Rome reigns supreme as the top destination for both home buyers and renters in Italy, according to the latest findings from a report by idealista/data. The Eternal City dominates the rankings, with eight districts claiming spots in the top ten. Leading the pack are Garbatella-Ostiense, Appio Latino, and Prenestino, showcasing Rome's allure for prospective renters. This comprehensive study measures demand against supply across various Italian cities, revealing Rome's unrivaled appeal. Additionally, Florence's Rifredi and Bologna's Navile-Corticella secure spots within the coveted top 10 positions. Explore the full report to uncover the dynamics shaping Italy's rental housing market.
Rome dominates the top 10
As anticipated, the top 10 most sought-after neighbourhoods in Italy by those looking for a house to rent is dominated by Rome. First place in the ranking goes to Garbatella-Ostiense, which totals a relative demand index of 83.6 points; followed with very little difference by Appio Latino (83.3). Third place goes to the Prenestino district (71.5). But how does one explain Rome's dominance in the ranking? One one hand, it should be emphasised that Rome is the largest Italian metropolis and, therefore, it is logical to imagine a very large volume of property searches.
However, going into the details of the first two positions, there are some things to point out. The Garbatella-Ostiense area has been the protagonist of several urban redevelopment and regeneration projects in recent years. It is a district of great appeal to students (it is home to many faculties of the University of Roma Tre) and is one of the city's most attractive districts for cultural and social life.
Appio Latino, on the other hand, is certainly one of the most up-and-coming districts of Rome since post-Covid times. It is often referred to as the classic "15-minute neighbourhood", where it is possible to walk to any kind of service and is a great area for any age group. In addition, the presence of several Metro A stops makes it particularly attractive to workers and students away from home as well as families.
Securing the last place on the podium is the Prenestino district, offering a notably advantageous average rent of 882 euros per month. In comparison, Garbatella-Ostiense commands 1,046 euros per month, while Appio Latino stands at 1,065 euros per month. Notably, Prenestino benefits from recent connectivity enhancements, including the new Metro Line C and proximity to the entrance of the Tangenziale Est, positioning it strategically within the city. The district also experiences significant demand from students, further influencing its rental dynamics.
The other Roman neighbourhoods in the top 10 are: Nomentano-Tiburtino, Casilino-Centocelle, Aniene-Collatino, Roma est-Autostrade and Portuense-Magliana. While the only 'intruders', outside the context of the capital, are Rifredi in Florence, which scores a relative demand index of 53.5 (seventh place) and Navile-Corticella in Bologna with a score of 49.3 (ninth place).
The situation in the rest of Italy
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 rental housing segment. The indicator is processed on the basis of the number of contacts (e-mail contacts and shares) received per listing. The districts of what ISTAT considers to be the 14 Italian metropolitan cities were taken into consideration, namely: Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Florence, Genoa, Messina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria, Rome, Turin and Venice.
The absence from the top positions of Milan, which places its first district (Baggio, with a score of 31.7) only in thirtieth place in the ranking, is cause for reflection. A possible explanation could be the level of prices in Milan, which according to the latest report by idealista was the city with the most expensive rent in Italy in February 2024 (23.3 euros per square metre).
The first southern district we find in the ranking, on the other hand, is San Giorgio-Librino in Catania with a relative demand index score of 40.0. More generally, the most sought-after neighbourhoods in the rest of Italy for those looking for a house to rent are: Carpenedo-Bissuola in Venice (39.7); Borgo Vittoria-Vallette in Turin (39.0); Centro Storico in Naples (33.9); Carrassi-San Pasquale in Bari (29.3); Valpolcevera in Genoa (27.3); San Michele-Is Mirrionis in Cagliari (23.4); Uditore-Noce-Zisa in Palermo (15.9); Centro in Messina (8.5); Rione Ferrovieri-Stadio-Gebbione in Reggio Calabria (5.5).
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