Tenant & Squatter Eviction in Italy

Lawyers for owners in Italy who need a property back: the eviction of a tenant who does not pay or stays after the lease ends (sfratto per morosità, sfratto per finita locazione), and the separate routes against people who occupied the home without any contract.
lawyers in Italy
2
cases in this service
4
clients' rating in Italy
4.99 ★

About Tenant & Squatter Eviction in Italy

Evicting a tenant in Italy goes through the courts and is called sfratto. This page covers tenant and squatter eviction: a tenant not paying rent (sfratto per morosità), a tenant who stays after the lease has ended (sfratto per finita locazione), and the illegal occupation of a home by people who never had a contract (occupazione abusiva, squatters). Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Eviction Services”. It is for owners and landlords, many of them living abroad. Changing the locks, removing belongings or cutting off the utilities is not a lawful way to recover a home and can turn against the owner.

How a tenant eviction usually goes

  1. The landlord's lawyer serves the tenant with a notice of eviction together with a summons for the court to confirm it (intimazione di sfratto with citazione per la convalida); a claim for the unpaid rent can be joined.
  2. At the hearing, if the tenant does not appear or does not oppose, the judge confirms the eviction (convalida di sfratto) and sets the date for leaving. In residential cases of unpaid rent the court can give the tenant a period of grace to pay. If the tenant raises a genuine defence, the case continues as an ordinary lawsuit.
  3. If the tenant still does not leave, the court bailiff (ufficiale giudiziario) enforces the eviction, with the police where necessary; enforcement often takes more than one visit.

Squatters

People who move into a home without any title are not tenants. Occupying someone else's property is a criminal offence in Italy, and a recent reform added a faster route for a home that is the owner's only dwelling: after a complaint, the police can order the occupiers out and the court confirms the step. Whether it applies to a second or holiday home is disputed; a criminal complaint and a civil action to recover possession remain available. The rules have changed more than once, and a lawyer confirms the current ones.

Points to watch

A registered lease, records of payments and an up-to-date contract make an eviction smoother. A tenant who pays the arrears in time may stop an eviction for unpaid rent. Enforcement can be scheduled or postponed for social reasons, and the procedure itself has been reformed more than once.

What a lawyer does

An English-speaking lawyer in Italy checks the lease and the debt, files the eviction or the complaint, attends the hearings and the enforcement, and pursues the money owed through debt collection. An owner abroad can give a power of attorney. Disputes that are not about getting the property back are on landlord and tenant disputes; a sounder lease for the next tenant is on lease and rental contract review and drafting.

Questions and answers

Can a tenant in Italy be evicted without going to court?

No. Only a court order enforced by the bailiff removes a tenant; taking matters into one's own hands exposes the owner to claims and possible criminal charges.

How long does an eviction take in Italy?

It depends on the court, on whether the tenant opposes and on the enforcement. A lawyer gives a realistic estimate for the specific town.

Can the tenant stop the eviction by paying?

In residential cases of unpaid rent the tenant can often pay the arrears and costs at the hearing or within the period the court grants.

Squatters have entered a holiday home. What can be done?

A complaint to the police and the prosecutor, and a civil action to recover possession; the faster police route was designed for a person's only home, and its use for second homes is uncertain.

Can the unpaid rent be recovered?

The claim can be joined to the eviction, but whether the money is collected depends on the tenant's assets.

2 lawyers who provide Tenant & Squatter Eviction in Italy

Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.

  • Giovanni, lawyer in Turin

    Giovanni

    Lawyer · Turin, Italy

    • 286 cases handled · 3 in this service
    • 16+ years in practice
    • Speaks: English, French
    • Law, University of Turin
    • 4.99(23 reviews)
    Contact Giovanni
  • Giorgio, lawyer in Genoa

    Giorgio

    Lawyer · Genoa, Italy

    • 148 cases handled · 1 in this service
    • 11+ years in practice
    • Speaks: Russian, English
    • Law, University of Genoa
    • 5.00(5 reviews)
    Contact Giorgio
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer

Talk to a lawyer about Tenant & Squatter Eviction

2 registered lawyers provide this service in Italy. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.

We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.

See the lawyers ↓

Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.

Other property law services in Italy

All property law services in Italy

What our clients say about our service in Italy

  • This has been a very difficult year for my family and me, and throughout the legal process the lawyer stood by us. His service was impeccable until the very end. He advised us on the course of action that best suited our needs and dealt with every legal aspect of the case in the best possible way. I am totally satisfied with the service I got, and anyone facing a similar situation has my recommendation.
    — Colin
    11 Mar 2024
    Tenant & Squatter Eviction
  • I cannot thank this lawyer enough and am so grateful I found her. She answered my emails extremely quickly and dealt sympathetically with all my concerns in a highly stressful situation. I feel she was excellent value for money, and she handled a complex issue in a calm and professional way that reassured me. When something was unclear she took the time to explain it, patiently and clearly, and recommended the most appropriate course of action. I would not hesitate to recommend her.
    — Alex
    21 Apr 2023
  • From our very first meeting the lawyer understood the situation and offered an excellent strategy going forward, which resulted in the best possible outcome. Highly recommended!
    — Spencer
    27 Jun 2022
  • The lawyer helped me every step of the way, from a frightening set of circumstances to taking the reins and helping me considerably. I would not hesitate to ask for her help again.
    — Susie
    27 Jun 2022
  • A highly professional and pragmatic response. Several outcomes were possible in our case, and dealing with someone who knew the relevant law in depth and also advised us with the wider picture in mind made a refreshing change. Communication was excellent, and I believe the service was good value for money. For all our future legal matters we will certainly keep asking her to represent us and act on our behalf.
    — Marcus
    05 Jul 2021
  • The replies were kind and fast and the advice was good. If I ever need legal advice again, I will certainly contact him. I am pleased with every contact I have had, and very satisfied overall.
    — Susanne
    25 Mar 2021
  • The lawyer was extremely helpful, and no request was too much trouble. He is very friendly as well, and his manner puts you at ease at once. I would use him again, and my sister is also a client of his. Anyone looking for a lawyer fluent in English and Spanish (and Italian) who handles legal matters professionally and without delay should get in touch with him, and I strongly recommend doing so.
    — Suzanne
    28 Oct 2020
  • Very relaxed, not uptight, and all very good.
    — Raymond
    18 Sep 2020
  • Confident, articulate, concise and polite. I have used eleven lawyers so far, and all of them pale beside him. One of my cases lasted 12 years, so I think I know a little about this gloomy trade. The best rise to the surface. I am happy, thank you.
    — Wayne
    01 Sep 2020
  • The lawyer is a true professional: super efficient and completely fluent in English. He helped me with a difficult legal matter, took all the stress out of the situation and provided a pragmatic path to resolution, which is precisely what you need from a lawyer. The service I received was first class, and I cannot think of any area that could have been improved.
    — Tony
    05 Aug 2020
  • The lawyer is excellent. The necessary information about my case was collected and verified, she was understanding and responsive, and she explained my options and provided the appropriate solutions, in perfect English. The promised results were delivered on time. I definitely recommend her to my friends.
    — Michel
    30 Jun 2020
  • The lawyer gave an excellent service throughout. In our first phone consultation she set out our legal position and options clearly. She then handled the resolution of our property dispute efficiently and updated us regularly by e-mail. We are very satisfied with the result and would definitely recommend her to friends.
    — jake
    01 Jun 2020