½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

You should be guided by your geometra. Basically, when you get a permission in Italy it is 'in principle', and unless you are located in a 'centro storico', or in an area 'vincolata' (like an AONB) then pretty much anything can be considered a 'variazione', and does not have financial consequences. Here I'm talking about things like moving windows, changing them into doors etc etc - the final volume which you are constructing is cast in stone, and generally it isn't sensible to try and mess with the footprint - but otherwise you are pretty free to make changes along the line. That's the legislative framework. However, from the constructional/architectural pont of view any changes of mind which you might have could be somewhat costly - simply on the common sense level - if the builder has constructed a wall which you later want to move - well, you are going to pay twice. What is the problem about making a 'final' decision? Why are you considering ahead of time that you might have got it wrong? What's the rush! Get your thoughts sorted out - take your time - what's the hurry?

I'd say they are hardy down to about -4degC, so against a south wall, out of any wind, I might give it a go - depends a lot on how high and or exposed you are.  It's just about time to take some cuttings from it, so make yourself a few 'spares' which will be easy to keep in smaller pots inside during the winter.

If you speak ½ûÂþÌìÌà (or maybe searching the site you can get it in English) this link should help. 

I've had a small look into this (it is all about keeping 'traditional' farming landscapes agricultural) but the interpretation (and the date at which this law could come and bite you, even the dimensions of the area deemed 'a farm') depends not only on your provincia but also your comune. In Italy, the date of the approval of a regulation can frequently be years ahead of the date of its implementation, so it's not a certainty that your notaio got it wrong. There is a possibility that by varying the comune PRG (akin to the Local Plan in UK terms) that you may, eventually, find that you are let off the hook. (From my google searches, it does seem to be a question of particular relevance to Abruzzo.) Anyway, hard luck, and hopefully with time it will get resolved so that you can find a buyer.

Yes - it is for wind lift. Remember, trad ½ûÂþÌìÌà roofs have much bigger overhangs on the eaves (the bit which overhangs the 'long sides' of a pitched roof), and also on the verges which overhang the gables.  It's also a bit of an aesthetic nicety on more modern roofs - just for the crack, as it were. Not strictly necessary on a reconstructed roof, where the builder will have mortared in the tiles at the extremities, but it gives us somethiing to talk about (and Gubbio is VERY windy!)

The query from Belevedere - whether to have two 3kw or one 6kw supply. Wouldn't make any difference to the price of juice. However, if you are resident, and have only 3kw, that is a cheap as you can get (with any supplier). If you have 6kw, the standing charge is a bit higher for non residents (about €5 per month higher) but the power costs the same whether resident or not. I tend to agree that if you have a separate apartment it is going to be difficult to live with 3kw. Hairdryers are often as much as 2kw nowadays, and irons can be quite greedy, too.

Lovely bit of understatement there, annec - he was a baronet! Also a fantastic illustrator and pretty good watercolourist I remember his drawings from the children's magazines I used to read - but the Dodopad passed me by, unfortunately.

I agree, it's a minefield, and likely to see further amendments, but presumably you are not charging your father rent - you are permitting a parenti to use your portion of the house in 'comodita d'uso' - and the rules are different in this situation. Possibly the consulate have a tame commercialista on hand - but if he says 'boh', don't blame him, he is being honest! Welcome to Monti's profesisonal regime  

I think you must consult ideally a notaio (although these are probably few and far between in the UK) or a solicitor specialising in ½ûÂþÌìÌà law. They will be able to establish very quickly what proportion of the house you currently 'own', and to prepare for you a procura speciale in order for you to delegate the power of sale of your part (if that is what you wish to do). It isn't only this year for which you will have been liable for a tax on property ownership, now it is IMU previously it was ICI (although possibly your father paid this on your behalf in previous years, although as Ram says he didn't need any sort of procura to do that for you). It is important to understand that these taxes are imposed on idividual property owners, not on the property as a whole. (Your father and his wife will not have been liable for any property tax since 2007 when ICI was abolished for residents, so it may not have occurred to him to even consider that you still had an obligation). You need a commercialista to sort your IMU and all of your back taxes out for you (assuming there are any). There are discounts for people such as yourself, who have close relatives resident in the property of which you own a part. If you happened to be registered with AIRE (the official list of ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs resident abroad) you probably would not have any tax liability in respect of a second home. It might even be worth your while inscribing yourself on this register (to exempt you from much of the IMU) but I don't think it would be retrospective if you have any back tax due to pay. Enqure of the ½ûÂþÌìÌà Embassy about this.

There is a bit which I haven't yet got my head around (as they say) - which is if you are anagrafically resident, in somebody (a cointestario?)'s house the rate is .79%. If this means what I have interpreted it as meaning (I'm probaly mistaken) this isn't going to hold up in EU law. For anybody (½ûÂþÌìÌà citizens living abroad) inscribed on AIRE, there were some agevolazione determined yesterday, but not if you have rented out your 'prima casa'. It's still a mess.