The top 10 most searched neighbourhoods for those looking to rent a house in Italy highlights a strong presence from the Capital, although it doesn't claim a spot on the podium. In fact, the top three positions of this special ranking are taken by districts in Bolzano, Pavia, and Verona. The demand for rental properties is also a significant factor in the real estate markets of smaller towns. Let’s take a look at the snapshot provided by the idealista/data report.
Top 10 most sought-after neighbourhoods for renting a house in Italy
The podium for the most sought-after neighbourhoods for renting a house in Italy in the fourth quarter of 2024 does not feature any districts from the main Italian real estate markets. Specifically, the highest spot on the podium is claimed by Don Bosco in Bolzano, with a relative demand index of 111. It is followed by San Pietro in Verzolo-Viale Cremona in Pavia (107) and Porto San Pancrazio-San Michele in Verona (79).
The top spot of the Don Bosco district in Bolzano may be considered a surprise, while the other two podium positions reflect the strong student demand typical of university cities (such as Pavia and Verona).
The idealista/data report was implemented using the relative demand index, an indicator that summarises the pressure of demand on supply in each area of Italy for the housing market. This indicator is based on the number of contacts (email inquiries and shares) received per listing.
Another district of Bolzano, Oltrisarco-Aslago, ranks in fourth place. However, the city most represented in the top ten is Rome, with no fewer than four neighbourhoods: Casilino-Centocelle, Aniene-Collatino, Garbatella-Ostiense, and Nomentano-Tiburtino. The list is rounded off by Camin in Padua (another university city) and Borgo Trento-San Bartolomeo-Casazza in Brescia.
The situation in the rest of Italy
There are no Milanese neighbourhoods among the top positions, clearly indicating that the high rental prices discourage many workers and students from searching within the city, forcing them to look for solutions in the surrounding areas. Rondò-Torretta in Sesto San Giovanni ranks twenty-third with a relative demand index of 47.
To find the first Milanese neighbourhood in the ranking, you need to scroll down to the 125th position, occupied by Baggio (with a relative demand index of 30). Meanwhile, the first southern neighbourhood on the list is Rancitelli-San Donato-Villa del Fuoco in Pescara, with a relative demand index of 45.
The most expensive neighbourhoods to rent a house in Italy
Shifting the focus to rental prices, the most expensive rents are found near the most exclusive tourist destinations, with a strong presence from Versilia and Sardinia. Due to the limited supply, renting a house in the Santa Teresina area in Arzachena costs €9,000 per month (although it has a relative demand index of 1).
The centre of Forte dei Marmi is also highly unaffordable (with an average demand of €5,761 per month), as is the Porto Cervo area (€5,094), also in Arzachena. The first neighbourhood in a city that appears in this specific ranking is, unsurprisingly, the Centre of Milan (€3,428 per month).