The Price Of History

Residents of Rome's historic center are protesting exorbitant rental prices, prompting a decree from Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi postponing a slew of evictions.

1 minute read

February 14, 2006, 5:00 AM PST

By David Gest

There only remains "a group of survivors in the once-humble neighborhoods of Rome's historic center who have been threatened with eviction as landlords seek to catch up with soaring property prices by redoing apartments and hiking the rents.

Evictions have long been a sensitive issue in Rome, and with national and municipal elections looming, politicians have taken action. A decree approved by Premier Silvio Berlusconi's government and backed by two center-right candidates for Rome mayor blocks the ousting of vulnerable city tenants for six months."

"The decree is limited to elderly, young or disabled tenants in urban areas who don't have anywhere else to live and cannot afford higher rents. The burden is on the tenants to prove they fall into these categories."

FULL STORY: Elderly risk evictions in Rome

Sunday, February 5, 2006 in Associated Press via Chicago Tribune

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