If you’re planning a move to Rome, timing matters. Of course, you may not have much choice – if you’re moving for a job or to study, you’re constrained by your start date. But even then, shifting your search by even a month can make a huge difference. And if your dates are flexible, it makes sense to time your search to maximise your chances of success.
So when is that, exactly?
There are two peak periods for rental searches: June/July, for leases starting in September, and November/December, for leases starting in January. These tie in with the university semesters, which, to a greater or lesser extent, affect the entire market. So while you may see more listings in these periods, you’ll also be up against more competition. If possible, you might consider getting in a couple of weeks early – in late October or late May – to boost your chances before the main rush begins. But really, it makes little difference… Because in Rome, it’s not so much about when it’s best to look, as when it’s worst.
In fact, the absolute worst time to search is in August.
This catches many international movers by surprise: just this week I’ve had two enquiries from people who were planning to search in August and move in within a couple of weeks. And it’s no wonder: on paper, August seems the ideal time. Schools and universities are on summer break, it’s usually easy to take time off work, and those relocating for a September start naturally assume it’s the perfect moment to come to Rome and find somewhere to live.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. August is when Rome goes on holiday. For the two weeks around Ferragosto (15th August), or even longer, the agencies close and the landlords are out of town. The flow of new listings grinds to a halt, viewings are impossible to arrange, and everything stalls until September.
What this means is that July becomes ever more frenetic as people scramble to find an apartment, knowing that if they fail they’ll be forced to pay over the odds for short-term lodgings when they resume their search in September.
So how do you get around this problem?
It’s simple (although never easy). If you need accommodation from September onwards, don’t wait until August to begin your search! Instead, start looking around mid-June, or even earlier. By then, you’ll already find listings for apartments becoming available on 1st September, so you won’t necessarily even have to start paying rent before you actually need to. Securing accommodation before the summer shutdown can spare you a great deal of stress and uncertainty. The timing may seem counterintuitive, but in Rome it can make all the difference. If you’re moving in August or September, your goal is simple: have your rental sorted before the city heads off on holiday. And if you can’t make it to Rome in person, that’s where I come in. I can arrange and attend viewings on your behalf, and provide you with a full report of my findings. I’m available all year round… except August.