Italy
Renting & Tenant Rights
Last verified August 15, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Deposit Rules
- The security deposit (cauzione) is capped by law at 3 months' rent.
- The deposit legally accrues interest for the tenant every year; a contract clause stating it's interest-free is void even if you signed it.
- The landlord must return the deposit after the final walkthrough unless they can document specific damage; they can't simply keep it without justification.
Lease Length (the '4+4' Rule)
- Under Article 2 of Law 431/1998, an ordinary residential lease has a legal minimum term of 4 years, automatically renewed for another 4 years, commonly called '4+4.' This minimum is set by law and isn't something you or the landlord can contract around to something shorter.
- A separate, shorter 'canone concordato' (agreed-rent) lease type exists with different terms, typically 3 years renewable for 2 ('3+2'), tied to local rent agreements.
The Gotcha
Italy's standard residential lease has a legally mandated minimum term of 4 years, automatically renewing for another 4 ('4+4') under Law 431/1998, regardless of what a shorter written contract might say. If you're renting long-term in Italy, this default duration is baked into the law itself, not just a landlord's preference, so it's worth understanding before you sign anything that looks like a shorter fixed term.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Legge 9 dicembre 1998, n. 431 (Disciplina delle locazioni) (Parlamento Italiano)