Looking for accommodation in Italy? Whether you are moving to Milan to study Italian, attend university, join an art academy or simply experience life in Italy, understanding a few essential Italian phrases can make the process much easier.
Finding a room, a shared apartment or a studio can be one of the biggest challenges for international students. Rental advertisements, contracts and conversations with landlords are often in Italian, so knowing some key vocabulary can help you avoid misunderstandings and feel more confident.
If you have recently moved to Italy, you may also enjoy our complete guide:
Italian Survival Guide for Living in Italy: Essential Italian for Everyday Life.
Looking for accommodation in Milan?
Students enrolled at Il Centro can benefit from our accommodation support service. We help students find rooms, shared apartments, studios and other housing solutions in Milan, helping them settle into Italian life more easily.
Why Learning Italian Helps When Looking for Accommodation
Many landlords in Italy speak some English, especially in large cities, but this is not always the case. Understanding basic Italian can help you:
- Read rental advertisements
- Contact landlords and agencies
- Arrange viewings
- Understand contracts
- Ask questions about utilities and expenses
- Avoid misunderstandings
Even a simple conversation in Italian often creates a better impression and can help establish trust with landlords.
Useful Italian Vocabulary for Renting a Room
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Room | Stanza |
| Single room | Stanza singola |
| Shared room | Stanza condivisa |
| Apartment | Appartamento |
| Studio apartment | Monolocale |
| Rent | Affitto |
| Rental contract | Contratto di affitto |
| Security deposit | Deposito cauzionale |
| Utilities | Utenze |
| Flatmate | Coinquilino |
Italian Phrases for Contacting a Landlord
When you find an interesting room or apartment, you will usually need to contact the landlord by phone, WhatsApp or email.
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Is the room still available? | La stanza è ancora disponibile? |
| I am interested in the room. | Sono interessato/a alla stanza. |
| Can I visit the apartment? | Posso visitare l’appartamento? |
| When is it available? | Quando è disponibile? |
| How much is the monthly rent? | Quanto costa l’affitto mensile? |
Italian During an Apartment Viewing
When visiting a room or apartment, you may want to ask some practical questions.
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Are utilities included? | Le utenze sono incluse? |
| Is Wi-Fi included? | Il Wi-Fi è incluso? |
| How many people live here? | Quante persone vivono qui? |
| Is there a washing machine? | C’è una lavatrice? |
| Is public transport nearby? | Ci sono mezzi pubblici nelle vicinanze? |
Learning practical Italian can make everyday life much easier. If you are an international student and wish to study Italian in Italy, our Intensive Italian Courses in Milan help students communicate confidently from the very first day.
Understanding Rental Contracts in Italian
Italian rental contracts often contain specific legal terminology. Here are some useful words:
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Contract | Contratto |
| Tenant | Inquilino |
| Landlord | Proprietario |
| Deposit | Deposito cauzionale |
| Utilities | Utenze |
| Monthly payment | Canone mensile |
Common Housing Problems and How to Talk About Them
Sometimes things do not go exactly as planned. Here are some useful phrases.
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| The heating doesn’t work. | Il riscaldamento non funziona. |
| There is no hot water. | Non c’è acqua calda. |
| The Wi-Fi isn’t working. | Il Wi-Fi non funziona. |
| Could you help me? | Potrebbe aiutarmi? |
| There is a problem in my room. | C’è un problema nella mia stanza. |
Our Tips for Finding Accommodation in Italy
Finding the right accommodation is an important part of your experience in Italy. Understanding some basic Italian vocabulary can help you communicate more effectively, understand rental agreements and feel more confident when speaking with landlords.
Don’t be afraid to use your Italian, even if you are a beginner. Most Italians appreciate the effort and will often help you if they see that you are trying to speak their language.
After finding accommodation, you may also need help with official paperwork and residence permits. Read our guide:
Italian for Bureaucracy: Residence Permit, Comune and Documents
Ready to Improve Your Italian?
At Il Centro, we help international students learn practical Italian for everyday life, university, work and travel.
Explore our Italian Language Courses in Milan and start communicating confidently from your very first day in Italy.