With the Senate’s vote of confidence, the “save home” decree was definitively approved with 106 votes in favor, one abstention and 68 votes against. The decree, promoted by the deputy prime minister and leader of the League Matteo Salvini, will officially become law with its publication in the Official Journal. The introduced rules will become operational starting from Monday 29 July.
Reduced surfaces and minimum heights
The decree introduces significant changes regarding the minimum size of apartments. Studio flats 20 square meters will be considered habitable as long as they are occupied by a single person, while for two inhabitants the minimum surface area drops to 28 square meters. The minimum height allowed for buildings is also reduced to 240 centimeters compared to the previous 270.
Free construction
The scope of the expandsfree constructionallowing the implementation of interventions without the need for authorization. These include ordinary maintenance, the installation of heat pumps up to 12 kW, and the elimination of architectural barriers. Removable Panoramic Windows (Vepa) and the installation of pergola or bioclimatic awnings are liberalized.
More tolerance for building irregularities
The tolerances for building non-conformities granted for interventions carried out by 24 May 2024 are increased. For homes up to 60 square metersthe irregularities will not constitute a building violation if they do not exceed the 6%This percentage progressively decreases for larger surfaces, reaching 2% for surfaces larger than 500 square meters.
Sanatoriums for small interventions
The amnesty is passed for small interventions carried out up to May 24th and with authorized deviations of up to 6% for apartments under 60 square meters. Then there is an increase in free building works that can be carried out without the need for authorizations or permits, from glass windows to bioclimatic pergolas.
Stop double conforming
Another new feature concerns the simplification for rectifying minor abuses: the “double compliant” will no longer be necessary. It will be sufficient for the intervention to be in line with the urban planning regulations in force at the time of the application and with the building regulations in force at the time of the abuse. The old rules remain in force only for serious abuses.
The attics
The recovery of attics will be facilitated, even if the intervention does not allow the minimum distances between buildings and boundaries to be respected, provided that the distance limits in force at the time of construction of the building are respected. The maximum height and other characteristics of the attic must in any case comply with the regulations in force.
Common areas and exclusive properties
The principle of autonomy of common parts with respect to exclusive properties is introduced. This means that any construction non-conformities of the former will not affect the legitimate status of the latter and vice versa. For example, if the concierge room of a condominium is not up to standard, a condominium owner will still be able to renovate his home.
No to the “save Milan” law
The decree does not include the rules to regularize Milan’s skyscrapers, which were already excluded during the discussion in the Chamber. The undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Tullio Ferrante (Forza Italia), defines the new law as a “first, important response to the need for simplification of construction and urban planning for citizens”. However, the opposition criticizes the decree, calling it a “disguised amnesty” and complains about the lack of measures to address the housing emergency.