Certificato di agibilità: cos'è e a cosa serve

The certificate of usability is a document which certifies that a property possesses the safety, hygiene, healthiness and energy saving conditions defined by current legislation and that it was built according to what is indicated in the project.

When the certificate of occupancy is issued

The certificate of usability is mandatory by law and is drawn up for: all new buildings; in case of reconstruction or raising of an existing property, whether total or partial; any type of intervention that could change the safety, hygiene, healthiness and energy efficiency conditions of the property.

Selling and renting a house

Given the legal obligation, this document is fundamental when choosing to rent or sell a property, so much so that failure to possess it can invalidate the procedure. In the event that the property does not meet the usability requirements, the lessor or potential buyer can request termination of the contract, compensation for damages and, if it has been paid, the return of the deposit.

Usability and habitability: let's clarify

Today there is no longer a difference between these two terms and the only necessary document is the usability certificate.
Before 2013, however, there were two different documents: the certificate of habitability, which was dedicated to properties for residential use, and the certificate of usability, dedicated instead to non-residential properties. In 2013 the SCA Certified Reporting of Occupancy was introduced and since then the two concepts have been brought together under the name of certificate of practicability.

A journey through time: from 1934 to 1967

The legal obligation for this type of documentation has its roots in 1934, when through Royal Decree no. 1265 each podestà - what we now call mayor - was required to authorize constructions according to health and hygiene criteria.
In 1967, Law No. 765 of 1967, known as the Bridge Law, was introduced, where for the first time the wording "declaration of habitability or usability" appears.

How to recover the certificate of suitability

The fact that the document as we know it today was born in 2013 probably raises a question: what to do with older properties?

Properties built before 1934

For these buildings it is necessary to have documents attesting to the construction prior to that date, the absence of documentation does not cause problems since at the time of their construction there was no obligation. 

Properties built before 1967

It is necessary to visit the municipal archives to find the documentation and request an inspection of the housing documents. The procedures for accessing documents vary from administration to administration, just as the methods for preserving old files vary. What is certain and common to all situations is that to find the lost certification it will be useful for you to know the deposit and release details of the property, to know who the owner or builder was at the time of issuing the documentation and to make a copy of the request to obtain the acquisition of the document.

The SCA i.e. the certified report of usability

The certificate of usability is issued by the Municipality where the property is located following the certification drawn up by the architect, surveyor or engineer who oversaw the works and who guarantees compliance with the legal requirements. The professional must in fact draw up the SCA, i.e. the certified report of usability, a self-certification which certifies compliance with the regulations.

The delivery of this report must take place no later than 15 days from the end of the works; anyone who does not respect these deadlines may incur sanctions. 

How much does it cost to obtain the certificate of occupancy?

The cost of the certificate of occupancy may vary depending on the professional who issues it and the municipality in which the property is located. However, there are some fixed costs that can help to get an idea of ​​the expense. Depending on the municipality, you will need to pay secretarial fees, which amount to a total of around 150 euros. Two revenue stamps of 16 euros each will then be needed, approximately 400 to 4,000 euros for the static testing and approximately 80 to 300 euros for the verification of the systems. The technician's fee tends to be between 150 and 1,500 euros.

Certificate of usability and urban planning compliance: the differences

A controversial point that deserves some attention when carrying out work on your home concerns the difference between the certificate of occupancy and urban planning compliance.

This type of certification is therefore not responsible for establishing whether the relevant regulations of the building permit have been respected.

According to this ruling, it is therefore possible for a property to be usable and at the same time different from the approved project and consequently punishable.

Certificate of suitability, how to request it and costs to deal with

The request for the issuance of the certificate of usability must be presented to the Municipality of residence, at the one-stop building office, by presenting the following documentation: 

• Receipt of the application for registration of the building
• Declaration certifying the healthiness and dryness of the environments. 
• Certificate of conformity of the systems, by the specialist responsible for the installation
• Electrical certification certificate, issued by the technician responsible for the installation. 

The Municipality will provide a response within 30 days. As regards the costs to be faced for collecting the certificate, these may vary from Municipality to Municipality but, all things considered, the whole thing should be around €150 spent on: the two tax stamps and the secretarial costs.