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Housing

Apartment housing immerses students in Florence’s vibrant city life. Fully furnished and functional, each unit offers easy access to campus and nearby neighborhoods by foot or public transport.

The Housing Office assists students with the housing arrangement process. We do not own or lease apartments but work as a facilitator to assist students in finding accommodation during their stay in Florence. 

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Housing Services

Housing Policy

Apartments will be assigned on a first come, first served basis according to availability, and assignments are communicated at least 14 days prior to arrival in Florence. Depending on their request, students will be assigned to a single or shared bedroom based on availability. Common spaces will be shared with other roommates. If a student request cannot be met due to space limitations, the student will be assigned according to availability and notified before arrival. Students will not be able to choose their apartment or change roommates. All roommate requests must be specified in the housing section of the admissions application.

Pick-up Services for students arriving in Florence individually and not with pre-arranged group pick-up service, may make a separate request for pick up when submitting their arrival information. Separate requests require an extra charge. Please consult the arrival and check in page for more information.

Please let us know either via email or on the housing application form if the student has a medical condition or disability that needs to be disclosed to the Housing Office and which requires specific attention.

The Housing Office assists students with housing concerns, emergencies, or issues throughout their stay in Florence. The Housing Office can be contacted in person, by email, or by phone. After office hours, for immediate assistance, an emergency number is available 24/7. The housing rules provided to all students upon check-in indicate what does or does not constitute as an emergency. Non-urgent and general maintenence requests are communicated by the student following the protocol which will be explained in orientation. Detailed information regarding housing policies can be found at the top of the page under “Housing Policy.”

Housing Options

Students who select housing services are immersed in the city of Florence, in unique locations within walking distance (maximum 40 minutes) or a short bus/tram ride to the campus locations.

Shared Apartment Housing

All Apartments are fully furnished and fully functional. A utility budget is included in the housing cost. The standard layout of the apartments consists of multiple bedrooms, multiple bathrooms (the number may vary), a kitchen, and living/dining room space. The bedrooms range from single bedrooms for one occupant (limited availability) to multiple occupancy. There is sufficient storage space to accommodate a reasonable amount of clothing and luggage. Apartments may accommodate different numbers of students depending on the size and number of rooms in the floor layout. Students in any housing option will be sharing the accommodation with other students who are currently enrolled in our programs.

Students who select housing services are immersed in the city of Florence, in unique locations within walking distance or a short bus ride to the school facilities.

Apartments are of the same standard and have similar facilities, although no two apartments are alike.

There are a few living factors in Italy that will require special attention. Examples include: 

  • Apartments may have different layouts especially in historic building where no two layouts and/or rooming configurations are the same.
  • Several historic palaces have thick walls, which may slow down internet speed/connection*. 
  • Elevators are not guaranteed in every building due to their historical landmark status.
  • Clothes dryers are not included in apartments, as they are uncommon in Italy. Drying racks are always provided.
  • Heating is not available in non-winter months due to legal and environmental regulations*.
  • The “Utilities” section provides further details gas and energy usage.

Living in shared apartments allows students to:

  • Learn how to manage and share a living space with new people.
  • Understand the dynamics and opinions of different individuals.
  • Build new relationships outside of their comfort zone.
  • Experience the apartment lifestyle common to urban city conte.

Apartment living helps students to gain: 

  • Independence and familiarity in new surroundings. 
  • Confidence in daily domestic activities to maintain an independent lifestyle such as grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning. 
  • An opportunity to acquire a sense of belonging, identity, and community engagement in connection to one’s neighborhood.
  • Exchange of language, culture, and traditions with locals in the neighborhood.
  • The experience of living like an Italian, a citizen of Florence.
  • The opportunity to partake in the local culture of walking to explore Florence.

The standard layout of the apartments consists of multiple bedrooms, multiple bathrooms (the number may vary), and a kitchen/living/dining room space.

The bedrooms range from single bedrooms for one occupant (limited availability) to multiple occupancy (double, triple, multiple). There is sufficient storage space to accommodate a reasonable amount of clothing and luggage.

Apartments may accommodate different numbers of students depending on the size and number of rooms in the floor layout. Students in any housing option will be sharing the accommodation with other students who are currently enrolled in our programs.

Homestay - La Famiglia Italiana

Students will live with a host family and be immersed in the Italian culture and language. Breakfast and dinner are provided Monday through Thursday by the host family. It should be noted that not all host families are nuclear families with parents and children. Depending on the families, hosts can vary in terms of age and family situation. 

Meals will be served at a specific time and students are required to attend dinner, thus punctuality is important as well as notifying in advance the host family when students wish to dine out.

Students choosing the host family option live with an Italian family within the greater area of Florence and not necessarily in the historic city center. Although the location will be easily connected, most home-stays require a short bus ride to reach the city center and school.
  • Have meals provided by your host family (breakfast and dinner Monday through Thursday).
  • All other meals are the responsibility of the student. 
  • Each family is unique and may have different rules or requests.
  • Laundry provided by the host family, typically once a week.
  • Have at least one student roommate.
  • Fully immerse yourself into Italian culture and traditions.
  • Spending time getting to know the family and balance this with hanging out with your friends.
  • A short commute to and from school.
  • To tidy after yourself and occasionally help with household tasks.

Returning students often report that the host family experience was one of the best aspects of studying abroad. By living in a homestay, you will:

  • Interact daily with locals.
  • Become a member of the family and build lifelong bonds.
  • Experience firsthand the customs you will learn about in Italian classes.
  • Practice a foreign language with native speakers in their day-to-day lives.
  • Learn how to manage and share a living space with new people.
  • Understand the dynamics and opinions of different individuals.
  • Build new relationships outside of their comfort zone.
Despite the many benefits of living with a host family, it can also be challenging, especially if students have lived on their own and are used to being independent. Students will be living in someone else’s home, and the host may have rules that should be respected. Also, there will be cultural differences but that is the point and beauty of choosing to live with a host family.
  • Balancing an active social life with friends during the week with family time.
  • You may not to live in the historic city center and may not be able to walk to your class.
  • Accommodating strict dietary needs including allergies and/or a strict religious diet.
  • An alternative option to the host family stay is the Italian Family Club offered by the Student Life and Development Department (SLD), through which you have the opportunity to interact with an Italian family in the historic city center WITHOUT living with them.
The Housing Office offers a great diversity of host families, including nuclear families, single-parent families, and various other combinations, including families of other nationalities residing in Italy. They may have young children, grown-up children or none at all. They may be young, middle-aged or retired, and some hosts may be single. We will do our best to find a compatible family based on availability and student responses to the questionnaire to be completed upon enrollment.

Housing Manual

Please carefully read through the following information. SLD provides the following housing information at orientation. For further details regarding housing options, policies, and more please consult the institution portal.

What is listed here is intended to help in your adjustment while living abroad in a new city and what to expect as a tenant of campus housing. Accommodations provided through the school may differ than the housing you are used therefore, please be mindful of the possible differences and take the time to understand what can be done to enhance your living within the community. We want nothing more than for you to enjoy your time here in Florence and hope the following information will enable you to do so.

Just like any city, Florence consists of residential neighborhoods throughout. You will notice, most buildings in the city are built in a way that are close to one another. Unlike typical university style dormitories, students may be placed above or below non-students. Many of our accommodations are located in buildings housing local citizens and even families. Therefore, it is important to be mindful of activities within your apartment and general practices of the Florentine community. The city of Florence was built hundreds of years ago, with many of the foundations in their original condition. Though restorations have taken place to update and modernize many buildings, they may differ than what you are used to back home due to their age. Florence places importance on architectural sustainability by reusing buildings as opposed to demolishing and rebuilding them. This makes living in the city extremely unique, just be aware of the difference in standards. Many of the apartments are spread out among the historic center within popular neighborhoods. Generally speaking, Florence is considered small. Keep this in mind depending where your apartment is located. Though it may not seem close to the campus your classes are held at, in reality, the entire city is walkable by foot. Students with housing through are provided furnished apartments. Depending on your assignment, you will share the apartment with multiple students. Your bedroom will include multiple beds and the common areas are intended to be shared among roommates. Check your housing packet distributed during your arrival check-in for information specific to your assigned apartment.
The following is a list of what you might encounter within your university accommodations. Please note, all of these are typical of the Italian lifestyle. 
  • No dryer
  • No dishwasher
  • No microwave
  • No elevator
  • Limited heat in the winter
  • Quiet hours
  • No oven (housing standards require either an oven or a microwave but not both)
  • Mosquitoes (high season in the summer)
  • Frequent power outages (caused by too many appliances being used simultaneously)
IMPORTANT: Keys are the responsibility of the student. Lost or stolen keys

Contact a roommate to let you in, or stay in a hotel until you replace the keys. Students are responsible for replacing lost or stolen keys. Since some keys are specialized, they may incur a hefty cost to replace. Remember to always know where you keep your keys and to never write your apartment address on them in the event of loss or theft.

 Be very careful when unlocking your doors, since some keys may take certain maneuvering, in order to prevent breaking them within the door of the building of your apartment. In the event that this may happen, it is important to contact Housing Department immediately, since this may prevent other residents from accessing the building.

PLEASE NOTE: Locksmith services will incur charges which students are responsible for paying, so take caution.

Carefully read the instructions provided to you in your housing packet regarding your apartment’s appliances. When using adapters, do not force anything (plugs, etc.). Check that the appliances and adapters you brought from home will work on Italian voltage before using (and damaging) them. This is important since you can permanently damage your electronic devices if too much power is put into them. In Italy, adapters power between 220-240 volts.

WASHING MACHINES

A typical load takes up to 2 hours to complete, sometimes even longer. Discussing possibly combining loads with your roommates may be a good option to save time and conserve detergent.

Instructions for machines are located on top and under no circumstances should students force open the door of the washing machine. Once a load is complete, a few minutes are needed to pass before the door will unlock. Forcing the door before this time can greatly damage the machine and students will be responsible for replacing parts or the entire unit. Dryers are not used in a typical Italian household.

  • Colors Colori
  • Whites Bianchi
  • Washing Machine Lavatrice
  • Detergent Detersivo
  • Bleach (for whites) Candeggina
  • Detergent for Delicates Detersivo delicato
  • Handwash Bucato a mano
  • Fabric Softener Ammorbidente
Noise passes easily between walls and floors in Italian buildings, so always observe Italian laws as for the set “quiet hours”. Remember to also be conscientious when in the stairwells late at night and be careful to take shoes off when inside the apartment, as is a common practice for Italians.

Be a good neighbor and your new neighbors will be good to you. Italian law prohibits noisy behavior from 2pm to 4pm and from 11pm to 8am. It is not uncommon for building tenants to call the police if excessive noise is made during these times.

Examples of loud activities:

  • Appliances (washing machines, hair dryers, etc.)
  • Washing dishes
  • Loud Skype calls
  • Walking around the apartment with hardsole shoes
  • Showering late at night (can be heard through thin walls)
Understanding the differences in lifestyle standards of where you are from can help you assimilate as best as possible to your new home in Florence. Below is information regarding utilities and what to expect.

CONSERVATION & ENVIRONMENTA LAWS

Energy rates in Italy are expensive, therefore, Italians are very practical when it comes to saving their resources. Conservation affects electricity, water, heating, etc. This can be a challenging experience for you but try to regard it as a learning experience!

As a general rule, please remember to:

  • Turn off the lights when you leave the apartment or leave a room for a long time.
  • Always close and lock all the windows when you leave the apartment.
  • Close shutters/ drapes during the hottest part of the day to keep rooms cool in summer and to keep in heat during the winter.
  • Make sure to take short showers as a common courtesy to your roommates, otherwise, you may consume all the hot water. 10 minutes is considered a long shower in Italy.

The Italian method: Get wet – turn water off – soap/shampoo – rinse off.

ELECTRICITY

In Italy, a large share of electricity is imported, therefore, utilities can be very expensive and the amount of energy available is limited.

Most apartments have a maximum amount of kilowatts that can be used at one time, and too many electric appliances working simultaneously can result in a power surge and inevitable circuit failure: In that case, you can restore the power by unplugging one of the devices and by flipping the circuit breaker in the main electricity box. Remember to TURN OFF the electrical appliances being used and switch the apartment fuse on. This box could be located either at the entrance of your building or inside your apartment. Refer to your housing assignment information on the Student Portal.

PLEASE NOTE: If your usage is excessive, you may also be charged a supplement for the excess usage

ELECTRICITY BOXES

Electricy output in Italy is 3000 watts. If you use more, the electricity will go out!

Example: Washing Machine uses 2000w + Oven uses 2000w = 4000w (BLACK OUT)

If this happens, TURN OFF the electrical appliances being used and switch the apartment fuse on, found in the building’s electric box. This box could be located either in the entrance of your building or inside of your apartment. Refer to your housing brochure in the student portal.

 

HEATING

In Italy the official heating season and temperatures are regulated by environmental laws; in Florence, no heating is permitted from April 15th to November 1st, and the maximum allowed temperature for the thermostat is 20C°= 68F°, for a maximum of 8hrs per day.

IMPORTANT: Never touch the thermostat, if you feel the heater is not working properly, go directly to the FUA Student Life office and put in a maintenance request.

AIR CONDITIONING

Keep your apartment cool, and close all windows, curtains, and shutters during the day to prevent the sunlight from heating your flat. After sunset, you can open the windows and let the summer breeze freshen the rooms.

PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of the season, always open all windows for at least 10 minutes every day to let some fresh air in.

It is important to remember to let air steam out of the bathroom or kitchen, in particular, in order to prevent mold from accumulating.

Make sure that you never do this at a time when you are not at home.

TAP WATER

The tap water in Florence is perfectly safe to drink and is subject to strict quality controls, as mandated by legislative decree n. 31 (2001) under the categories of microbiology, chemical, indicators and accessories; the quality of the water distributed by Publiacqua continuously and fully satisfies the requirements set forth by this law. The city offers free high quality purified water fountains where you can fill up your own clean bottles with water, and in some cases, even sparkling water (frizzante). For a list of fountains please visit http://www.publiacqua.it/fontanelli/dove-sono/comune-di-firenze.

PLUMBING SYSTEM

Do not flush anything down the toilet except toilet paper. Any other materials, such as feminine hygiene products, razor blades, or paper towels, will clog the septic tank. This also applies to all school and public buildings. The same applies to the kitchen sink: remember to remove any food bits before you wash your dishes; otherwise, you will clog the pipes. You will be held responsible for any cost of damages.

ROOFTOPS

Florence is famous for its beautiful red-tile rooftops. However, they cannot be stepped on. Under no circumstances may you go onto the roofs – ever!

It is your responsibility to dispose of your garbage daily. A great way to get to know your neighborhood is to take a walk around to locate the garbage bins closest to your building. Never leave any garbage in the apartment stairwell or on the sidewalks, as this is in strict violation of the cohabitation rules in your host city and can result in a fine. The city of Florence recycles paper, plastic, aluminum, glass, and organic matter for compost.

PLEASE NOTE: Soiled paper and paper with plastic layers cannot be recycled. Within the historical center, domestic paper recycling is collected door to door on a given day of the week. To find out on which day of the week paper collection is being carried out in your area, please visit http://www.quadrifoglio.org.

For further information on recycling in Florence, please see http://en.comune.firenze.it/city/environment/waste_and_recycle.html

Since you will be living in close proximity with local citizens and families, it is extremely important to respect their standards of living, such as obeying quiet hours as previously listed.

If your neighbors were to ever contact the police to complain on your behalf, be sure to have your passport and visa on you, be respectful, and be aware that under Italian law, no search warrant is required to enter and search your apartment.

A few tips on friendly cohabitation with locals:

Don’t be afraid to greet your local neighbors.

VISITORS

It is important to be aware of the intentions of people you meet to ensure the safety of yourself and your roommates. Letting unauthorized people into the apartment, due to anti-terrorism Italian law, is not allowed.

Due to the same law, overnight guests are not permitted. Tenants violating this agreement may be asked to vacate the property and may be responsible for paying any police fine.

IMPORTANT: If you ever suspect strange behavior outside of your apartment, immediately call 112 to report it to the police.

In the event that you accidentally spill something within the building’s common area, immediately clean it up. Be mindful of residents coming up or down the stairs at the same time, as some stairwells are smaller than others.

 
All apartments are cleaned and checked by the housing department prior to check-in. Please abide by the following regulations during your session:

Do not leave any kind of garbage outside the apartment.

Close all the windows when you are not in and when it is raining, or predicted to rain.

Do not move the furniture in the apartment without first checking with the landlord or housing department. The Housing Coordinator will do random house checks for cleaning (24 hours notice is given to residents).

Interventions due to a lack of daily maintenance by students will be subject to a fee.

If students find bed bugs after arrival, they are responsible for any fumigation/ extermination fees (aprox. 300/400€).

*Tips to prevent bed bug infestation: do not travel with your own pillow, never put your suitcase on your bed after returning, it is wise to insert your suitcase into a large trash bag and tie it closed for 24 hours to kill the potential bedbugs in your belongings, after this, it is suggested to wash your clothes from the suitcase in warm water and air dry before putting them away in your closet or dressers.

IMPORTANT: Students are responsible for paying all housing damages incurred. Unpaid fees will result in account holds and official transcripts will not be released.

In the event that you need something fixed or replaced, please fill out the Housing Troubleshooting form found on the student portal. You will be requested to describe your matter in detail. It is wise to inform the housing department of any requested maintenance services as soon as issues arise. Waiting until the last minute or close to the weekend may delay issues from being resolved.

PLEASE NOTE: Some maintenance services may incur charges. This depends on the issue and if any damages to university property have taken place. For more information on what maintenance services may incur charges, please email the Office.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
Please call our 24/h emergency line if:

An emergency is something that is endangering the health and safety of you and your roommates and cannot be postponed to the following day.

FIRE

First reaction: exit the apartment immediately and call the fire department emergency number 115.

GAS LEAK

First reaction: do not turn the lights on; exit the apartment immediately and call the fire department emergency number 115. Please note that in the case of a serious gas leak, it may be dangerous to open the windows, even if this seems like the logical first step

WATER LEAK

First reaction: close the main water valve. If you are unable to find it, try to use a bowl or any other large container to collect as much water as possible and call the fire department emergency number 115.

For emergency situations ONLY, outside of office hours, please contact Emergency number

After office hours calls should be only for emergency purposes, any abuse will incur monetary charges.

Students will receive housing check-out instructions via email directly from our Housing Office a week before the check-out date.

F.A.Q.

Frequently Asked Questions for accommodation

Where are the apartments/residences located?

Florence is a walking city. Once students get acclimated to the city’s layout, the initial novelty of walking quickly becomes a habit. That said, students should expect to be in an apartment/residence that requires walking. It is recommended to pack light, elevators are not common in the student apartments.

What if I’m dissatisfied with my housing placement?

We only house students in apartments which meet our standards and do our best to help students feel comfortable and at home. Most roommate and location issues are typically resolved with mediation through the Housing Office in a timely manner. In the event of a roommate dispute, we ask that the students involved make every attempt to resolve the situation constructively.  Part of the housing application process involves the opportunity to make specific roommate requests.  As long as the requests are mutual and made in a timely fashion prior to arrival in Florence, we can typically meet the requests.  Housing assignments remain subject to change, but we do our best to alert students of all changes in a timely manner.  Any changes are made at the discretion of the Housing Office.

Is there a deadline to apply for housing?

Yes – your housing application is due with the rest of your application. 

Can I request co-ed or single-sex housing?

Housing is assigned on single-sex placements per location.

Can I request changes to my housing after I arrive?

While we try to meet requests, it is usually not possible to modify confirmed housing after check-in. If requests can be satisfied without creating additional issues for other students, we’re happy to make adjustments. However, this remains at the discretion of the housing department.

Can I check-in before or after the set program dates?

Early departure/arrival is not permitted.  Please check with the Housing Office if you have a special circumstance that you would like to address.  The apartments are occupied prior to or immediately following your arrival/departure.

Where do I pick up my keys?

Your keys,  will be given to you upon your check-in, either at the school or directly at the airport if you have selected the Airport pick up option within the deadline and communicated prior to your arrival.

When do I receive my housing assignment and information? 

 Approximately two weeks before the program start date in the form of an email. 

What kind of visitation polices are in place?

Students may have guests regardless of gender from 9:00am until 11:00pm. However, based on respect for others, each resident is expected to abide by the following guidelines:

  • Overnight guests are not allowed. Guests after 11.00pm will be considered overnight guests.
  •  The right to sleep, study and have privacy supersede all other rights, including visitation.
  • All guests entering the apartment or homestay must be escorted by their host/hostess at all times when they are in the building. Residents are directly responsible for the actions of their guests and are responsible for informing them of rules and facilities and home. Residents may face disciplinary action and be held financially responsible for any behavior of a guest that results in property damage. The institution reserves the rights to deny access to any guest if it has been determined that the guest has disturbed, endangered, or disrupted residents or institution activities.

Can students stay in their rooms during vacations or breaks?

Rooms must be vacated according to the program calendar regardless of the breaks.

What kinds of appliances are allowed in the room?

Radios, stereo equipment, personal computers, typewriters, hair dryers, razors and clocks are permitted, providing they are plugged in within the room and do not exceed the amperage limits of the circuits within the room. Use of irons is permitted only in designated common areas.

Cooking is prohibited in any area within the apartment or home stay except the kitchen area, which is specifically designed for such use. Students may request additional cooking tools, however additional appliances must be approved of in advance by the administration and in any case may only be used in the common kitchen area. Students residing in a home stay are encouraged to communicate with the families to properly understand the rules regarding kitchen use. 

How does a resident get a room change?

Residents may not change rooms without the prior approval of the Office of SLD and Housing. Residents requesting room changes may contact the SLD department. The SLD and Housing office will evaluate the request/s and might request more information on the reason for the request/s.

Any student changing rooms without the written approval of the SLD and Housing office may be subject to disciplinary action and disapproval of any subsequent requests to change rooms.

Can I decorate my room?

Residents may not damage any surfaces of furniture when decorating their room. The room and furnishings may not be painted or permanently altered in any way. Nails and hooks are prohibited in the Residence Halls. If the room or furnishings are damaged in any way, the resident will be billed and may be subject to student conduct action. The rooms abide to the general housing policy in terms of decorating the walls.

Apartments will be assigned on a first come, first served basis according to availability, and assignments are communicated at least 14 days prior to arrival in Florence. Depending on their request, students will be assigned to a single or shared bedroom based on availability. Common spaces will be shared with other roommates. If a student request cannot be met due to space limitations, the student will be assigned according to availability and notified before arrival. Students will not be able to choose their apartment or change roommates. All roommate requests must be specified in the housing section of the admissions application.

Pick-up Services for students arriving in Florence individually and not with pre-arranged group pick-up service, may make a separate request for pick up when submitting their arrival information. Separate requests require an extra charge. Please consult the arrival and check in page for more information.

Please let us know either via email or on the housing application form if the student has a medical condition or disability that needs to be disclosed to the Housing Office and which requires specific attention.

The Housing Office assists students with housing concerns, emergencies, or issues throughout their stay in Florence. The Housing Office can be contacted in person, by email, or by phone. After office hours, for immediate assistance, an emergency number is available 24/7. The housing rules provided to all students upon check-in indicate what does or does not constitute as an emergency. Non-urgent and general maintenence requests are communicated by the student following the protocol which will be explained in orientation. Detailed information regarding housing policies can be found at the top of the page under “Housing Policy.”