½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

Hi,

You could do a search on [url]www.casa.it[/url] - even in English, though the house details are in ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ. You could use babelfish to translate them. Not all properties have photos, though, but some have agents' details/websites etc where you could do some more investigating.

Good luck!

Stephanie

[QUOTE=coliNAP]Hello.

dos/don'ts regarding apartment rental in Napoli.
[/QUOTE]

I am afraid I cannot give any specific advice having never lived in Naples but friends did so, renting, a few years ago. As it was work, the UK company paid their rent so were able to lay down a few rules!! The main one was that there were a number of areas in which they were not allowed to rent, not due to crime, but to the risk of Vesuvius erupting again! The scientists seem to think it is due to erupt soon, but I think they have been saying that for years. Any areas in the predicted lava flow were strictly off limits - rents in these zones were much cheaper but there had also been a lot of illegal building with suspected sub standard quality involved. It may not be a concern for you, but if a rent is surprisingly low that may well be why.
Good luck with the hunt.
Anne2

Hi,
Its virtually impossible to rent somewhere in Naples until you arrive. The best bet is to stay somewhere for a week or two... anywhere from the youth hostel to a flat (try [url]www.rentabed.it[/url]) and buy Bric-a-Brac, the Neapolitan version of Loot.
Rents have increased alarmingly in the last couple of years, along wth house prices in Naples. For a small one bed flat you'll be looking at at least 500 a month, even in the less salubrious areas like the Spanish Quarter.
As to where and what is safe, it's pot luck. Avoid Forcella and areas round the station. Avoid deep into the Spanish Quarter.
Most foreigners go up to Vomero, or out to posillipo, or Mergellina. Nice if you can afford it, but the heart of the city... the centro storico, has lots of places to rent. If you're coming out in summer be aware that August is shutdown and there will be nothing doing. At the beginning of September when Bric a Brac starts publishing again, you'll be competing against all the students who are looking for somewhere to live. On the whole landlords like British renters as we pay on time and don't complain.
My advice would be, dont use an agency, there are some real cons going on, and even a reputable agency will charnge 3 months rent as their fee. Its much better to buy Bric a Brac and deal with the landlord directly. There are alot of places that are only available to foreigners, non residents, forestiere becuase hte owners dont register the rent. Thats fine unless you want residency in whcih case you are stuck.
If you have the chance I would go out for a week or so well before the summer and check out the centre of town and decide where you feel safe, and where will be good for work etc. If you can find an area with shops and bars it will tend to be much safer than a purely residential area. For the uninitiated i would recommend anywhere round the Universities, or anywhere along Via Toledo, from Piazza Trieste e Trento up to Piazza Dante.
Contracts will be for at least a year, and the Neapolitan idea of a furnished apartment can be hazy. Thankfully there is now an IKEA a few miles from Naples.
Get ni touch if you need more help
cheers