How to sell an inherited house: practical guide and useful advice

Selling an inherited house is a fairly common process, but it is often more complex than selling a property you own directly. There are procedures to complete, documents to obtain and, in some cases, several heirs who need to reach an agreement.

In this guide, we explain how to sell a house received as an inheritance, what is needed, how long it takes and which taxes must be paid.

Is it possible to sell an inherited house?

Yes, it is possible to sell an inherited property, but only after completing several fundamental steps:

• Acceptance of the inheritance
• Registration of the succession deed
• Transcription in the land registers
• Urban planning and cadastral regularity of the property

Only after these steps will it be possible to proceed with putting the inherited house up for sale.

The steps to sell a house received as an inheritance

1. Acceptance and declaration of succession

The first step is to formally accept the inheritance and submit the declaration of succession to the Italian Revenue Agency. This document must be registered within 12 months of the owner’s death. If there are several heirs, all of them must accept the inheritance in order to sell the property.

2. Cadastral transfer and transcription in the land registers

After submitting the succession, it is necessary to carry out the cadastral transfer of the property ownership to the heirs and transcribe the succession in the land registers, in order to make the transfer of ownership official.

3. Building and cadastral regularity

Before selling, make sure that the property:

• Is compliant from an urban planning perspective, for example with no unresolved building violations
• Has a cadastral floor plan that matches the actual state of the property
• Has an EPC, Energy Performance Certificate

Any issues could slow down — or prevent — the sale.

Sale with several heirs: how does it work?

If the house has been left as an inheritance to several people, the sale can only take place with the consent of all co-owners. In some cases, the heirs decide to sell the property and divide the proceeds according to their respective shares.

How long does it take to sell an inherited house?

It depends on the situation. On average, the timeframe becomes longer if:

• The succession has not yet been registered
• There are several heirs who do not agree
• The property has building or cadastral irregularities

With the assistance of a professional, it is possible to manage these steps quickly and in a coordinated way.

Taxes on the sale of an inherited house

The main taxes to consider are:

• Inheritance tax: in Italy, it is due only above certain thresholds and with rates that vary according to the degree of kinship
• Capital gain: if the property is resold within 5 years and it was not used as a “primary residence,” tax may be due on the difference between the purchase value, assessed in the succession, and the sale value

Documents needed to sell an inherited house

• Death certificate
• Succession deed
• Identity document and tax code of the heirs
• Cadastral report
• Floor plan
• EPC, Energy Performance Certificate
• Any building permits or amnesties

Do you want to sell an inherited house safely and without stress?

Relying on an experienced real estate agent is the best way to sell quickly, manage the bureaucracy correctly and reach an agreement between all the heirs.