Save Home, what it involves, from installing curtains to mini apartments

Hey there, savvy home improvers!

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• Building mini apartments within larger spaces (perfect for rentals or in-laws)

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What is the Save House Decree and what is new about it? The first thing to know, for the sake of clarity, is that it is not an amnesty: in principle, it is true that the decree provides for the amnesty of some of the illegal works, but, compared to the procedures of the building amnesty, it is very different. Decree Law 69/24 (i.e., the Save House Decree) allows for interventions aimed at resolving minor discrepancies, including the adjustment of windows, for example, but it also touches the field of free building. And much more. We tell you about it.

What is the Save House Decree

Decree Law 69/24, published in Official Gazette No. 124 on May 29, 2024, is operational. But there is still a lot of confusion about it. What is it and what is it specifically for? Converted into law on July 24, 2024, with the final vote of the Senate, the conversion law will be published in the Official Gazette. In the period between the first publication and the final vote, of course there were running changes, as well as additional additions-it is something that happens often.

What is the main objective of the Save House Decree? Going to simplify building and zoning regulations, so that administrative procedures are much less rigid. This includes, as anticipated, all those useful interventions to regularize discrepancies that are not “serious.”

Interventions

How many times have we had to apply for permission before we can intervene in the field of free construction? This decree states that prior permission no longer needs to be submitted for some works. Which ones? For example, for the removable panoramic glass windows or for the sun and weather protection works.. Thus, with VePas, we can take advantage of outdoor space, but at the same time shelter it from the weather. In contrast, for the second case, we no longer have to apply for a permit to install awnings and pergolas (including bioclimatic ones). For VePas, we add that encumbered porches (either in whole or in part), or when they are placed in the exterior fronts, are excluded from the decree.

As a result of the final vote, an additional aspect was included that may come in handy, a very important innovation: the recovery of attics. In this case, the goal is to actually enlarge the house, but without intervening on new soil. Clearly, this is subject to regional limits and laws: it is always useful to hear the advice of a professional to understand how best to intervene.

Awnings and bioclimatic pergolas among planned interventions

The list of works that fall under free building, as we have seen, has lengthened quite a bit with awnings, panoramic windows and bioclimatic pergolas. As for pergolas, as stipulated in the Decree Law, they must be “leaning against or attached to” the house. Yes, even possibly with fixed structures.

I advantages of bioclimatic pergolas are many: however, it is not possible to create a totally enclosed space (thus one cannot expand the volume or area of the building). Easy to install, it remains an intervention that is designed to last a long time and does not require laborious maintenance over time.

Also awnings are a good investment. The reason? An invaluable ally against the sun’s rays and summer heat, so you can enjoy your balcony without the slightest problem or stress. Among other things, they provide greater privacy and intimacy, away from prying eyes, and embellish the building, or the garden itself.

What’s new for mini-apartments

The Save House Decree also provides novelties for the mini dwellings e mini apartments. What exactly does it say? It changes the size of habitable houses, thus exceeding the 1975 Ministerial Decree, as follows:

• a two-room apartment must have a minimum height of 2.40 meters and an area of 28 m² (was 38 m²);
• a one-room apartment must have a minimum height of 2.40 meters and an area of 20 m² (was 28 m²).

These are the conditions required to be able to call a house habitable, but of course it is essential that it meets all sanitation requirements, which, in any case, are stipulated by the current regulations.

In recent years, the needs of Italians have changed: we, too, are more looking for small, modestly sized houses that do not represent an “obstacle” to cleaning, making it exhausting. The furnishings on the market have also changed, and leaning toward a mini apartment means being able to save on expenses (think, trivially, of the heating or at the air conditioner in summer).

The recovery of the habitable attic

There is one aspect to consider about the Save House Decree: it still refers to regional laws, so that they are already in force. Among the novelties, as anticipated, there is also the possibility of being able to intervene and make the attic habitable: under certain conditions and respecting specific requirements, it is possible to make your home much larger, going to take advantage of those spaces that are not used.

La nature of the attic is not residential per se, since its function is to shelter the lower floors from heat and moisture. Well, old attics can be modified thanks to the decree: in some cases, it is possible to provide for the design of an attic for residential use or for an accommodation business (such as B&B).

However-we have said it-times change, and today a habitable attic, for example, has an important value. In a home it can make a difference and represents a investment not to be underestimated. Once the attic is renovated and made habitable, it automatically acquires more value on the market (it can even increase by 50 percent over the initial value). What, however, are the minimum requirements to be met under the Save House Decree?

• the distance limits that were in effect when the building was constructed must be taken as a reference point;
• when the building was constructed, a maximum height was provided, which must absolutely be respected;
• the shape, surface area and area of the attic must also be respected.

These are some of the most interesting interventions included in the Save House Decree: a way to consider targeting and investing in the attic, bioclimatic pergola or awnings, or perhaps to realize the mini apartment of one’s dreams.