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Documentation and formalities

Properties in Italy are listed in the registry kept by "Agenzia del Territorio"; this entity, subordinated to the Ministry of Finance, is split into two separate bureaus: the "Catasto" (Cadastral Office) and the "Conservatoria dei Registri Immobiliari" (Land Registry). The Cadastral Office is further split into "Catasto Terreni" (Land) and "Catasto Fabbricati" (Buildings): both of them keep records of every property located in Italy, assigning to each one a virtual value for fiscal purposes ("Rendita catastale" for buildings, "Reddito agrario" and "Reddito dominicale" for farmland).

The "Catasto" can produce, by request, some documents such as:

1. "Estratto di mappa": map of the territory surrounding the property, normally scale 1:2000;
2. "Planimetria Catastale": Cadastral plan of the building;
3. "Visura Catastale": Cadastral synthetic search, sorted by owner's details or property location ("Comune, Foglio, Particella, Subalterno").

Before the conveyance takes place, some compliance checks are carried on by the notary. The agent will assist the buyer and will control the title of property at the land registry, will verify that there are no adverse entries other then the ones declared by the seller. These checks deal with screening the records at the Land Registry and the previous conveyance.

Since deeds of sale involving properties not complying with planning and building regulations are void under the Italian Law, the seller is due to hand to the notary every paper testifying the conformity of the property, such as:

1. A copy of local planning and building permits ("Permesso di costruire") or conditional amnesty on illegal extension ("Condono");
2. Certification that the property is habitable ("Certificato di abitabilità");
3. Certificate of planning destination, produced by the local Council, compulsory for land.

Within 48 hours from the actual property transfer, the seller or the agent should communicate to local police authorities the change in ownership, filling in a form with the details of the buyer.

The agent will assist the parties till the conveyance in verifying the compliance of the property with local planning and building permits, sticking to the crucial principles of fairness and professionalism.