High Rental Costs in Milan: Introduction of the ChooseMI Initiative by City Authorities

The City of Milan has earmarked 2 million euros to aid young employees under 35 years old. Eligible individuals can receive financial aid of up to 2,400 euros (non-repayable) if their rent consumes a significant portion of their income.

The escalating rents taking more than half of salaries, the rising rental prices, and the potential loss of young professionals crucial for the city's progress have prompted urgent actions by Milan City Hall. On June 19, 2026, the City Council sanctioned the special ChooseMI grant.

The core concept of the initiative is straightforward: if rent surpasses 30% of the household's net income, the city will cover the excess amount. The maximum aid sum is up to 2,400 euros, disbursed as a one-time payment directly into the applicant's bank account, without any intermediaries.

Eligibility Criteria

The grant targets young working residents who meet the following conditions:

• Age: Below 35 years old when applying.
• Residency: Registered in Milan or willing to relocate and register in the city within 6 months.
• Nationality: Italian citizens, EU nationals, or non-EU citizens with valid residency permits (Permesso di soggiorno).
• Lease Agreement: A formally registered rental contract for a Milan residence (at a free or agreed rent; temporary transitorio contracts and lease-purchase options are ineligible) with a minimum duration of 2 years upon application.
• Employment: Official employment status (employees, freelancers, or self-employed individuals / Partita IVA) with supporting documentation (employment contract, payslips, or invoices).
• Income: The gross annual family income cap (reddito lordo) is up to 40,000 euros for individuals and up to 60,000 euros for households of two or more persons.

Assistance Amount and Calculation Method

There's no fixed aid amount—it depends on the proportion of income spent on rent. The program aims to limit the rent burden to 30% of net income. The city compensates the difference between the actual rent and this 30% threshold, multiplied by 12 months, capped at 2,400 euros per person.

Calculation Examples:

1. Family's net monthly income: 2,000 euros; monthly rent: 900 euros:

• 30% of income equals 600 euros.
• Overpayment: $900 - 600 = 300$ euros monthly.
• Over a year, the excess amounts to $300 \times 12 = 3,600$ euro.
• The family will receive the maximum aid - 2,400 euros.

1. Family's net monthly income: 5,000 euros; monthly rent: 1,600 euros:

• 30% of income equals 1,500 euros.
• Overpayment: $1,600 - 1,500 = 100$ euros monthly.
• The family will receive a compensation of 1,200 euros ($100 \times 12$).

Application Process

Applications are exclusively accepted online via a dedicated platform. To log in, applicants require SPID digital credentials or CIE electronic passports. Other submission methods are not available.

Note: Submitted forms cannot be edited. In case of errors, a new application must be submitted, automatically replacing the previous one.

Required Documents (in PDF format):

1. Registered lease agreement with the Tax Service (Agenzia delle Entrate).
2. Work documents (employment contract, last 3 payslips, or entrepreneur documents / Partita IVA and financial statements).
3. 2026 tax returns for all family members.
4. Personal bank account details (IBAN).

Before completing the application, free registration on the Milano Abitare real estate service website (milanoabitare.org) is mandatory, as they oversee grant issuance.

Fund Distribution Principle

Applications are processed in chronological order until the 2 million euro fund is exhausted. In case of simultaneous submissions, priority is given to lower-income families. The aid is disbursed in a single transaction to a bank account.

Limitation: Individuals who previously received similar subsidies (e.g., under the Sostegno affitto giovani lavoratori 2025/2026 or Superaffitto under 35 programs) are ineligible to apply.

Helpful Contacts and Information

• Technical Support Queries: Utilize the built-in service support on the online platform.
• Program Inquiries: Reach out via email at scegliMI@comune.milano.it or contact the Milano Abitare service at +39 342 3303122 (available Monday afternoons and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings).
• Official Resources: Program details and regulations can be found on comune.milano.it and milanoabitare.org under the Contributo Affitto leggero under 35 section. Closure of applications due to fund depletion will be announced on these platforms.