Selling property in Italy: Complete guide

Disclaimer: The contents of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. You are solely responsible for any tax or other legal liabilities arising from the purchase/sale of foreign property. Decisions to purchase foreign property and their procedure should be made after thorough research, consultation and verification from a qualified financial and legal advisor.

Own a holiday home or investment property in Italy, and are thinking of selling? Perhaps you live there but are relocating, or perhaps even moving back to the UK.

Whatever your plans, we’re here to help with a complete guide to selling property in Italy. Read on for information on the property sales process in Italy, including fees, taxes, legal requirements and everything else you need to know.

We’ll also show you a low-cost*, transparent way to transfer the proceeds of your property sale back to the UK - using the Wise account from the money services provider Wise.

It lets you spend, hold and convert money in 40+ currencies and make secure transfers to 140+ countries for low fees* and mid-market exchange rates. Every transfer is trackable and you’ll get dedicated support when making large amount transfers.

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How to sell property in Italy as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide 1. Get your documents together 2. Get a survey 3. Find an estate agent - or sell privately 4. Market your property 5. Appoint a notary - and a solicitor (optional) 6. Sign the preliminary agreement 7. Complete the sale at the notary’s office Is now a good time to sell in Italy? How long does it take to sell property in Italy? Do you need a lawyer or a solicitor to sell property? Do you need an Italian bank account to sell property in Italy? Taxes and costs when selling a property in Italy as a non-resident Real estate agent fees Legal and notary fees Capital gains tax Does owning property in Italy make you a tax resident? Save money on your Italian property sale with Wise

How to sell property in Italy as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide

If it’s your first time selling a property in Italy, you’ll need to understand how the process works.

Your experience of initially buying property in Italy will definitely be helpful, but it’s also worth remembering that it can be a little different from the seller’s perspective.

Below are the main steps, so you know exactly what to expect.

1. Get your documents together

You need quite a few documents to sell property in Italy, so it’s a good idea to get it all ready in advance. Here’s what you’ll need:¹

• The title deeds for the property (Atto di provenienza)
• The cadastral document showing the property ownership and site boundaries (Visura catastale)
• Property floor plan
• Building permits
• Energy certificate (Attestato di prestazione energetica)
• Your own ID and tax information.

2. Get a survey

In Italy, it’s a legal requirement to disclose any defects with the property, or any other significant issues the buyer needs to know about. You could face fines or other civil penalties from the local authorities if you fail to do this.

So to make sure you meet your obligations, it could be a good idea to have a property survey carried out before putting your house on the market. This will bring to light any issues you may not be aware of, so that you can inform prospective buyers.

3. Find an estate agent - or sell privately

It’s not obligatory to use an estate agent to sell a property in Italy. If you want to save money, you can sell your home yourself - listing it on online listing sites and real estate portals, and carrying out viewings yourself.

However, you may want to take advantage of the local knowledge and specialist expertise of an estate agent. They’ll also give you a valuation, host viewings (and be able to answer buyer questions in Italian) and deal with negotiations.

These can all be essential services for foreigners selling property in Italy while living abroad, or other situations where it’s not possible to be there yourself in person.

If you do want to use a property agent (agente immobiliare), a good way to find one is a personal recommendation from a friend or family member. Otherwise, look for one registered with bodies such as the FIAIP (Federazione Italiana Agenti Immobiliari Professionali).

4. Market your property

Now it’s time to get your property onto the market and start attracting buyers. Your estate agent should handle most, if not all, of the marketing activity, but private sellers will need to make sure they list their property in as many places as possible.

Here are some of the most popular real estate websites in Italy:

• Idealista.it
• Immobiliare.it
• Casa.it
• Trovocasa.it
• Wikicasa.it

Before you list the property, you’ll need to carry out a declutter and a deep clean. You can also ‘dress’ the property to ensure it looks its very best to potential buyers.

5. Appoint a notary - and a solicitor (optional)

The notary (notaio) is a vital part of Italian property sales. They draw up contracts, complete legal processes and ensure all the paperwork and procedures are done according to the letter of the law.

The notary is usually appointed by the buyer, but they act for both as a neutral party.

You can choose to get your own property solicitor to advise you throughout the sales process, but the notary will still be an integral part of the process.

6. Sign the preliminary agreement

Once you’ve negotiated and accepted an offer, the next step is to sign a preliminary contract (compromesso). This is drawn up by the notary, outlines the key details of the sale and will be registered with the local authority.

At this stage, the buyer will usually pay a deposit (caparra) of 10% to 20%.

7. Complete the sale at the notary’s office

Once the buyer’s solicitor has done the required due diligence checks and all other legal work is complete, it’s time to complete the sale. A date will be agreed upon for all parties to meet at the notary’s office to sign the final paperwork.

The title deeds for the property will be transferred to the buyer, once they have paid the outstanding balance to the notary. The notary will then transfer the funds to the seller, minus any property taxes due.

You might want to do some preparations in advance of this date, such as opening a local account. If you’re not in the country, you’ll need to research the best and most cost-effective way to receive large sums from abroad.

Is now a good time to sell in Italy?

Whether or not it’s the right time to sell your Italian property will depend on your circumstances. This includes how much you originally paid for the property and how much prices have risen in the region.

But generally speaking - it could potentially be a good time to sell. Property prices in Italy have been rising around 2-6% and rental yields and demand are pretty healthy (this is useful to know if you’re marketing a property to investors or landlords).³

Conditions within the property market are balanced, with a slight tilt towards supply rather than demand. This means buyers have a little more negotiating room, so you may need to compromise slightly on price to secure a sale.

How long does it take to sell property in Italy?

The time it takes to sell a home in Italy can vary. Location is particularly important, with properties in major cities typically selling faster. Some transactions can be more complex than others, especially if there are any legal complications.

But on average, it takes around 4 to 5 months to sell a property in Italy.¹

Do you need a lawyer or a solicitor to sell property?

It’s strongly recommended to appoint a solicitor specialising in real estate or conveyancing work in Italy. They can draw up and translate documents, check over conditions of contracts, give you advice about the selling process and so much more.

This could make your property sale go more smoothly and crucially, help you avoid a costly mistake.

Do you need an Italian bank account to sell property in Italy?

It’s not a legal or mandatory requirement to have an Italian bank account to sell property in Italy. However, you may find it easier with one.

You’ll need to get in touch with banks in Italy to find out what the requirements are and if you’re eligible for an account.

You may be able to use an international account for your property sale, or even your current account with a UK bank.

Another thing to note is that international transfers could get expensive, especially if the provider adds a margin to the exchange rate to convert your euros to British pounds.

Consider checking out Wise to handle your international large transfers with mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*.

Taxes and costs when selling a property in Italy as a non-resident

The contents of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Decisions related to tax should be made after thorough research, consultation and verification from a qualified financial and legal advisor.

Now, let’s take a look at the main costs of selling property in Italy you need to know about, including taxes:¹

Tax/fee name	Rate/fee
Real estate agent commission	2% to 5% of sale price
Property surveys	Varies
Legal fees	Varies
Notary fees	1% to 2.5% of sale price
Capital gains tax (on profit)	26% if applicable

Real estate agent fees

Both buyer and seller tend to pay real estate commission fees, usually around 2% to 5% of the final sale price.¹

Property surveys

To ensure you meet mandatory obligations related to disclosing property defects, you may want to get a property survey carried out before putting your house on the market.

The cost of these surveys will vary depending on the property size, type and value, as well as region. You’ll need to get some quotes from local *geometra *(professional land surveyors and architects).

Legal and notary fees

It’s always recommended to use a solicitor or conveyancer when buying or selling property in Italy. The cost of this will vary, depending on where you are in the country and what services you use - so you’ll need to get some quotes.

You will also have notary fees to pay, amounting to around 1% to 2.5% of the final sale price.¹

Capital gains tax

When selling property in Italy, taxes must also be factored into your overall budget, as well as fees. The main one you need to know about is capital gains tax, due on the profits of real estate sales - the difference between what you originally paid for the property, and what you sell it for.

You may have to pay this tax if you’ve owned the property you’re selling for under 5 years. This applies to Italian citizens and permanent residents, as well as non-resident property owners.

The capital gains tax rate in Italy is currently 26%.¹

Does owning property in Italy make you a tax resident?

For anyone considering moving to Italy (or staying there if you’re a temporary resident), it’s useful to know about tax residency and how it relates to property ownership.

Buying, building or renovating property in Italy doesn’t automatically make you a tax resident in the country. Instead, it’s based on how much time you spend living there.

Like many countries, Italy has something called the 183-day rule to determine tax residency status. You’re considered a tax resident for the year if you spend 183 days or more in Italy within that year, or if you’re a permanent resident in your Italian home.⁴

Save money on your Italian property sale with Wise

Once the deal is done, you’ll need to work out the best way to transfer the proceeds from your Italian property sale.

If you don’t live in Italy, you’ll need to send the money back home to the UK. Use your bank to do this, and you could lose out to high transfer fees and poor exchange rates.

Luckily though, there’s an alternative solution available. Use Wise to send money between the UK and Italy and you’ll get mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*.

It’s quick, reliable and secure, even to transfer large amounts. Wise uses sophisticated security and anti-fraud measures to protect your money.

And it could save you a bundle compared to using certain banks.

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Learn more about sending a large amount transfer with Wise in our video below:

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After reading this, you should have a better idea of how selling a property in Italy works - and how much it’ll cost you in fees and taxes.

With a little preparation and paperwork, you’ll soon be ready to put your Italian property on the market. Buona fortuna!

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Sources used for this article:

1. Expatica - Selling property in Italy: Complete guide for residents and non-residents 2025
2. House for Sale Tuscany - Down Payment – Deposit in Italy
3. Investropa - Is 2025 a good time to buy real estate in Italy?
4. PwC - Worldwide Tax Summaries - Italy Individual - Residence

Sources checked on 13-Oct-2025.