Hello, my husband and I own a house in Tuscany jointly - would it be worthwhile putting the house into one name to reduce the accountants fees for the calculation of IMUs? It’s going up each year and would be half the cost for one of us.
Rubbish Tax Bagni Di LuccaHello, we have owned this house over 5 years. It was uninhabitable for the first two years, then we camped out for one year and then more renovations including a new roof for our 4th year.
HelloCould anyone on this site please clarify the ENEL charges to non residents? Our old house in the North’s bills went up to €100 due to the tv licence, but since changing agents dropped to €25, what a difference.
I’ve done more than hit myself with a hammer over my fingers Ugo, the mental health has gone with it. I have nothing to prove myself right about, I know nothing of this procedure either. Six years of one problem after another. If I can get a Residenza Elettiva then I will gladly do so. I hope this helps Meakin too.Just checked - no Isle of Man or British Isles on the Site. Paradise Island to the Italian Government, sat in the Irish Sea between Ireland and the UK. How will it save on a property and IMU’s and how do I inform the Commune (they only speak Italian). Sorry, you can see it’s difficult for me, I just don’t understand the proceedures.
Thanks Ugo. Unfortunately we won’t be able to make it our first home as we have so much family where we live and work, we couldn’t leave for 6 months of the year, even in retirement. I don’t theink there is any help for renovation work for the money we sent from our British bank account. We live in the British Isles and have a European passport but no access to healthcare in Europe through the healthcard as in the UK. On both properties we pay IMUs, Water and electricity when we are not there and in one house, the electricity and water have been switched off for two years (didn’t travel due to illness) but we still have to pay over €50 every other month. We will probably sell the large property in the North as the IMUs are €1780 per year plus rubbish tax, agents fees, electricity, water, it just goes on. But it is wonderful and we thought we would have more free time but we are working to keep the house. Last year alone we paid out nearly €28,000 on the roof and painting. If this was the end of the work it would be ok but somehow I have my doubts. The pots empty and we are working hard for retirement. Where do you live? I don’t want to put Meakin off as the South is much cheaper as are other areas, it saves on hotels, you can go when you want and family can enjoy it too. Lots of positives, most of all the people are lovely.
We bought stupidly near Lucca not knowing any of the above. We thought we could renovate ourselves as we had done so before many times where we live. We had the survey undertaken, it looked ok but after buying we were informed the electricity needed renewing, the boiler needed replacing, the roof that lasted 50 years on the garage, collapsed. Same agent with same husband as geomatra. Then the main roof four years later allowed water in and needed replacing with a concrete layer. The previous owners goods, they promised to remove when we purchased, were all left. And it was a house full. The agents comments were ‘they didn’t take them’. No redress.The IMUs for Lucca practically doubled from purchase to first year of ownership. Because we could not live in the property we didn’t have to pay for rubbish tax. But one year an agent didn’t put the papers in and we’ve been hit for thousands as it doubled. Luckily the agent we have now is excellent and the house beautiful but we can’t afford the running costs in retirement as we pay electricity, water, rubbish and IMU when we are not there.The South of Italy - wonderful. We purchased at a low cost have wonderful friends there and a gentleman who oversees everything. Running costs, very low, IMUs low. The dream is there, but you have to understand what you are buying into. We didn’t - but this site is excellent, so wish I’d found it before buying the first house. Good luck.
We have rates here on a small Island for properties and if there is an extension or works carried out to add to the value they can re-evaluate the rateable value. This is what worries me in Italy. Have you had any major works done? We had our Italian house painted outside in Italy and works inside, I am waiting for mine to come but I have a feeling we are A7, I hope so. We pay nearly €2,000 per year for our house in IMUs and then everything else on top, it’s quite an amount. I hope you can sort this ok, we think we may have to sell when we retire as this amount of money just won’t be there each year.
Just a quick update, we’ve paid over €2,000 for Rubbish Tax. The agents we have now have sorted it for us, they are an excellent company. We were allowed discounts as this could have tripled without this company’s intervention. Such a learning curve. We have no Council Tax here so paying nearly €2,000 for this as well as the Rubbish Tax was quite a shock, should have looked into it more, our fault. Still all has ended well and we look forward to our holidays in the lovely Tuscany area again.
HelloThank you for all your help. We have had two major renovations with the Commune included, certificates, permissions etc. (no paperwork given to us though by the agent) so I don’t know why they have made these two years when the garage roof was replaced, it had collapsed, then the main roof in 2016 and the house was painted, were so high. They are by the road so required scaffolding with extra permissions. These major renovation years have been taxed at over €600 each where the Commune would have issued the paperwork.The previous agent handled everything as they were doing the work in the last renovations but their paperwork was lacking and we paid them €50 per month, we were just told to come in when over there, but the office was always closed. I only found the bill problems out when I realised the water hadn’t been paid for a year, nor the Mountain Tax two years. I managed to sort these ok. The rubbish tax, she was waiting for a bill to arrive when I asked but then I found out that she hadn’t given the paperwork in but made a point of saying she would put it in when we took her on. The IMUs were from our bank account luckily so that’s ok. We’ve changed agents and the poor lady received all these bills when she submitted the rubbish tax form. I believe she has a gentleman who will go to the Commune on our behalf. I have pictures so can give them these. We just can’t get away due to work but might have to somehow before the end of the month where it doubles.I’m just hoping there’s nothing more to come. Thank you all again. Hopefully now we can enjoy the house and village and our worries are over as it’s beautiful there.Babs
Thank you, it’s been quite a lesson. There are two bills 2013 and 2016 for over €600 but the rest are either €200 or €350. Unfortunately we can’t get to the Commune before the cut off date which is the end of March then 50% gets added. The lovely agent (I believe those are the low bills as she knows what she’s doing) is asking someone who might help but we will have to just get on with it and pay if we can’t do anything. I can’t get over how little we knew when buying this house. But we have a small house in Calabria and a lovely local gentleman who does everything, four years, no problems. Thank you for taking the time to reply. This site is so good.
Hello ModicasaThe first agent put a form in to say it was uninhabitable I think, so did the second. But the third one didn’t pay any bills for us at all and I have an email from her to say she was going to the Commune to put a form in to say it’s habitable, she didn’t. We didn’t know this though, we waited over a year to pay her and kept asking for her invoice to see what’s going on. However agent no 2 who was very good with paperwork (best of all of them but we’ve not met her) put in a form to say it’s habitable last October and the Commune have gone back to when we bought it and ignored the first forms.The property required, a new garage roof, a main roof, retiring, new boiler, walls moved, then a flood. The walls were black with mildew. Lots of vermin droppings, no kitchen and a house full of belongings the estate agent (agent 1) promised they would be removed.the form the agent submitted says ‘vi preghiamo applicare tariffa uso domestico non residente inoure vi preghiamo di sperire gu avvise di pagamento’. I will have to look at the Deeds about habitation but the property was unused for many years, although that means nothing in Italy. Thank you for replying Modicasa.
Thanks Modicasa, I think everyone has noticed the difference lately. It’s the TV licence that has given the shock, what a good idea adding it to the electricity bill, can’t wriggle out of it then. Babs
Hello LindsayIts a nightmare, you will see on my past that we too had similar problems, money has just gone out of the door. The town and its people are lovely but we are reliant on agents to see us through. I tried myself to sort things out but couldn't. We have our third agent who is lovely and quick and with new offices near the Commune. She has kindly sorted our tax out, I wonder if it was a house renovation job would there have been a reduction anyway? Ours isn't really habitable (on year 4) but we stay there for a few days in anticipation that we can renovate but we have always had reduced rubbish tax. We usually stay at a B & B as well. An accountant or agent can advise unless your Italian is very good for the Commune, mine isn't. I wish you well, huge learning curve - wish they'd email bills. Our estate agent/agent registered us for everything, looks like yours didn't. I hope the Commune goes easy on your predicamen.bye, Babs
Comments posted
I’ve done more than hit myself with a hammer over my fingers Ugo, the mental health has gone with it. I have nothing to prove myself right about, I know nothing of this procedure either. Six years of one problem after another. If I can get a Residenza Elettiva then I will gladly do so. I hope this helps Meakin too.Just checked - no Isle of Man or British Isles on the Site. Paradise Island to the Italian Government, sat in the Irish Sea between Ireland and the UK. How will it save on a property and IMU’s and how do I inform the Commune (they only speak Italian). Sorry, you can see it’s difficult for me, I just don’t understand the proceedures.
Thanks Ugo. Unfortunately we won’t be able to make it our first home as we have so much family where we live and work, we couldn’t leave for 6 months of the year, even in retirement. I don’t theink there is any help for renovation work for the money we sent from our British bank account. We live in the British Isles and have a European passport but no access to healthcare in Europe through the healthcard as in the UK. On both properties we pay IMUs, Water and electricity when we are not there and in one house, the electricity and water have been switched off for two years (didn’t travel due to illness) but we still have to pay over €50 every other month. We will probably sell the large property in the North as the IMUs are €1780 per year plus rubbish tax, agents fees, electricity, water, it just goes on. But it is wonderful and we thought we would have more free time but we are working to keep the house. Last year alone we paid out nearly €28,000 on the roof and painting. If this was the end of the work it would be ok but somehow I have my doubts. The pots empty and we are working hard for retirement. Where do you live? I don’t want to put Meakin off as the South is much cheaper as are other areas, it saves on hotels, you can go when you want and family can enjoy it too. Lots of positives, most of all the people are lovely.
We bought stupidly near Lucca not knowing any of the above. We thought we could renovate ourselves as we had done so before many times where we live. We had the survey undertaken, it looked ok but after buying we were informed the electricity needed renewing, the boiler needed replacing, the roof that lasted 50 years on the garage, collapsed. Same agent with same husband as geomatra. Then the main roof four years later allowed water in and needed replacing with a concrete layer. The previous owners goods, they promised to remove when we purchased, were all left. And it was a house full. The agents comments were ‘they didn’t take them’. No redress.The IMUs for Lucca practically doubled from purchase to first year of ownership. Because we could not live in the property we didn’t have to pay for rubbish tax. But one year an agent didn’t put the papers in and we’ve been hit for thousands as it doubled. Luckily the agent we have now is excellent and the house beautiful but we can’t afford the running costs in retirement as we pay electricity, water, rubbish and IMU when we are not there.The South of Italy - wonderful. We purchased at a low cost have wonderful friends there and a gentleman who oversees everything. Running costs, very low, IMUs low. The dream is there, but you have to understand what you are buying into. We didn’t - but this site is excellent, so wish I’d found it before buying the first house. Good luck.
We have rates here on a small Island for properties and if there is an extension or works carried out to add to the value they can re-evaluate the rateable value. This is what worries me in Italy. Have you had any major works done? We had our Italian house painted outside in Italy and works inside, I am waiting for mine to come but I have a feeling we are A7, I hope so. We pay nearly €2,000 per year for our house in IMUs and then everything else on top, it’s quite an amount. I hope you can sort this ok, we think we may have to sell when we retire as this amount of money just won’t be there each year.
Just a quick update, we’ve paid over €2,000 for Rubbish Tax. The agents we have now have sorted it for us, they are an excellent company. We were allowed discounts as this could have tripled without this company’s intervention. Such a learning curve. We have no Council Tax here so paying nearly €2,000 for this as well as the Rubbish Tax was quite a shock, should have looked into it more, our fault. Still all has ended well and we look forward to our holidays in the lovely Tuscany area again.
HelloThank you for all your help. We have had two major renovations with the Commune included, certificates, permissions etc. (no paperwork given to us though by the agent) so I don’t know why they have made these two years when the garage roof was replaced, it had collapsed, then the main roof in 2016 and the house was painted, were so high. They are by the road so required scaffolding with extra permissions. These major renovation years have been taxed at over €600 each where the Commune would have issued the paperwork.The previous agent handled everything as they were doing the work in the last renovations but their paperwork was lacking and we paid them €50 per month, we were just told to come in when over there, but the office was always closed. I only found the bill problems out when I realised the water hadn’t been paid for a year, nor the Mountain Tax two years. I managed to sort these ok. The rubbish tax, she was waiting for a bill to arrive when I asked but then I found out that she hadn’t given the paperwork in but made a point of saying she would put it in when we took her on. The IMUs were from our bank account luckily so that’s ok. We’ve changed agents and the poor lady received all these bills when she submitted the rubbish tax form. I believe she has a gentleman who will go to the Commune on our behalf. I have pictures so can give them these. We just can’t get away due to work but might have to somehow before the end of the month where it doubles.I’m just hoping there’s nothing more to come. Thank you all again. Hopefully now we can enjoy the house and village and our worries are over as it’s beautiful there.Babs
Thank you, it’s been quite a lesson. There are two bills 2013 and 2016 for over €600 but the rest are either €200 or €350. Unfortunately we can’t get to the Commune before the cut off date which is the end of March then 50% gets added. The lovely agent (I believe those are the low bills as she knows what she’s doing) is asking someone who might help but we will have to just get on with it and pay if we can’t do anything. I can’t get over how little we knew when buying this house. But we have a small house in Calabria and a lovely local gentleman who does everything, four years, no problems. Thank you for taking the time to reply. This site is so good.
Hello ModicasaThe first agent put a form in to say it was uninhabitable I think, so did the second. But the third one didn’t pay any bills for us at all and I have an email from her to say she was going to the Commune to put a form in to say it’s habitable, she didn’t. We didn’t know this though, we waited over a year to pay her and kept asking for her invoice to see what’s going on. However agent no 2 who was very good with paperwork (best of all of them but we’ve not met her) put in a form to say it’s habitable last October and the Commune have gone back to when we bought it and ignored the first forms.The property required, a new garage roof, a main roof, retiring, new boiler, walls moved, then a flood. The walls were black with mildew. Lots of vermin droppings, no kitchen and a house full of belongings the estate agent (agent 1) promised they would be removed.the form the agent submitted says ‘vi preghiamo applicare tariffa uso domestico non residente inoure vi preghiamo di sperire gu avvise di pagamento’. I will have to look at the Deeds about habitation but the property was unused for many years, although that means nothing in Italy. Thank you for replying Modicasa.
Thanks Modicasa, I think everyone has noticed the difference lately. It’s the TV licence that has given the shock, what a good idea adding it to the electricity bill, can’t wriggle out of it then. Babs
Hello LindsayIts a nightmare, you will see on my past that we too had similar problems, money has just gone out of the door. The town and its people are lovely but we are reliant on agents to see us through. I tried myself to sort things out but couldn't. We have our third agent who is lovely and quick and with new offices near the Commune. She has kindly sorted our tax out, I wonder if it was a house renovation job would there have been a reduction anyway? Ours isn't really habitable (on year 4) but we stay there for a few days in anticipation that we can renovate but we have always had reduced rubbish tax. We usually stay at a B & B as well. An accountant or agent can advise unless your Italian is very good for the Commune, mine isn't. I wish you well, huge learning curve - wish they'd email bills. Our estate agent/agent registered us for everything, looks like yours didn't. I hope the Commune goes easy on your predicamen.bye, Babs