After the news of a studio apartment of only eight square meters rented for 600 euros per month in the historic center of Bologna, local politics reacted firmly. The trade association of real estate agents distanced itself from similar practices, inviting its members to refuse properties of this kind.
“In situations like these, our goal is to protect people’s dignity and combat speculative practices that exploit the complexity of the housing market,” said Bologna’s deputy mayor, Emily Clancy.
According to Clancy, eight square meters cannot be considered habitable:
“Not even as a single room which should be at least 9 square meters.” The appeal to citizens is clear: report and signal similar cases to arrange adequate controls. “Enough speculation on the skin of those experiencing the housing crisis”, he added.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, also commented on the case on social media. He highlighted the results of the home-saving decree, which has reduced bureaucracy and freed up space for smaller apartments. However, he warned:
“Attention: there are stringent criteria (starting with ventilation and lighting) to make them habitable! Situations like those emerging from the news these days are illegal and bordering on inhumane.” Salvini has promised that those who try to rent micro-spaces in violation of the rules will be severely punished.
Fiaip, the Italian Federation of Professional Real Estate Agents of Bologna, represented by the president Massimiliano Bonini, underlined the importance of a code of ethics. “Our commitment is to ensure that real estate agents are increasingly professional and fair to their clients. Transparency must also lead to a refusal to work on ‘unsaleable’ properties,” Bonini said. Furthermore, he reiterated that the role of real estate operators is crucial not only to facilitate transactions but also to contribute to a fairer and more sustainable market. Let’s avoid speculative operations that aggravate the difficulties of consumers already affected by the housing emergency.
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