Renovating a house in Italy (UK guide): costs, permits and more

Have you found a beautiful house in Italy that needs some love? Or maybe you’re considering an Italian renovation project down the line? We’ll take you through the entire process and help you prepare.

In this guide, we’ll cover the pros and cons of renovating property in Italy, break down the renovation costs and help you create a renovation schedule. We’ll also tell you what you should consider before beginning the process.

Finally, given how chaotic and costly renovation can be, you may want to make the experience less stressful. The Wise account will allow you to send large amounts of money between the UK and Italy for low fees*.

That means you could use what you save in fees or hidden markups to cover any upfront renovation payments. You can also auto-convert your pounds to euros at the mid-market rate and help you save even more.

With low, transparent fees*, great mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, Wise makes international money transfers simple and stress-free. Plus, you’ll get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts.

Get expert support for large transfers 📞

Please see the terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Is it worth buying a house to renovate in Italy?

You may be considering renovating property in Italy for a number of reasons. Perhaps you’re planning to rent it out, turn it into a second home or renovate with the intention of selling it.

Before you move forward, you should first consider whether taking the renovation route is the best option for you. Just like building from scratch, there are lots of things you need to plan out and pay for.

To sum it up, here are some pros and cons to renovating a house in Italy:

Pros:

• Certain tax incentives, like the House Renovation Bonus¹
• Often cheaper than buying property in Italy
• There are several government schemes to help you save money (for example, the 1 euro scheme)²
• More sustainable than building

Cons:

• Changing the existing layout can take a long time
• Limited options compared to building from scratch
• Renovating historical buildings can be complicated

Where to purchase a property to renovate in Italy

An agent can assist you in finding a property in Italy and save you time and effort. However, if you’d rather search independently, here are some of the most popular Italian real estate websites:

• Rightmove
• A Place in the Sun
• Immobiliare Italiano
• Romolini
• Idealista
• TrovaCasa

Italy also offers government initiatives aimed at encouraging foreigners to buy and renovate properties in less populated areas. The 1 euro houses scheme is one example, offering the opportunity to buy a house in Italy for only 1 euro, as long as you prepare a renovation project and cover all expenses.²

What to consider when renovating a house in Italy

Home renovations are a challenge even in the UK, let alone in a foreign country. There are many challenges you may encounter along the way, such as permit issues, language barriers or keeping up with your schedule.

Before you start, make sure you’re truly prepared for the renovation, including any setbacks that may arise. Here are some important considerations and questions to ask yourself to make your Italian renovation easier:

• Is it a protected or listed building?
• How does Italian planning permission work?
• How do property evaluations in Italy work?
• Do you have a renovation schedule in place?
• How to hire contractors for home renovations in Italy
• Do you have the right insurance?
• Do you have a contingency plan in place?
• Are there fees and tax considerations for renovating a house in Italy?
• Should you carry out an Italian house renovation yourself?
• What do you do if something goes wrong?

1. Is it a protected or listed building?

Some properties in Italy are considered historically, artistically and environmentally important and are therefore protected. This legal limitation is called Vincolo Paesaggistico.

To find out whether a property is listed, you can request a Certificato di sussistenza di Vincolo Paesaggistico, also known as a Certificate of the Existence of Conservation Constraints. You can get this document from the landscape protection office in your province or region or you can first check the Regional Landscape Plan.³

2. How does Italian planning permission work?

In order to carry out major renovations in Italy, you first need a building permit or Permesso di Costruire. It’s mandatory for extensions, structural modifications and changes of use. For minor work, you can apply for one of the certified declarations, such as SCIA or CILA.⁴

The Certified Notification of Start of Activity (Segnalazione Certificata di Inizio Attività or SCIA) grants permission for works such as installing an elevator, while the Certified Notice of Commencement of Works (Comunicazione di Inizio Lavori Asseverata or CILA) is required for works such as replacing floors or updating bathrooms.⁴

A building permit must be applied for through the municipality by a registered professional, such as an architect or engineer. The application usually includes plans showing the current and proposed work, a planning report confirming compliance with local rules and, if needed, environmental assessments for protected areas. It also requires structural calculations and a safety plan for the site.⁴

3. How do property evaluations in Italy work?

Property valuation in Italy is typically carried out by a licenced appraiser or perito immobiliare, whose job is to determine the market value. If you want an assessment of the property’s physical condition, you should request a home inspection conducted by a registered inspector. This will identify any defects or issues that need attention before you buy.⁵

Both checks are important, but a professional inspection is particularly useful for uncovering structural problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.

4. Do you have a renovation schedule in place?

Having a strict renovation schedule is very important in order for it to be successful. If you plan on buying a house through the 1 euro houses scheme, this is also one of the conditions.

Here’s what a renovation schedule roughly looks like:

• Stripping out the existing interiors
• Structural work
• Roofing and external work
• Plumbing, heating and electrical systems
• Insulation (if necessary)
• Flooring and plastering
• Bathroom and kitchen fit outs
• Painting
• Decoration, interior design and final touches

5. How to hire contractors for home renovations in Italy?

It’s important to hire reputable and reliable contractors to ensure your renovation runs smoothly. You can search for qualified professionals through established organisations such as the Associazione Nazionale Costruttori Edili (ANCE) or the Confederazione Nazionale dell’Artigianato e della Piccola e Media Impresa (CNA).⁶

Consider hiring a translator, especially in the initial stages or when talking about international invoices.

6. Do you have the right insurance?

The construction company in charge of the renovation is obliged to sign two insurance and liability policies. Those are the provisional, definitive surety and the posthumous, ten-year policy.⁷

7. Do you have a contingency plan in place?

Even with a well-planned renovation schedule, unexpected delays can occur, from bad weather to difficulties sourcing materials. To protect yourself, it’s important to build in a contingency plan, such as including change orders or contract amendments in your agreement.

8. Are there fees and tax considerations for renovating a house in Italy?

The main fees you’ll have are necessary building permits. Consider paying them with Wise, since your pounds will be automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate.

When it comes to taxes, the House Renovation Bonus lets you reclaim part of your renovation costs. For primary residences, you can deduct 50% of eligible expenses, capped at €96,000. This typically covers work such as plumbing and electrical repairs, facade renovation and external flooring.¹

9. Should you carry out an Italian house renovation yourself?

It’s better to hire professionals to help you with renovating a house in Italy, at least when it comes to making sure all the work meets legal requirements.

10. What do you do if something goes wrong?

In case you encounter a problem, make sure you seek independent legal advice immediately.

Keep in mind that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can’t directly get involved in private legal issues abroad. However, they could give you a list of translators and English-speaking lawyers.⁸

Italian house renovation costs

Now that we’ve covered some things you should consider, let’s answer the question - how much does it cost to renovate a house in Italy? We’ll go through individual refurbishment expenses and tell you how much you can expect to pay on average.

How much does a new roof cost in Italy?

The cost of redoing the roof depends on many factors, such as the material used and the shape of the roof. For example, terracotta tiles cost €20–€40/sq.m (£17–£35), while slate tiles are more expensive at €30–€60/sq.m (£26–£52) On average, the cost of the material, labour and removal of the old roof is €125–€175 per square metre (£108–£151).⁹

How much does flooring cost?

The average price of flooring replacement in Italy is between €40 and €120/sq.m. (£35–£104). For example, porcelain floor tiles cost between €15 and €35 (£13–£30), while the cost of wooden parquet varies between €30 and €80/sq.m. (£26–£69).¹⁰

Cost of fitting a kitchen in Italy?

You can expect to pay €500–€1,000/sq.m. for kitchen remodelling and installation in Italy (£433–£865). The final price will also depend on the cost of your appliances and furniture.¹¹

Cost of fitting a new bathroom in Italy?

Depending on the size of the bathroom, as well as the materials chosen and the complexity of the work, remodelling a bathroom in your Italian house will cost €3,000–€10,000 on average (£2,600–£8,650).¹²

How much does it cost to paint an entire house in Italy?

On average, you’ll pay between €5 and €30/sq.m. of interior painting or between €14 and €80 for exterior painting. This is between £4 and £26 or between £12 and £69.¹³

How much does it cost to rewire a house in Italy?

The cost of renovating a home electrical system in Italy varies, but it typically ranges from €35 to €45 per square metre, or £30 to £39.¹⁴

Cost of converting a loft in Italy

Depending on the scope of work, converting a loft in Italy can cost between €380 and €1,200/sq.m, which is £330– £1,040.¹⁵

Cost of renovating a stone house in Italy

It’s hard to give an exact figure, but house renovations in Italy typically cost between €350 and €2,000/sq.m. (£216– £1,731), depending on the scope of work and level of luxury.¹⁶

How much does it cost to renovate a house in Italy

Let’s list the main expenses in your Italian renovation:

Renovation type 🔨	Average cost 💶
New roof	€125–€175/sq.m. (£108–£151)
Flooring	€40–€120/sq.m. (£35–£104)
New kitchen	€500–€1,000/sq.m. (£433–£865)
Bathroom renovation	€3,000–€10,000 (£2,600–£8,650)
Painting	€14–€80/sq.m. (£12– £69) for exterior €5–€30/sq.m. (£4– £26) for interior
Rewiring	€35–€45/sq.m. (£13– £35)

How to pay for renovating a house or property in Italy

That was pretty much all you should consider before renovating property in Italy. You should have a better idea of how much it costs and what it can look like.

Renovating comes with various expenses, from paying contractors to permits and materials. A Wise account can aid you in avoiding any hidden fees and help you cut costs on currency exchange.

The Wise account is an alternative to traditional bank accounts. It will allow you to send money between the UK and Italy easily and [securely](https://wise.com/gb/about/security).

With low, transparent fees*, great mid-market exchange rates, and secure, trackable transfers, Wise makes international money transfers simple and stress-free. Plus, you’ll get dedicated support and volume discounts when sending large amounts.

Get expert support for large transfers 📞

FAQs: Renovating and refurbishing a house in Italy

Let’s answer some common questions about renovating property in Italy:

Is building work expensive in Italy?

Not necessarily, as costs mainly depend on the size of the house and how much work is involved.

Can you claim tax back on house renovation in Italy?

You can deduct 50% of renovation expenses from your income tax, with a €96,000 cap per property.¹ Learn more about what buying property abroad means for your taxes.

Do you pay VAT on renovations in Italy?

You’ll pay a reduced 10% VAT rate for home renovations and repairs in Italy.¹⁷

Is property in Italy a good investment?

Yes, especially if you take advantage of the government incentives and grants.

How much do builders and contractors get paid in Italy?

On average, construction workers in Italy get paid €17/hour or around €34,400 annually.¹⁸

Sources used:

1. Arletti Partners - Italian house renovation bonus
2. 1eurohouses.com - 1 euro houses
3. De Tullio Law Firm - cultural heritage in Italy
4. De Tullio Law Firm - Italian building permit
5. Italy Law Firms - property appraisal in Italy
6. ExpatFocus - Italy property renovation
7. Architect in Italy - architect costs in Italy
8. Gov.uk - UK guidance for buying property abroad
9. Cronoshare.it - average roofing cost
10. Cronoshare.it - average flooring cost
11. Cronoshare.it - average kitchen installation cost
12. Cronoshare.it - average bathroom installation cost
13. PGCasa.it - average painting cost
14. Cronoshare.it - rewiring costs
15. Mansarda.it - converting a loft
16. Studio Madera - average renovation costs in Italy
17. eClear - Italy VAT guide
18. ERI - construction worker salary

Sources last checked on date: 28-Jan-2026