Rentals on the stars, but less and less the Italians who buy a house

In a constantly evolving social context, also the real estate market He is undergoing profound changes. The 16th report on the market of leases in Italy 2024 of Soloofitti reveals that the owned house It is no longer at the center of the priorities of Italians. There demand for rents It is increasing, the offer remains insufficient compared to the needs, and the average duration of the tenants’ permanence in the same property has slightly increased. This photograph of the market, taken from the first group in Italy dedicated to the management and protection of the real estate income, was the main theme of the conference Flexible contracts and more houses on the market: the future of the rentorganized by SoloAffitti at Palazzo San Macuto.

The study highlights

The study shows that, especially among young people, having a house is no longer considered a fundamental value. The traditional triangle of values ​​- safe work, ownership and family home – which has characterized previous generations, is losing relevance. Although Italy continues to have one of the rates of owners of the highest properties in Europe, the gap with the countries of northern Europe is thinning. The propensity to buy a house is decreasing, leaving room for more dynamic choices such as the rent, which today concerns 30% of Italian families, compared to 20% of 10 years ago. This increase testifies to a change in the way of life, which reflects a erosion of the value attributed to the home owned, also linked to new economic possibilities. The data show a transformation market: the demand for rents grows quickly, but the offer remains stable and cannot satisfy the request. This determined an increase in the lease fees, with an average increase of +4% compared to 2023. Overall, since the pandemic period ended, the residential leases in the main Italian cities have increased by 20%.

Who are the tenants

Who are the tenants and why do they choose to live for rent? The analysis reveals that most tenants (44.3%) rent a property as the main home, 31.3% for work reasons and 21.2% for study. In addition, 37.6% of tenants are single, while 24.1% are composed of children without children. A significant fact concerns the motivation of the choice: although in the common imagination the rent has always been seen as a “plan B” compared to the purchase, more and more people know it consciously for the flexibility it offers, allowing you to change the house, neighborhood or city with greater ease. 43.8% of the tenants who leased a property as a main home said they lived for rent by choice, considering it an option more suitable for their lifestyle than the purchase of a house.

The investigation

“The investigation we conducted clearly shows how, to make the rental market more accessible and encourage the owners to implement the currently undeserved properties, an intervention on the legislation on the leases is necessary, which guarantees greater flexibility and protections for both owners and tenants”, underlined Silvia Spronelli, CEO of the SoloAffitti group.