Legal assistance for buying property in Italy

Buying a house in Italy is an exciting decision — whether it is a charming holiday home in Tuscany, a seafront villa in Sorrento, or an apartment in Palermo (Sicily) intended for short-term rentals or Airbnb. However, the legal and administrative steps of purchasing real estate in Italy can be complex, especially for non-residents.

Sampaoli & Pellacchia Italian Law Firm provides complete legal assistance to ensure your investment is secure, compliant, and fully protected under Italian law.

We assist private investors, second-home buyers, and international families with all legal, technical, and fiscal aspects of property transactions in Italy. Our goal is to make every purchase smooth and safe by providing clear advice and handling all documentation, negotiations, and contracts with precision and transparency.

We are multilingual Italian lawyers (Italian, English and Swedish) specialised in Italian real-estate law. Our primary goal is to ensure that your interests are protected and that all legal aspects of your property purchase are correct.

Our services cover the entire buying process, from the first contact with the Italian real-estate agent and the drafting of the preliminary contract (i.e. purchase proposal), to in-depth due diligence and the signing of the notarial deed (rogito). We verify, on a preliminary basis, that the property is free from mortgages, encumbrances, or any risks that may affect the transfer of ownership — for example previous donations or wills, as well as any rights of first refusal in favour of third parties or easements that could limit enjoyment of the property.

We will contact, on your behalf, a trusted local technical expert to complement our legal checks with technical inspections, verifying any building irregularities and the feasibility of planned works (e.g., adding a terrace or a swimming pool).

Every relevant aspect is reflected in the preliminary contract, which we tailor to the client’s needs to ensure maximum legal safety.
We liaise on your behalf with all Italian parties involved in the purchase — the seller, notary, and real-estate agents.

We maintain constant communication with our clients throughout the entire purchasing process, providing regular updates by email, video calls, and written reports. Our aim is to ensure that each client fully understands every step and feels confident about the progress of the transaction. All decisions are taken transparently and with the client’s full agreement — nothing is finalised without their review and express approval. This collaborative approach keeps clients informed, involved, and fully aware of the legal and practical aspects of their investment in Italy.

Throughout the process we also assist with translations of all documents. At the notary’s meeting we sit beside you and explain step by step what is happening and why.

• legal due diligence and verification of property documents;

• drafting of purchase proposals and the preliminary contract;

• assistance at the notarial signing (including via power of attorney);

• assignment of Italian tax code (codice fiscale) and opening of bank accounts;

• payment arrangements, including via a dedicated notary escrow account;

• tax assessment related to the property purchase in Italy, considering the interaction between the client’s country of residence and the Italian tax system, including the application of double taxation treaties where relevant;

• preliminary cost estimates for the transaction, including registration fees and notarial costs;

• technical advice on permits and building documentation (e.g., permesso di costruire), building works or renovations through a trusted professional;

• support with insurance, utilities, waste-tax (TARI), property tax (IMU), and municipal registrations after the purchase.

At every stage, we explain the process in clear terms — helping clients make informed decisions without language or bureaucratic barriers. Our multilingual lawyers accompany clients personally when needed, both in Italy and remotely, ensuring that each transaction proceeds with full legal certainty.

Many of our clients purchase property in Italy not only for personal use, but also as a profitable real-estate investment.
If you plan to rent your property through Airbnb or other short-term platforms, we provide specific advice on:

• legal and tax obligations related to short-term rentals, in accordance with the municipal regulations applicable to the area where the property is located. It is essential to review and assess local rules in advance to ensure that short-term letting is permitted and that no specific restrictions or registration requirements apply;

• registration procedures and local municipal requirements;

• drafting compliant rental agreements;

• assistance with tourist licences and fiscal registration (Cedolare Secca, VAT options, etc.);

• representation before the Italian tax authorities.

Our assistance ensures that your rental activity is fully compliant with Italian regulations, preventing administrative or fiscal issues and optimising your return on investment.

If the property is located within a condominium (condominio), Sampaoli & Pellacchia carries out specific legal checks to ensure that the purchase is completely safe and free from hidden liabilities. In particular, we verify that there are no unpaid condominium debts attributable to the seller — such as maintenance fees, extraordinary expenses, or pending works approved before the sale. These checks are essential, as under Italian law the buyer may otherwise become jointly liable for the seller’s arrears.

Our firm ensures that all financial and administrative aspects relating to the condominium are clarified and settled before signing the contract, so that the client can proceed with full legal protection and peace of mind.

Our law firm remains at your side even after the sale is finalised.
According to your needs, we can provide with:

• monitoring of the transfer of utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet);

• local tax registrations: property tax (IMU) and waste-tax (TARI);

• home renovation contracts and permits;

• leasing contracts.

For clients who wish to manage multiple properties or adopt a more entrepreneurial approach, we also provide legal and tax services for setting up Italian companies or property-management entities dedicated to tourism and short-term rental activities.

We offer a free preliminary assessment of your situation. Contact us and tell us about your intended purchase or project. We will send a detailed fee proposal after an initial video call at no cost. Book an appointment here >>

Our long-standing experience allows us to offer an all-inclusive support package at a fixed and competitive price, specifically designed for real estate investors.

Why a fixed package price?
When buying a house in Italy, it is difficult to know how long the process will take. Checks may involve several offices (land registry, banks, tax authorities, etc.), and delays or unexpected issues can arise.
For this reason, we prefer to offer a fixed-fee package that includes everything (on-site assistance, contract drafting, legal checks on encumbrances, opening a bank account, etc.). With a fixed fee, clients know with certainty the total cost for the entire process.

* For shorter consultations, fees are charged hourly.

We are on your side, and above all we exercise legal control over the entire purchase.

Many of the difficulties faced by foreign investors in Italy concern language barriers, Italian laws and bureaucracy, and what we can simply call “the Italian way of doing things.” Moreover, it is rather difficult to obtain a comprehensive overview through the internet or AI alone. All this leads to understandable hesitation about investing.

The Italian property purchase process may appear straightforward and standardized from the outside, yet in practice it is far more complex. We are often called in to solve problems caused by negligence during the early stages of the purchase.

The real risks when buying a house in Italy are not logistical (such as obtaining a tax code or wiring a deposit). The most risky phase is actually before signing the preliminary contract, when situations may arise that are difficult to understand and that can affect the purchase in the future (easements, unauthorised works, mortgages, foreclosures, etc.).

Every contract and situation has its own legal aspects and consequences. Before you pay and sign any agreement or contract, it is essential to have a clear picture of exactly how the transaction will proceed and what you are paying for (taxes, ancillary costs, etc.).
For these reasons, our assistance covers the entire purchase process.

Depending on your needs and the specific situation, we plan a practical purchase strategy together. The process is usually divided into several phases.

Each phase is explained in writing so you have a complete picture of what will happen and when. We also organise the process to minimise travel to Italy and reduce costs wherever possible.

What happens during the first phase of the purchase?
Once the property is found and the price agreed, we stand by your side throughout the process — helping you obtain an Italian tax code, arrange surveys/inspections, and draft the most appropriate contract for your case. We will of course attend the notarial signing.