deemed to be remunerated for the work carried out. Article. 1709 of the Civil Code, in fact, poses a presumption of onerousness of the assignment, unless otherwise established; in particular, if the extent of the remuneration has not been established by the parties, it will be determined on the basis of professional rates or customs or, failing that, it will be determined by the judge. Upon acceptance of the appointment and its renewal, the administrator must analytically specify, under penalty of nullity of the appointment itself, the amount due as compensation for the activity carried out. Revocation and termination of the assignment The revocation of the administrator can be deliberated at any time by the assembly, with the majority foreseen for his appointment, or in the manner provided by the condominium regulation. Indeed, the judicial authority may be called to rule on the revocation, upon appeal of each condominium, may in the case provided for in the fourth paragraph of Article 1131, if it does not account for management, or in the event of serious irregularities. A non-exhaustive list of behaviors that constitute serious irregularities is

Italy: is it worth buying a house to renovate?

  Italy’s real estate is among the most aged in Europe. More than half of the existing houses are over 50 years old. Despite their age, most of them are solid. In regions like Liguria, there are even some that date from the beginning of the 20th century, which are still very robust. I was recently in Sanremo, where a real estate agent explained to me that all the buildings in the old town had withstood all the earthquakes, unlike the buildings of new construction. Indeed, these are buildings whose walls easily exceed 30 cm in thickness. This has advantages for thermal insulation, especially in summer, when they are significantly cooler than modern houses. So there are a lot of houses to renovate available for purchase. Is buying a house to renovate a good investment? To date, the answer is yes, at least according to an analysis of Corriere della Sera, one of the most prestigious Italian daily newspapers. Let’s see why buying a property to renovate can be an attractive option. Tax bonuses and minimum rates The tax benefits on extraordinary maintenance work on residential buildings have also been extended for 2020: this means that for expenses of up to 96 thousand euros, you are entitled to an Irpef deduction (income tax on natural persons) by 50%, spread over ten years. This percentage can go up to 65% for energy retrofit works. In addition, there is a particularly positive situation on the mortgage front: interest rates at historically low levels provide access to very favorable financing conditions. How much do you save? According to the Nomisma Observatory, the savings would be considerable, even taking into account the amount to be allocated to the works. In Milan, for example, almost 80,000 euros would be saved to buy an 80 m² apartment to renovate compared to a house ready to be lived in. In principle, the Irpef advantage significantly affects the choice of buyers when the price difference between the house to be renovated and that already habitable is at least 30 thousand euros. Facade bonus Without forgetting another factor of interest for potential buyers: the 2020 finance law increased the IRPEF deduction from 50% to 90% for painting and renovating facades. An initiative that stems from the desire to encourage the redevelopment of the residential heritage of many Italian cities.

How coronavirus could change our homes

  Apparently, the worst of the pandemic is behind us. However, no one can guarantee that there will not be a second wave, now or next fall. What’s more, air quality around the world is poor, which could lead to the spread of other coronavirus-like viruses. Because our lungs are weakened, and have become the ideal terrain for lung viruses. Covid 19 changed our requirements for real estate If at the beginning of the year they had told you that you would be confined to the house for months due to a pandemic, you would hardly have believed it. Yet so it was, the lockdown forced us to change our social habits and slowed down our rhythms of life closed within four walls. This pandemic revealed many things, one of which is that most houses should have been designed differently. According to an idealistic study, up to 8% of families have gone through quarantine without even looking out on the road from home. For this reason, we addressed this issue with architect Pablo García, who tries to understand how houses should be designed from now on. Useful surface: “Houses must be larger or better distributed. The houses can increase in size if the building has large galleries or arcades that serve as a multipurpose space. The best reference is the intervention of Lacaton and Vassal in Bordeaux. A series of conservatories have been created, as well as a new range of balconies alongside the main facades of the buildings, expanding the useful area of ??the units. This intervention must be taken as a reference of how the maximum effect can be obtained with a minimum intervention “, explains García. Terrace or balcony at all costs. “The terraces should be included in the minimum housing program. In general, a minimum home is composed of: double bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom. The terraces are not mentioned but we have seen that they represent a fundamental element when facing isolation. The problem must be controlled by the City Council, not allowing the prescription of said infringement if we consider it as a minimum living space “. Disinfection areas at the entrance. “The entrance to the house could be thought of as the transition space between our house and the outside. This means it should be a virus free area. The flooring must be in porcelain or a material that is not very porous and resistant to abrasive products. A wardrobe and a shoe rack should be placed at the entrance, maybe even a sink to wash your hands as soon as you enter. “ Work area. “We will need a home office. So it is necessary to consider the lighting, cable internet connection, bluetooth sockets, spaces suitable for video calls and meeting area, shutters that create neutral backgrounds behind us to protect the privacy of the house, including soundproofing the room. In very small apartments, this should be done in the bedrooms. Beds cannot take up too much space. “ Custom furniture and home automation. “Conventional furniture is excellent, but it is not suitable for small spaces. It is important to create a furnishing project in your home to understand how it can be adapted to make spaces multifunctional. Home automation can help us create a multifunctional house that adapts to different situations “, concludes the architect.