L’Aquila (Italy): Foreing students oppressed by lessors

A foreign student reveak his story to the “L’Impronta” newspaper.
He spoke about illegal rents in Aquila city. Off-site students are often oppressed by lessors. This situation seemed decreasing after the earthquake but it’s not exactly like that.
To understand it better, we asked him some questions.

How did you start to look for a house?
I started searching some announce on internet and local newspapers. So I realized that room prices were too high comoared to the quality of the services offered by lessors. First of all for the actual conditions of Aquila flats after the earthquake.

What has the announce referred to?
I was looking for a singke room, so my attention was focused on a special supply that seemed nearest to my needs and first of all to my budget.
A single room in Via Abruzzo costs 160€. It was a room in a flat with others rooms but it was not a problem for me.

Haven’t you wonder why that price was lower than the others?
At the beginning yes, but I needed it and that was really a good price for me!

So what did you do?
I called the number written on the announce. A girl, who lives there, answered me and so I got more information. Especially I asked the reason why the price was so low and she said to me that the owner made a contract with a lower price.

A lower price?
Yes, I didn’t understand which type of contract it could be and sincerely I began having serious doubts about it.
So I got an appointment to see the house.

What’s happened when you arrived there?
I was greeted by two girls, who have lived there for two years. They showed me the flat and during the conversation I asked another time the room price and further informaion about the contract.

What did they say to you?
They told me that the price was so low because the owner, as I said before, make a contract  with a lower value ( and it’s still like that ). For all the flat the price is 800€ but in the contract results only 500€. For the girl that is a good way for paying less because do not make a contract is so risky, espacially after the earthquake. They also affirm that it’s a good opportunity to gain.

What do you think about it?
One thing is sure: the owner is only the one who gains 300 illegal euros and obviously not the girls.

In conclusion? 
I didn’t accept cause I didn’t want the owner earned illegal money. Italy has to stop with tax evasion and there is no tollerance for it.

Thanks to this guy, who realeased an interview for us, we would point up an important thing.
There are a lot of off-site students that haven’t a legal contract and each month have to pay the owner of the flat with illegal money.
This situation is often accepted by both parts. Owners don’t pay taxes and guys pay a price that is lower compared to the others.
But things could change if students, parents and owners too would take a stand to reach an equity among uman relations.

Lorenzo Petrilli

Tagged: italy, oppressed, students, University

Posted in: sTorIes FroM iTalY