@oliviaf
English expat in Italy
Forum
26 posts
About me
English
Lives in Turin
Registration: 11 June 2013
Activity
Is it hard to make English speaking friends in Piedmont? by rubytoes11
Hi! We will be starting Italian classes online and hope to do an immersion school for a month upon arrival...but still, I don't expect our Italian to be very good for a long time. Is it difficult to make friends in Italy who speak English? How ...
InterNations and MeetUp organise many events in Turin and Piedmont, mostly in English best Olivia Read More
Moving UK appliances to Italy by Lentini74
Hi I was looking for some advice on the practicality and cost of moving UK appliances to Italy. I have TVs and washing machine and dryer I would like to move from London as they are fairly new. Can the plugs be adapted safely by an electrician or ...
Washing machine and dryer no problem, easy adaptors or DIY or loads of local stores will change plugs and not ask much. TV no the system is different. Better not best O Read More
How can you find the best shopping and flea markets in Salento region? by louloumura70
My husband and I are retired in the U.S. and recently purchased a townhouse in Ugento and will be spending half the year there annually starting in September this year (2021) It is a small town of about 12,000 in the region of Salento. We would love ...
I strongly suggest you both do a crash course in Italian. Then when you come here you can practise and improve. The friendly locals will help you, and love that you're learning their language. You really can't get by without it. Good luck! Read More
Tax on parcels from UK from UK by Rus Roo
Hi, now that the UK has excluded it's self from the EU new import controls have come into effect on items sent from the UK. I tried to have a parcel shipped from London to Italy but many of the courier services have stopped operations. A friend ...
Hello, I had a similar experience. The UK is still learning how to deal with Brexit. DHL delivered, seems more reliable than the others. No extra charge. Best Read More
Comparison of working freelance with as an employee in Italy by AndyB73
Hi - I'm wondering if anyone here has experience of working both as an employee and as a freelancer in Italy, and can offer any rough advice to me please? I currently work as an employee in Italy, but am considering accepting a job offer from a ...
Hello it's complicated, I suggest you ask an accountant = comercialista. You'll need one if you go freelance. Best Olivia Read More
Law or Agent tactics. Paying commission on a house bought privately. by xriddle
Hi I'm looking into purchasing a property in Italy that I found listed on a classified website. After months of back and forth with the sell we reached an agreement about the price. She then notified me that she had signed a real estate contract ...
This is very very weird. Of course don't sign anything at all. If the seller had 2 buyers why did she need an agent? It can all be easily done by a notary, with no agent. I also find it weird that someone on this site is offering you a ... Read More
Law or Agent tactics. Paying commission on a house bought privately. by xriddle
Hi I'm looking into purchasing a property in Italy that I found listed on a classified website. After months of back and forth with the sell we reached an agreement about the price. She then notified me that she had signed a real estate contract ...
No, not normal at all. But agencies take commissions from both the seller and the buyer, from the buyer can be as high as 5%. If you never signed anything you have no obligations. Best Olivia Read More
How to calculate Rental Income on overseas property for Italian Tax by Lentini74
Hi all, Is there anyone who lives and works in Italy but has overseas properties where they receive rental income ? particularly properties from the UK and Netherlands. I am trying to understand what exactly needs to be declared for Italian ...
Hello you'll find all the answers on www.agenziaentrate.gov.it Best Olivia Read More
Apartment rentals by nicog1
Ciao a tutti, We are planning to move to Italy on/around February 1st provided the pandemic restrictions are loosened. We are primarily looking at Cuneo in Piemonte but open to other small cities in the northern part of Italy in case we cannot find ...
Of course you can. Look at casa.it or immobiliare.it. Lots of rentals online Read More
Can you open a nonresident Italian bank account on line? by DrBillg
I was planning on looking for an apartment to buy in Italy. I’m not planning on giving up my residency in the US however because I’m still working. I have a Codice Fiscale . I was wondering if anybody knows in Italian bank that I can ...
I have experience of bank accounts in Italy UK and USA. I would avoid Italian banks- inefficient slow bureaucratic and expensive! The best are UK banks but you need a UK address. I suggest an online account of a bank that operates in Italy. ... Read More
Introducing myself and ...my problems. by NewinItaly
Hi, Last Wednesday I signed the Final Deed of the purchase of my property and now I am the owner of a beautiful, but in need of a complete renovation, apartment in a beautiful little town on the Lake Como. With the first excitement, there came a ...
Two things- there is a difference between resident and non-resident contracts. Non-resident contracts are more expensive. Secondly, yes there is always a standing charge, even if you use nothing. Taking over the old contracts may be more expensive, ... Read More
Social Media in Italy by thomedward
Hi, many thanks for looking at my post. Just a quick question; Is social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc) used more in Italian or in English in Italy... does the under 30s use English more? It would really help me out to know. And are there ...
Of course they use Italian. There are masses of social networks-ask any young Italian Read More
Sense of humour in Italy by Bhavna
Hello everyone, Should we set out to explore Italians culture through its sense of humour? Indeed, if one is planning to settle in the country, it is best to understand the cultural codes governing humour in order to avoid any faux-pas. What ...
I didn't know the saying 'scherza con i fanti, ma lascia stare i Santi'. Thanks. Read More
Sense of humour in Italy by Bhavna
Hello everyone, Should we set out to explore Italians culture through its sense of humour? Indeed, if one is planning to settle in the country, it is best to understand the cultural codes governing humour in order to avoid any faux-pas. What ...
I have found 3 subjects that are absolutely off limits. Don't even try. They are 1. mothers 2. food 3. the pope Italians won't get offended, they just won't understand. No irony! Read More
Ticket exemption for health services by Stephania1
Good day, I am an italian citizen and I have returned to Italy after a lenghty stay in South Africa (30yrs +). I am found myself in the situation that I cannot apply for the ticket exemption for services rendered by the health department because the ...
Hello, well I never heard that, about previous employment. If you look at http://www.salute.gov.it/portale/esenzioni/homeEsenzioni.jsp you'll see it's for low income, particular health problems, invalidity or pregnancy. You should look ... Read More