A listing can look perfect from thousands of miles away: a bright kitchen, a balcony with mountain views, a rent that seems almost too good to be true.
Then you send a message and hear nothing back.
For many people planning a move, learning how to contact Italian landlords abroad is less about finding the right words and more about understanding how the rental market actually works on the ground.
In Italy — particularly in smaller cities and towns in Abruzzo and across central and southern Italy — landlords may prefer phone calls, respond only during business hours, or rely on a local agent to manage enquiries.
A short English message sent through a property portal can easily be overlooked, even when you’re a serious and well-prepared prospective tenant.
The good news is that a thoughtful approach can make you far easier to respond to, and give you a clearer picture of whether a property is genuinely available.
Understand the Channel Before You Send the Message
This is the single most important thing to get right — and the step most people skip.
Italian agents and private landlords do not primarily work by email.
Wie the Expat.com Italy forum confirms based on years of expat experience, the agents who are genuinely responsive and helpful to international buyers tend to be the ones who use WhatsApp actively — not the ones who rely on portal inbox systems.
An email sent on Friday afternoon may not receive an answer until Monday or later, if ever.
The correct hierarchy of contact channels in Italian real estate is:
- Phone call in Italian — the most effective, especially with landlords
- WhatsApp message in Italian — nearly as effective, and allows you to send in writing what you’d say on a call
- Portal message with a WhatsApp follow-up — acceptable for the first contact, but always follow up via WhatsApp or phone
- Email alone — least likely to get a response, especially for rentals
If the listing shows a phone number, use it.
Call during Italian business hours (Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm and 3pm–7pm).
If you reach voicemail, leave a brief message in Italian if possible, and send a follow-up WhatsApp immediately after.
If you can’t make that call yourself — either because of the time zone, the language barrier, or both — this is precisely where having a local contact in Italy makes an immediate, measurable difference.
Start With the Right Contact Route
Not every Italian rental listing is handled directly by the owner.
Many are advertised by a real estate agency, while others are posted by private landlords on local portals, social media groups, or community noticeboards.
Before reaching out, check who published the listing and which contact method is provided.
If an agency is named, contact the agency.
They can confirm whether the property is available, arrange a viewing, and explain what the owner is looking for.
Wie Idealista’s guide to finding a real estate agent in Italy explains, a quality Italian agent will reply quickly, proactively send information, and specifically know how to handle expat clients.
If an agency doesn’t respond within 2–3 business days, treat that as useful information about how they work.
If it’s a private listing, a WhatsApp message or a call is more effective than a portal message.
Private landlords are often older, less digitally active, and more comfortable with a personal approach than an online enquiry system.
As the Expat.com forum confirms, in many areas of Italy — including smaller Abruzzo towns — rentals never appear on portals at all.
The most reliable method remains being on the ground, walking the neighbourhood, looking for “For Rent” signs (Affittasi), and asking in local bars and shops.
Our guide to finding housing in Abruzzo covers all three routes.
A lack of response doesn’t always mean no.
Follow up once after two to three business days.
If there’s still no reply, move on rather than repeatedly messaging.
Rental opportunities can move quickly, and your time is better spent keeping several conversations active at once.
How to Write a First Contact Message That Gets Replies
Your first message should be brief, polite, and specific.
Italian landlords and agents receive plenty of vague enquiries from people who may never visit or may not be ready to rent.
Your goal is to show that you’re real, organised, and serious — without sending your whole life story.
Include:
- Your name and where you’re currently based
- Your intended move date
- The specific property you’re enquiring about (reference number if available)
- How many people will live there
- Whether you have pets (if relevant)
- How long you’re looking to rent
- Whether you’d like to arrange a viewing (in person, live video call, or via a local representative)
A message that works:
Buongiorno, mi chiamo Sarah. Sono americana e sto pianificando di trasferirmi in Abruzzo a ottobre. Sono molto interessata all’appartamento di due camere da letto a Pineto. Saremo in due (io e mio marito) e cerchiamo un contratto a lungo termine. L’appartamento è ancora disponibile? Sarebbe possibile organizzare una visita in video o tramite un contatto locale? Grazie mille.
(Hello, my name is Sarah. I am American and planning to move to Abruzzo in October. I am very interested in the two-bedroom apartment in Pineto. There will be two of us — my husband and myself — and we are looking for a long-term rental. Is the apartment still available, and would it be possible to arrange a video viewing or a viewing through a local contact? Thank you very much.)
Keep the tone warm and direct.
Don’t open with a list of demands, detailed questions about negotiation, or requests for unusual arrangements.
First, establish whether the property is available and whether the basic arrangement could work.
Then move to details.
Write in Italian whenever you can
Even a simple message in Italian makes a noticeable difference.
It reduces the effort required for the recipient to reply and demonstrates that you respect the local context.
Translation tools can help with a first draft — check it for naturalness rather than literal accuracy.
If you don’t yet speak Italian, send a short Italian introduction followed by a clear English version.
Don’t pretend to be fluent.
It’s completely acceptable to acknowledge that you’re learning Italian and would appreciate communicating in English where needed.
The same applies to phone calls.
A landlord may be perfectly willing to help, but a fast Italian conversation about rental conditions becomes stressful very quickly when neither person is confident in the language.
Misunderstandings around dates, costs, included utilities, or furnishings are common and can create the wrong impression.
Give Landlords the Information They Need to Say Yes
Once a landlord or agent replies, they’ll want to know more than your move date.
Wie Expatica’s comprehensive guide to renting in Italy explains, Italian landlords often feel more comfortable when they understand exactly who their tenant will be — not because they’re intrusive, but because Italian rental law is heavily tenant-protective and a commitment to a long-term tenant is genuinely significant.
Be ready to explain:
- Why you’re relocating (retirement, remote work, family, lifestyle change)
- Whether you have a regular income source — and what kind
- Whether you’re looking for short or long-term accommodation
- Whether you need the contract to support residency registration (relevant for many expats)
You don’t need to send sensitive personal documents in your first exchange.
But having a simple, clear tenant introduction prepared — one paragraph summarising who you are and why you’d be a reliable tenant — saves time once discussions become serious.
Our guide to what documents landlords ask expats for covers what you’ll need to prepare in full.
What are the Key Questions to Ask an Italian Landlord?
Ask direct questions about the practical points that affect your decision:
- Monthly rent, deposit, and expected contract length
- Whether the home is furnished and what “furnished” includes
- What’s included in the monthly cost and what’s paid separately
- Whether there are condominium fees (spese condominiali)
- Whether you can establish residency (Iscrizione Anagrafica beginnt) at the property — some leases specifically prevent this
- Whether the contract includes an annual rent increase clause (adeguamento annuale)
If you’re moving with a pet, ask early — this is a common deal-breaker for some landlords.
If you need reliable internet for remote work, don’t assume the connection is adequate based on the town’s size.
In villages and rural areas of Abruzzo, availability can vary from street to street.
Don’t Commit Based on Photos Alone
Photos can hide as much as they reveal.
They may be several years old, taken with a wide-angle lens, or show a property before changes were made.
If you can’t travel to Italy before choosing a rental, request a live video call or a pre-recorded tour.
Ask the person to show windows, bathrooms, storage, appliances, heating controls, and the view from outside.
Ask them to walk through the building entrance and the immediate street as well — the apartment may be lovely, but a steep access road, difficult parking, or a noisy location can matter far more once you’re living there.
For a more confident decision, arrange for a trusted local contact to attend the viewing on your behalf.
They can verify the listing matches reality, ask questions in Italian, flag concerns you’d miss from abroad, and send you an honest assessment rather than just forwarding photos.
This is exactly how our on-site viewing partner service works — we helped a US couple secure a rental in Abruzzo this way, attending the viewing, recording a thorough walkthrough on video, and giving them the information they needed to commit with confidence before travelling.
Expect Different Communication Habits
One of the harder parts of renting from abroad is accepting that communication may not follow the pace you’re used to.
- An email sent Friday afternoon may not be answered until Monday or later.
- A landlord may prefer WhatsApp over any other channel, or may call without arranging a time first.
- An agency may want you to visit before discussing every detail.
This is not poor service — it’s a different working style, particularly in local markets where personal trust and relationship carry real weight.
Be responsive when contacted, but don’t feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.
Always ask for written confirmation of key details, and compare what you were told verbally with what you see during a viewing.
Be realistic about timing.
Many landlords want to meet potential tenants before agreeing to rent, and some will prioritise applicants already in Italy.
If your move is still several months away, start your research and build conversations now — but focus your serious search more intensively in the weeks closest to your arrival date.
When Local Support Changes the Process
There’s a significant difference between sending messages into the unknown and having someone nearby who can make the call, visit the property, and explain the conversation to both sides clearly.
Unser Vermittlungs- und Kommunikationsservice specifically handles this gap for English- and German-speaking expats searching in Abruzzo.
We contact agents and landlords in Italian, verify availability, explain your situation credibly, organise appointments, and handle all the follow-up communication that tends to stall when managed from abroad in a second language.
The difference is not subtle: a professional local contact converts you from a distant, uncertain enquiry into a credible, ready applicant.
A rental home is often the first real foundation of your move.
Give yourself permission to ask questions, take your time where you can, and get support before committing to a place you haven’t properly seen.
The right contact can turn a frustrating silence into a real conversation — and a real conversation can be the beginning of feeling at home.
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Searching for a Rental in Abruzzo From Abroad?
We handle the calls, the WhatsApp messages, the viewings, and the landlord conversations in Italian — so you stop being ignored and start being taken seriously.
Bei Wanderlust Abruzzo, we help English- and German-speaking expats find and secure the right home in Abruzzo, whether it’s a rental or a purchase.
Persönlich, zweisprachig und direkt vor Ort in Abruzzo.
Get in touch today and let’s talk about your housing search in Abruzzo
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Häufig gestellte Fragen (FAQs)
What is the best way to contact an Italian landlord from abroad?
WhatsApp or a phone call in Italian, during Italian business hours (Monday–Friday, 9am–1pm and 3pm–7pm). Email is the least effective channel for Italian landlords and agents — most don’t monitor portal inboxes regularly and prefer personal communication. If you can’t manage Italian, having a local bilingual contact like Wanderlust Abruzzo make the call on your behalf is significantly more effective than sending messages in English.
How long should I wait for a reply from an Italian landlord or agent?
Two to three business days is a reasonable window. If you haven’t heard back after that, follow up once via WhatsApp or phone. If there’s still no response after the follow-up, move on. Repeated messages rarely help and can sometimes work against you. Keep multiple conversations active simultaneously rather than waiting on one property.
Should I write to Italian landlords in Italian or English?
Italian wherever possible, even if it’s just a brief introduction followed by an English explanation. A message that opens in Italian shows effort and respect, and reduces the work required for the landlord to engage. If you can’t write Italian confidently, use a translation tool to draft an introduction and have it checked for naturalness — then follow with a clear English version. Never pretend to be fluent if you’re not.
What information should I include in my first message to an Italian landlord?
Your name, where you currently live, your intended move date, the specific property you’re asking about, the number of people who will live there, the type of tenancy you’re looking for (short or long-term), and whether you’d like to arrange a viewing — in person, by video call, or through a local representative. Keep it brief. The goal of the first message is simply to open a conversation, not to provide your full rental history.
Can I rent an apartment in Italy without visiting first?
Yes — especially if you have a local contact such as Wanderlust Abruzzo who can attend viewings on your behalf, conduct a thorough walkthrough, and give you an honest assessment via video. This is increasingly common for expats relocating to Abruzzo from the US, UK, and Germany. The key is having someone you trust genuinely check the property against your priorities, not just relay the landlord’s talking points.
What are the most common mistakes expats make when contacting Italian landlords?
Sending a single English-language email through a portal and waiting for a reply; not following up; including too many questions or conditions in the first message; not explaining their situation or timeline clearly; and not having their basic documents and finances ready to discuss when a landlord does respond. The most common single mistake is using email as the primary channel when phone or WhatsApp would be significantly more effective.
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