It is good to know in advance if living in a certain building is suitable for you if you have a pet.

For example, it is good to know if pets are allowed in the condominium, or if you are allowed to practice your musical instrument rehearsal.

Which has to state that it is for residential purpose A.

Other purposes (ex. commercial ones) are not right for renting to live in.

Check the certificate of compliance of the electrical and gas systems, in order to avoid to discover just later any malfunction. If your landlord refuses to let you see the gas security certificate the Law states you can even sue him; the malfunction of the gas system can lead to carbon monoxide intoxication, which can lead to death.

You must receive a copy of "APE", which is the certificate that states the apartment energy class, so that you can also know more or less how much should you pay for the heating.

In the tenancy agreement must be also stated that you have well received it. It is even more recommended to attach it to the agreement.

Knowing about the building common expenses charges allows you to better estimate your total renting expenses. As a tenant, you are responsible for paying common expenses, so you’d better ask the landlord the previous invoices to check that they have been paid, or it might be have to pay for them.

Check the boiler booklet to make sure that it undergoes constant checks and it’s up to standards. 

Ask to have a look at the electricity bill to check the power consumption of the apartment and so better estimate your expenses.

Make sure that garbage fee has been paid by asking the landlord to check the previous year receipt.

From the moment you start renting the flat it will be your responsibility to pay the garbage fee.

Make sure that the length of your tenancy agreement is suitable for you: once you signed it, you are responsible to pay for the entire period. Contracts may renew automatically at the end of their period, and there may be deadlines for terminating the rent. 

Ask if there is any rent increase already planned.

If you use websites or online platforms to look for a flat, you should carefully check their reliability; you should also examine the reviews of the chosen property carefully to make sure that the site or platform provide sufficient guarantees as to the existence of the flat and the verification of its ownership.

To avoid any fraud, you should then demand to meet and know the owners personally when signing the agreement, asking for their identity document and, if possible, proof of ownership or, at least, of the availability of the property (conveyance deed for the flat in their name, power of attorney of its owner or any other document proving the power to lease the property) and check whether the actual condition of the flat matches that shown on the plans usually present on the site.

Before signing the lease agreement, it is also very advisable for both parties to draw up and sign an analytical inventory, preferably accompanied by photographs, which contains a description of the condition of the premises (e.g. whether painted or not; floor in good state of repair or damaged, marks on the floor or furniture, etc.) and a list of what the landlord has left in the student's flat (kitchen, furniture, furnishings, etc.).

In this way, upon termination of the Agreement, both parties will be able to check whether there has been any damage or loss and whether the property will be returned in the condition in which it was handed over, subject to normal wear and tear.

Tari / Tassa sui Rifiuti is the municipal waste tax that you have to pay if you own or use homes, premises, or open areas for any use. The Tari calculation is determined by the housing/real estate details and number of occupants.

Read the relevant section on the Municipality of Milano website.

Usually, the landlord pays the Tari and it is included in the expenses calculation. Landlords are always in charge of paying Tari for rents below 6 months. As a tenant, you are responsible as well for Tari: ask for a copy of the payment receipt for your records.

When you register or move your residence to Milano, the Municipality will send you a reminder to update the Tari database. 

If the landlord pays Tari, you don't have to register. Get a copy of the Tari payment receipt for your records.

If you were the person in charge of Tari in the previous housing, remember to send the Cessazione (termination) communication for the previous home and declare the new occupation, if you will be the person who pays Tari.

Payment of the Tari may be made in a single payment (usually in December) or in two installments (usually in December and January)

The Tari payment notices will be available in the Citizen’s File on te Municipality website and sent to citizens via post usually between October and November.

It is also advisable for students to check the condition of equipment left in the flat: e.g., that the refrigerator works, that the taps do not leak, that the cooker may be turned on correctly, that the shutters work, etc

It is advisable for students who need an Internet connection to make sure that the flat has a good Wi-Fi connection, the cost of which will be paid for by the student.

It is advisable for foreign students to be given a draft of the agreement before signing it and to have it translated into their own language, if it is not possible to have the text correctly translated by the landlord at least into English.