English-Speaking Lawyers in Genoa

Question 1

What taxes apply to buying property in Genoa?

Answer

Resale (second home): 9 % imposta di registro + €50 + €50. Prima casa (primary residence within 18 months): 2 %. New-build: IVA 10 % or 4 % prima casa. The notaio calculates and collects all taxes at the rogito.

Question 2

What are the legal steps to buy a Genoese historic palazzo apartment?

Answer

Standard Italian conveyancing applies: (1) compromesso di vendita — preliminary contract with deposit (10–20 %); (2) due diligence phase — visura ipotecaria, conformità urbanistica, condominio documents; (3) rogito — final deed before notaio, taxes paid. For UNESCO Rolli palaces, an additional Soprintendenza check establishes whether a vincolo monumentale applies — which gives the MiC a pre-emption right and Soprintendenza authorisation requirements for works.

Question 3

Is Genoa a good option for digital nomads from the UK or US?

Answer

Increasingly yes. Genoa has fast fibre broadband, a manageable cost of living (well below Milan or Rome), a vibrant food culture, and quick access to the French Riviera and Ligurian coast. For non-EU nationals, Italy's lavoratore autonomo or digital nomad arrangements (as they evolve) provide pathways. EU nationals may register freely. An immigration avvocato in Genoa advises on the correct visa category for remote-income earners.

Question 4

What is a compromesso di vendita and how is it different from an offer?

Answer

The compromesso di vendita (or contratto preliminare di vendita) is a legally binding preliminary contract signed before the final rogito deed. Unlike an informal offer, the compromesso: (1) binds both parties to complete the sale; (2) commits the buyer to pay a deposit (caparra confirmatoria — typically 10–20 %); (3) establishes conditions suspensives and the completion timeline. If the buyer withdraws, the deposit is forfeited; if the seller withdraws, they must return double the deposit. Never sign a compromesso without an avvocato reviewing the terms.

Question 5

What are the best areas in Genoa for expat property buyers?

Answer

Popular expat areas include: Carignano — elevated historic neighbourhood with sea views and good access; Nervi — eastern seaside suburb with parks and beach; Pegli — western suburb, quieter, affordable; Centro Storico (caruggi) — authentic but requires comfort with urban intensity; Albaro — bourgeois, tree-lined, close to the sea. An avvocato will advise on which specific zones have UNESCO or Soprintendenza constraints affecting renovation potential.

Factor	Detail
Imposta di registro (resale)	9 % second home; 2 % prima casa
Average apartment price	~€1,500–2,500/m² in Genoa; historic palazzi apartments at premium
Liguria Riviera premium	Portofino peninsula: €8,000–20,000/m²; Cinque Terre villages: €3,000–6,000/m²
UNESCO designation	Genoa Rolli palaces and Le Strade Nuove — UNESCO World Heritage Site
Port economy	Italy's largest port — major logistics and shipping employer base
Bar association	Ordine degli Avvocati di Genova
Language	Italian; moderate English-speaking legal community
Milan connection	1h 30min to Milan Centrale by train

English-Speaking Lawyers in Genoa

Studio Legale Cassini

D&L Studio Legale Maritime

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