European Directive
For anyone dealing with Maltese estate agents who say that Europe is a free market and they can sell property in Sicily, the European Directive on freedom of serviced has NOT been ratified by Italy. This means that any part of a sale that takes place on Italian soil has to come under Italian law. A Maltese agent can only sell illegally in Italy if they are not tied in with a registered Italian agent. If you sign a compromesso in Italy, if the mandate for the sale was signed in Italy etc, the agent must be named in the Italian act of sale and his commission declared in front of the notaio. Not to do so is illegal for the buyer, and means you have no protection in law. it can also mean your act could be rendered null - so its not worth the bother.