Florence's real estate market continues to show rare resilience for a mid-sized Italian city. Despite still-high prices per square meter and an increasingly complex regulatory environment, demand for rental properties remains robust. In 2026, the average residential rent is expected to reach nearly €22.90 per square meter, a level that confirms the city's strong appeal for residents, students, and workers in transit.
For investors, this means one simple thing: purchasing requires capital, but a skillfully chosen property can generate concrete returns in the medium term.
The real issue: which management model is best today?
What has changed in recent months is not so much demand as the regulatory framework. Short-term rentals, for years touted as the most profitable option, have been significantly reduced by the new municipal regulations that came into force at the end of May 2026. The new rules require a minimum floor area of 28 square meters, stricter building and safety standards, mandatory registration, and a five-year permit.
Added to this is the almost total blockade in the historic center and in the UNESCO area, that is, the areas that drove the tourism boom of past years.
The result is clear: you can no longer enter the short-term rental market without a demanding authorization process. Permits, adjustments, compliance, documentation, and a significant likelihood of having your application rejected. The first few months have already seen high rejection rates.
Return to stability: the revenge of long-term and temporary leases
In this context, many investors are returning to considering long-term leases as the most balanced model. It's less spectacular, less suited to social media stories, but today it represents the solution with the best balance between demand, stability, and operational risk.
The city has a huge structural demand: Italian and international students, mobile healthcare workers, relocated workers, university professors, and long-term expats. This creates a large and diverse pool of potential tenants, often stable and with clear needs.
But it shouldn't be idealized. Traditional leases require careful selection, ongoing monitoring, and prevention capabilities. The risk of default is real and, with such high rents, can seriously compromise the return on investment. It's not a marginal phenomenon and must be managed methodically, not improvised.
Why professional management has become a strategic lever
The difference today is not made by the type of contract, but the quality of management. A well-structured property manager doesn't just find tenants. He or she works on processes, controls, and numbers:
In a regulatory framework that penalizes improvisation in short-term rentals and requires rigor in long-term leases, relying on professionals is no longer a plus. It's what allows the investment to truly work.
Integrated consultancy: the choice of property determines the outcome.
The best way to reduce risk is not to “manage well after”, but choose well first. Those who know the territory can identify high-demand areas that are easily manageable and have a consistent risk profile.
A dedicated advisor supports investors from the analysis and purchase phases, helping them avoid unsuitable properties or locations where the expected profitability is unsustainable. This is where the most significant returns are achieved.
Operational management: fewer unexpected events, lower costs, more stability
A property entrusted to professional management tends to generate a more regular income because it physiologically reduces unexpected events:
fewer vacant periods
fewer formal and bureaucratic errors
greater control over performance
better relationship with tenants
clear processes for responding to faults, delays and critical issues
This turns real estate into a stable asset, not a daily activity to monitor.
Conclusion
Investing in Florence is still worthwhile, but not for those who act on impulse. It's worthwhile for those who understand the regulatory framework, who think long-term, who choose their property methodically, and who delegate management to professionals who can guarantee returns and peace of mind.
How Eweka supports investors from start to finish
For those looking for a partner capable of following the entire cycle of the investment, from the choice of property to day-to-day management, Eweka offers an operating model designed precisely for this.
We work with owners and investors who want stable income, controlled risk and zero operational complications. If you'd like to learn how to sustainably generate income from a property in Florence, contact us: we'll evaluate scenarios, numbers, and strategies together with a concrete, transparent, and data-driven approach.
We have much more in store for you. Join us now.
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