key: contracts title: "Student transitional contract or canone concordato?" description: "The two contract types you will meet in Pavia, what actually changes for you, and what to check before signing." category: contratti order: 1 updated: 2026-09-20
In Pavia, if you rent a room or a flat as a student, you will almost always be offered one of two contracts: the contratto transitorio per studenti universitari (student transitional contract) or the canone concordato. They look like paperwork details, but they change the term, the price, and how much it costs you to leave early.
Here are the differences in plain words. This is not legal advice: for a specific case, talk to a tenants' union or a university advice desk.
Student transitional contract
This is the one designed for students living away from home.
- Term: 6 to 36 months. It renews automatically for the same period unless you give notice.
- Who can sign it: you must be enrolled on a course in a municipality other than the one where you are resident. You have to prove the enrolment.
- Rent: not freely set. It falls under territorial agreements between landlord and tenant associations, with a minimum and maximum band per area and property type.
- Registration: mandatory, done by the landlord.
This is the most common contract among students, and the one that suits you if you are staying for one or two academic years.
Canone concordato (3+2)
This is the classic reduced-rate contract, not specific to students.
- Term: 3 years plus 2 more on automatic renewal.
- Rent: also within the bands of the territorial agreements.
- Tax advantage for the landlord: a reduced flat tax, which is why many prefer it.
- For you: more stability, but a longer commitment.
It makes sense if you expect to stay in Pavia for several years, for example through a masters or specialty training.
The differences that matter to you
| Student transitional | Canone concordato | |
|---|---|---|
| Term | 6–36 months | 3 years + 2 |
| Renewal | automatic, same length | automatic, +2 years |
| University enrolment required | yes | no |
| Flexibility if you leave | medium | low |
| How common in Pavia | very | medium |
Notice: the line that costs you most
Almost every contract lets you leave early by giving notice, usually three months. That means if you tell them in February, you pay until May, even if the room has been empty since March.
That is exactly why takeovers exist: you find someone to take your place and, with the landlord's agreement, you do not pay those months.
Before signing, look carefully at three things:
- How many months' notice are required.
- How notice must be given (nearly always registered post or certified email).
- Whether the contract says anything about assigning or replacing the tenant.
If the contract says nothing about takeovers, that does not mean it is impossible: it means you will need the landlord's written agreement. Ask before you sign, not in December when your bags are already packed.
The deposit
Usually one to three months' rent. You get it back at the end, minus any damage.
Two things to do immediately:
- Record the condition of the flat when you move in, with dated photos of everything already damaged.
- Get a receipt for the deposit, and check that the contract says how long the landlord has to return it.
The deposit is not "the last month's rent". Do not stop paying the final month assuming it is covered: formally they are two different things and you risk being counted as in arrears.
Residency, ISEE and tax relief
- Residency: you can register with the Comune di Pavia if you have a registered contract. You need it for a local GP and for some paperwork. Note that it also moves your residency for ISEE and official documents, so discuss it with your family.
- Tax relief for out-of-town students: if you study in a municipality other than the one where you are resident, at least 100 km away, you can deduct part of the rent in your tax return. You need the registered contract and proof of payment. The conditions and ceilings change over time: check the current year's rules.
- Always pay traceably: bank transfer, never cash. Without a trace you cannot claim anything and you cannot prove you paid.
What must be in the contract
- Full details of landlord and tenant, with tax codes.
- The address and land registry details of the property.
- The rent, what it covers, how and when it is paid.
- Term, start date, conditions for withdrawal and notice.
- The deposit amount and its conditions.
- Who pays the service charges, and how much.
- The APE, the energy performance certificate, attached.
- A reference to the territorial agreement, if it is a transitional or concordato contract.
If it is not registered, the problem is mostly yours: no registration means no residency, no tax relief and very little protection.
If you are unsure
Send us the contract before you sign it. In the Private Group we go through it together and tell you what looks off. We are not lawyers and we sign nothing on your behalf: if the situation is complicated, we point you to someone who can help.