Eric, or another of our hunters in Modena, will take care of your search
The total monthly occupancy cost in Modena for a student typically includes several components. Rent (canone d'affitto) is the base amount agreed in the lease. On top of rent, tenants pay spese condominiali (condominium charges), which cover shared building costs such as stairwell cleaning, lift maintenance, and building insurance; these typically range from 30 EUR to 200 EUR per month depending on the building and its amenities (source: Uniplaces City Explorer, 2024). Utilities — electricity, gas, water, and internet — are often billed separately unless the listing specifies an all-inclusive formula (tutto incluso).
Security deposit (deposito cauzionale / cauzione): Under Italian Law 392/78 (Art. 11), the deposit cannot exceed 3 months' rent. It earns legal interest and must be returned at the end of the tenancy, minus any justified deductions. Landlords may also request a garante (guarantor) or a bank guarantee from international students without a local rental history.
Agency fees: When renting through a real estate agency, tenants typically pay around one month's rent plus 22% VAT as a one-time agency fee (source: Uniplaces City Explorer, 2024; Idealista/news, 2024). Some student-oriented listings advertise zero agency fees.
Home insurance: Contents insurance (assicurazione contenuto) is not legally mandatory for tenants in Italy, but it is strongly recommended to protect personal belongings (source: Expatica, 2024). Some landlords include a civil liability clause in the lease.
Registration tax (imposta di registro): For standard leases, the registration tax is 2% of the annual rent, split equally between landlord and tenant by default, unless the landlord opts for the cedolare secca flat-tax regime, in which case the tenant pays no registration tax.
TL;DR — Renting in Modena as an international student: Shared rooms cost from 300 EUR per month; studios from 620 EUR per month. Use a contratto per studenti universitari (6–36 months). Budget for a deposit of up to 3 months' rent and, if using an agency, a one-off fee of ~1 month's rent + VAT. Best neighbourhoods: Centro Storico, San Faustino, Madonnina, and Crocetta. Start your search 3–4 months early. UNIMORE's International Welcome Desk can help with housing guidance.
Finding long-term rental accommodation in Modena as an international student requires understanding both the local rental market and Italian tenancy law. The city's main university, UNIMORE (Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia), attracts students from across Europe and beyond, creating steady demand for furnished rooms and studio apartments near its various campus locations. Whether you are looking for a room in a shared flat (stanza in appartamento condiviso) from 300 EUR per month or a self-contained studio from 620 EUR per month, Modena offers a range of options across neighbourhoods including Centro Storico, San Faustino, and Crocetta. Key platforms used to search for student rentals in Modena include Idealista, HousingAnywhere, Spotahome, and Erasmus Play. Starting your search three to four months before your intended move-in date is strongly recommended, as availability tightens significantly ahead of the September academic intake.
Modena, located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, is home to the Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), one of the world's oldest universities, founded in 1175, with over 20,000 students including approximately 1,200 international students (source: TopUniversities, August 2024). The city's rental market for students is centred around neighbourhoods such as Centro Storico, San Faustino, and Madonnina, with shared rooms typically ranging from 300 EUR to 500 EUR per month and studios from 620 EUR per month upwards (source: Erasmus Play, 2024; Rentola, 2024). Italian rental law (Law 392/78) caps the security deposit at 3 months' rent, and a specific student lease contract (contratto per studenti universitari) lasting 6 to 36 months is available and well-suited to international students. The new CX Modena Crocetta student campus on Via Manfredo Fanti offers 366 beds near the central railway station. Modena's compact, cycle-friendly layout makes it easy to reach UNIMORE's multiple campus locations from most residential areas.
Finding long-term rental accommodation in Modena as an international student requires understanding both the local rental market and Italian tenancy law. The city's main university, UNIMORE (Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia), attracts students from across Europe and beyond, creating steady demand for furnished rooms and studio apartments near its various campus locations. Whether you are looking for a room in a shared flat (stanza in appartamento condiviso) from 300 EUR per month or a self-contained studio from 620 EUR per month, Modena offers a range of options across neighbourhoods including Centro Storico, San Faustino, and Crocetta. Key platforms used to search for student rentals in Modena include Idealista, HousingAnywhere, Spotahome, and Erasmus Play. Starting your search three to four months before your intended move-in date is strongly recommended, as availability tightens significantly ahead of the September academic intake.
Modena is generally considered more affordable than major Italian cities such as Milan or Bologna for student rentals. A shared room in a well-located flat near the UNIMORE campus typically costs between 300 EUR and 500 EUR per month, while a private studio ranges from 620 EUR per month upwards (source: Erasmus Play, 2024; Rentola, 2024). Students should factor in the cauzione (security deposit of up to 3 months' rent) and, where applicable, agency fees of around one month's rent plus VAT. Opting for an all-inclusive (tutto incluso) rental contract is a practical way to control monthly expenditure and avoid unexpected utility bills.
One of the most common mistakes made by international students searching for long-term rental accommodation in Modena is underestimating the total move-in cost. Many students focus only on the monthly rent and overlook the upfront security deposit (cauzione), which can legally reach up to 3 months' rent under Italian Law 392/78, as well as the agency fee of approximately one month's rent plus 22% VAT when renting through an agency.
Another frequent error is starting the search too late. The Modena rental market for students tightens significantly in July and August ahead of the September academic intake. Starting your search at least three to four months in advance is strongly recommended.
Students also sometimes sign a standard contratto 4+4 (four-year lease) when a contratto per studenti universitari (6 to 36 months, specifically designed for students living away from their registered home) would be far more appropriate and flexible for their situation (source: Inside Italy, 2024; BeRoomie, 2024).
Finally, failing to verify the landlord's identity and the property's legal status before transferring any deposit is a serious risk. Always request a signed receipt for any payment made before the lease is formally registered.
UNIMORE students concentrate on the Centro Storico, San Faustino and Madonnina, all reachable by bike or on foot. Rooms in shared flats generally let for 300 to 500 EUR/month, studios from 620 EUR/month.
The CX Modena Crocetta campus offers 366 beds near the station. A local Home Finder can view places for you, with photos or video, and check the listing before any payment.
Yes, it is possible: landlords may ask a student for a garante or a bank guarantee. Prepare a passport or ID and proof of resources.
The deposit cannot exceed 3 months' rent. Also ask for the contratto per studenti universitari, from 6 to 36 months, more flexible than a 4+4 lease. A local Home Finder helps you build the application.
Start early: in Modena, good listings are often taken within a few days, and UNIMORE students and local workers compete for mid-range homes all year round.
The student contract of 6 to 36 months fits the length of your studies. A local Home Finder can start the search remotely and arrange viewings by photo or video before you arrive.
Plan on 300 to 850 EUR/month: a room in a shared flat lets for 300 to 500 EUR/month, a studio from 620 EUR/month. Building charges come on top, 30 to 200 EUR/month depending on the building, unless the listing is tutto incluso.
On move-in, budget for a deposit of up to 3 months' rent and, through an agency, fees of about one month's rent plus 22% VAT.
First contact:Your home finder offers a free call to understand your needs.
I am applying
