The “Salva Casa” decree is a crucial piece of legislation for many homeowners in Italy, created with the aim of offering protections and solutions to those in economic hardship. First introduced in 2019, this decree has undergone numerous updates and amendments, culminating in the recent changes in 2024, which aim to further simplify bureaucratic procedures and protect the first home from expropriation risks.

In the context of an economic crisis that has put a strain on many families, the“Save House” Decree can be an essential tool for avoiding the loss of one’s home and facilitating property management and regularization . New measures introduced this year broaden the scope for action and simplify building practices, making life easier for homeowners.

Why is it important?

The importance of the “Save Home” decree ( here you can read the text in the Official Gazette ) lies in its ability to provide a lifeline to those at risk of losing their homes due to financial hardship . With the continuing rise in the cost of living and post-pandemic economic challenges, protecting one’s home has become more crucial than ever. The decree not only offers protection against foreclosure, but also introduces facilities for renegotiating mortgages and the amnesty of minor building discrepancies, allowing owners to regularize their situation without excessive complications.

What’s new in 2024

The 2024 updates represent a further step toward greater protection for citizens and simplification of administrative procedures. New features include theabolition of double compliance for amnesties, an increase in construction tolerances, and an expansion of the categories of interventions considered “free construction.” These measures are designed to streamline paperwork and facilitate access to regularization for thousands of families.

The 2024 updates to the “Save House” Decree introduce a number of significant changes aimed at further simplifying property management and protecting owners from complex enforcement procedures.

Here are the main new features:

1. Abolition of double compliance:
   • Double compliance, previously required for building amnesty, has been eliminated. Now, to regularize a building abuse, it is sufficient that the property is in compliance at the time of construction or the last significant building work. This greatly simplifies the procedure for obtaining amnesty and reduces bureaucratic difficulties for owners.
2. Regularisation of minor discrepancies:
   • Measures have been introduced to enable minor construction irregularities to be easily remedied without having to go through complex procedures. This includes, for example, minor changes such as insignificant internal variations that previously would have required lengthy paperwork.
3. Increased construction tolerances:
   • Construction tolerances have been increased by up to 5%, allowing greater flexibility in construction. This means that small differences between the authorized design and actual construction are now acceptable without the need for costly or complicated modifications.
4. Expansion of free building:
   • The decree expands the categories of work that can be carried out without the need for permits or notices, such as routine maintenance work and the installation of small heat pumps. These changes reduce bureaucracy and facilitate minor changes to properties.
5. Change of use:
   • The process for change of use without works is simplified. Now, changing from commercial to residential use (or vice versa) no longer requires complex permits, unless there are structural interventions involved.
6. Principle of silent consent:
   • For applications for amnesty permits, the principle of silent consent is applied. If the authority does not respond within the deadline, the request is automatically approved. This speeds up bureaucratic processes and reduces waiting time for owners.

How does the decree work?

The “Save Home” Decree offers several ways to help property owners manage their properties and protect their homes in situations of economic hardship. Here’s how:

1. Mortgage renegotiation and suspension of payments:
   • Homeowners can renegotiate their mortgages with banks, getting the option of temporarily reducing their installments or suspending payments for a limited period. This is especially useful for those in temporary financial difficulties who are trying to avoid foreclosure.
2. Submission of foreclosure repayment plan:
   • For those who are already in foreclosure, the decree allows them to submit a repayment plan. This detailed payment plan can stop the enforcement proceedings by offering the debtor the opportunity to pay off the debt in a deferred manner.
3. Procedures for rectifying discrepancies:
   • The decree simplifies procedures for rectifying minor building discrepancies, reducing the need for complex permits and allowing owners to regularize their situation more quickly and less expensively.

Benefits for owners

The “Save Home” Decree of 2024 offers many concrete benefits to property owners. Let’s see what the main ones are:

1. Protection of the first home:
   • The main house is considered essential to family stability, and the decree offers specific measures to protect it from foreclosure. This helps families maintain their housing even in times of economic hardship.
2. Reducing bureaucracy:
   • The simplifications introduced significantly reduce the bureaucracy associated with property management. Minor interventions no longer require lengthy permitting procedures, making life easier for owners.
3. Facilitation in access to credit:
   • With the new mortgage renegotiation options and the simplification of amnesty procedures, landlords can obtain better terms for their financing and more easily access new credit.

Criticisms and limitations

Despite its many benefits, the “Save House” Decree is not without its criticisms and limitations:

1. Complexity of practical applications:
   • Some experts believe that the new measures, although useful, may be difficult to implement without the full cooperation of banks and local governments. Bureaucracy can still be a significant obstacle.
2. Limits in the protections provided:
   • The decree mainly protects the first house and small deformities. However, it does not offer solutions for situations of serious building abuse or for properties with significant structural problems.
3. Criticism from stakeholders:
   • Some stakeholders, such as property owners’ associations, have expressed concerns about the sufficiency of the measures and their effective implementation on the ground. The need for further improvements has been repeatedly stressed.

The “Salva Casa” Decree of 2024 is an important step forward in protecting property owners in Italy. The new measures simplify property management and offer practical tools for dealing with economic hardship. However, it remains to be seen how these measures will be implemented and whether further improvements will be needed to ensure effective and sustainable protection.

The decree continues to evolve to meet the needs of citizens and may see further updates in the future.