The Girovago

Flat Hunting Milano

Looking for somewhere to stay in Milan is one of the worst things about the city. If you're moving to the city and haven't had the good fortune to have your company provide you with a nice relocation package then you're in for some hard work.

When I moved to Milan the company I worked for put me up in a 'residence' on Via Vigevano, near Porta Genova. The location was pretty good but the place itself was barely above adequate - residences are small studio flats-cum-hotel rooms. Ok for a few days but not for more than a week, although many foreigners end up being trapped in the residence for years as they're too daunted by the prosopect of having to rent in Milan.

My oh so kind employers convinced me I could find somewhere to live at around 400 euro p/m within two weeks so after a fortnight I had to pay for the residence myself. Becoming increasingly fed-up with living in a box I started to look around and soon found that what my employers told me was total bull-crap. For 400 euro you're quite likely to be sharing a room (a worringly common Italian practice) or living in the outskirts of the city.

After being manipulated into sharing with a girl from work who turned out to be one of the untidiest people I ever met, I moved into a 100 square meter 1950's apartment block near Bocconi for 550 euro p/m.

Avoid going through an agency. Technocasa, who let out my apartment charged us 18% of our annual rent as a service charge, despite being of absolutley no service at all ie. getting the price of the rent wrong and telling lies about the price of the flat.

The best solution is to look on the internet at places like EasyRoommate where you can see detailed lisitings online. Prices here are marginally higher as they are targeting foreigners as well as Italians but it's a good place to start.

If your budget is slightly higher try these mid-term let options at Milan Apartments

If possible give yourself one full week of searching. September is a good time to search as that's when most properties come onto the market. Bear in mind that most Milanese find apartments through word of mouth so you're already facing a distinct disadvantage. Try asking in bars and restaurants in the areas where you want to live if they know of any places for rent. If you cover the area on foot you're quite likely to spot the bright green 'Affitarsi' signs which indicates a property to rent.

posted by Bella Figura @ 10:41 am