I usually drive to Italy with my old style UK paper drivers licence with no photo. Back in early 2020 this was also good to show for car hire. Have the rules changed since Brexit? is an old style UK paper licence still valid for car hire? The
Just in case it might help anyone not already aware. My comune is discounting the costs of IMU by 37.5% for second home owners resident abroad who are in receipt of a recognized pension as proof of retired status.
Any recommendations on an Italian bank? I have used MPS for years and they are fine and I can manage stuff online but they seem expensive, I assume to pay for an extensive branch network.
One option is to ask neighbour who they could recommend for gardening as they might use or know someone. Another is ask the commune if they can advise on a gardener assuming it is a small place. Finally check if there is a Pro Loco in the place who can sometimes help or point you in the right direction.
Chris18. I agree about the trattoria which I assume is the one at the Agip petrol station. For the tunnel my experience is need to pay toll either way and not covered by Swiss vignette.
Chris18. I agree about the trattoria which I assume is the one at the Agip petrol station. For the tunnel my experience is need to pay toll either way and not covered by Swiss vignette.
Good advice from Alan. Getting across Switzerland or Italy toll free is a non-starter. France used to be okay when most roads were at 90kph but last time the limits had all been reduced to 80kph which is just too slow even for a relaxed trip. Option is either Alan's route or a mix of French toll and non toll on the route Arras, Reims, chalons-en-champagne, Langres, Besancon, Lausanne, great San Bernard.
Completely agree with comprehensive reply from modicasa. I live in UK but have a place in Italy which my British solicitor told me needs to be covered by an Italian will but my experience is that certain direct relatives have rights that cannot be over-ruled by any will.
Grazie Modicasa, I should have guessed it was somehow raising more cash. Silly me. It's a shame that second homes have become such a target for taxes from councils to utilities. It depresses prices as owners through inheritance try to sell the old family home and the only link to original family village. I look forward to my single F24 bank debit!
Thanks for the clarification, very useful as I missed this. Do we now only pay IMU because it now includes the amount that was paid for TASI? I pay by direct debit and I have always seen two F24 entries twice a year. Will we only see one F24 payment twice a year going forwards?
I agree that it will be a while until things really get back to normal. I'm writing off being able to travel in 2020 and just hoping it will be safe next year.
As others have said, the buying process is straightforward and once a price is agreed there is a deposit paid and both parties cannot back out without a chunky cost, unlike the UK. Prices are good but i would advise looking beyond the headline price. We used to stay in a place in rural Southern Italy, beautiful countryside, great food, cheap, people as good as anywhere BUT a pain to get to which made short breaks impratical or expensive (always needing a hire car). We changed and settled on a place in small town with a shops, bus and train services all in walking distance and only one hour from airport. We now use it alot (current situation forcing a pause). I would also recommend a more modern place that is easy to maintain and ideally an appartment or terrace with garden but in a small building without or just a small or no condominium charge. Rustic and rural places are charming and cheap but require more maintenance and are not lock and forget.
Agree with everyone that it is important to start learning the language now as youngsters tend to pick up languages better the sooner you start. You could consider getting a satellite that allows you to see for free most Italian programmes on RAI channels including a young persons channel. I used to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning teaching them which is a way of also teaching yourself. You have to view it as fun and there is no escape getting the grammar learned as the essential foundation. Others here are right that the education system is pretty good and the children will have an advantage in English classes. The best thing is that universities are pratically free and Pisa is one of the best and the university of Florence is also not too far.
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One option is to ask neighbour who they could recommend for gardening as they might use or know someone. Another is ask the commune if they can advise on a gardener assuming it is a small place. Finally check if there is a Pro Loco in the place who can sometimes help or point you in the right direction.
Chris18. I agree about the trattoria which I assume is the one at the Agip petrol station. For the tunnel my experience is need to pay toll either way and not covered by Swiss vignette.
Chris18. I agree about the trattoria which I assume is the one at the Agip petrol station. For the tunnel my experience is need to pay toll either way and not covered by Swiss vignette.
Good advice from Alan. Getting across Switzerland or Italy toll free is a non-starter. France used to be okay when most roads were at 90kph but last time the limits had all been reduced to 80kph which is just too slow even for a relaxed trip. Option is either Alan's route or a mix of French toll and non toll on the route Arras, Reims, chalons-en-champagne, Langres, Besancon, Lausanne, great San Bernard.
Completely agree with comprehensive reply from modicasa. I live in UK but have a place in Italy which my British solicitor told me needs to be covered by an Italian will but my experience is that certain direct relatives have rights that cannot be over-ruled by any will.
Grazie Modicasa, I should have guessed it was somehow raising more cash. Silly me. It's a shame that second homes have become such a target for taxes from councils to utilities. It depresses prices as owners through inheritance try to sell the old family home and the only link to original family village. I look forward to my single F24 bank debit!
Thanks for the clarification, very useful as I missed this. Do we now only pay IMU because it now includes the amount that was paid for TASI? I pay by direct debit and I have always seen two F24 entries twice a year. Will we only see one F24 payment twice a year going forwards?
I agree that it will be a while until things really get back to normal. I'm writing off being able to travel in 2020 and just hoping it will be safe next year.
As others have said, the buying process is straightforward and once a price is agreed there is a deposit paid and both parties cannot back out without a chunky cost, unlike the UK. Prices are good but i would advise looking beyond the headline price. We used to stay in a place in rural Southern Italy, beautiful countryside, great food, cheap, people as good as anywhere BUT a pain to get to which made short breaks impratical or expensive (always needing a hire car). We changed and settled on a place in small town with a shops, bus and train services all in walking distance and only one hour from airport. We now use it alot (current situation forcing a pause). I would also recommend a more modern place that is easy to maintain and ideally an appartment or terrace with garden but in a small building without or just a small or no condominium charge. Rustic and rural places are charming and cheap but require more maintenance and are not lock and forget.
Agree with everyone that it is important to start learning the language now as youngsters tend to pick up languages better the sooner you start. You could consider getting a satellite that allows you to see for free most Italian programmes on RAI channels including a young persons channel. I used to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning teaching them which is a way of also teaching yourself. You have to view it as fun and there is no escape getting the grammar learned as the essential foundation. Others here are right that the education system is pretty good and the children will have an advantage in English classes. The best thing is that universities are pratically free and Pisa is one of the best and the university of Florence is also not too far.