€228,463 from Lombardy for rent: 218 Varese families saved from eviction

Context

TL;DR

• Lombardy allocates €228,463 to help 218 Varese households with rent arrears.
• Up to €1,048 per household for six months of arrears.
• Applications open until 30 November 2026 via pagoPA portal.
• Fund covers private market tenants with 30% income drop.

Key facts

• Fund Amount: €228,463 allocated for Varese households.
• Maximum Aid: Up to €1,048 per household for six months.
• Application Deadline: 30 November 2026.
• Eligibility: Private market tenants with 30% income drop.
• Residence Requirement: Must be resident in Lombardy at application.
• Payment Timeline: 50% after ranking, remainder after document checks.
• Cross-Border Workers: Must have G permit and residence in Lombardy.
• Fund Source: Part of the Regional Programme against Involuntary Arrears (PRCM).

218 households in the province of Varese receive concrete help to pay the rent

MILAN – Region Lombardy has allocated €228,463 to fight involuntary rent arrears in the Varese area. The Housing Policies department signed the decree on 15 March 2026: the resources can cover up to €1,048 per household, for a maximum of six months of arrears. Regional councillors from Varese for Brothers of Italy, Romana Dell’Erba and Luigi Zocchi, explained the details: "This is not just a simple contribution, but a structural action to prevent evictions and give stability to families facing temporary economic hardship." The 218 beneficiary families live in 72 municipalities across the province: from the capital to the former districts of Gallarate, Busto Arsizio, Saronno and Tradate.

The call is aimed at tenants in the private market who have suffered at least a 30% drop in household income in the twelve months before the application. Ten years' residence is not required: just be registered as resident on the date of submission. The maximum amount payable is 70% of the monthly rent, capped at €1,048. For a €900-a-month flat, the contribution reaches €630 for up to six months in arrears: €3,780 in total. Ancillary costs (condominium fees, heating, waste tax) are not included.

The fund is additional to the Autonomous Availability Contribution (CAD) managed by municipalities and the regional government's rent support for vulnerable groups. Those who already received CAD in 2025 can still apply, but the amount will be reduced proportionally. The measure also covers expiring contracts: the landlord only needs to have sent a formal payment warning. Tenants of social housing or ERP units are not eligible.

How to apply: the step-by-step procedure

Applications must be submitted exclusively online through the regional pagoPA portal by 30 November 2026. A digital signature is required (SPID, CIE or CNS) and scans of: registered lease, last three unpaid rent notices, 2026 ISEE income documentation, landlord statement of unpaid monthly amounts. The platform assigns an immediate protocol number; the ranking list will be published on 15 January 2027. If funds run out, applicants are placed on a waiting list for any drop-outs.

Payment is made in two instalments: 50% after the ranking and the remainder once document checks are complete. The contribution is tax-exempt and does not count towards ISEE income. The tenant must commit to stay in the property for at least 18 months; early termination requires repayment of 30% of the amount received. The fund does not cover agreed-rate contracts (3+2) or tourist lets.

For cross-border workers the situation is more complex: residence in Lombardy and Swiss employment with a G permit are required. ISEE must be recalculated to include the Swiss salary converted at the 2025 average exchange rate (1 CHF = €1.04). If total income exceeds €28,000, the aid is reduced by 25%. Use the calculator to check the actual amount: the benefit often remains worthwhile because average rent in Varese (€650) is lower than in the Mendrisiotto (€1,200).

Operational details

What the regional rules provide and the 2026 updates

The fund is part of the Regional Programme against Involuntary Arrears (PRCM) financed by the National Housing Policy Fund. Lombardy's 2026 allocation is €35 million, up 12% on 2025. The province of Varese receives €1.8 million: €228,463 for this call alone, the rest for CAD and the housing social fund. The monthly maximum of €1,048 is updated each year with the FOI (ISTAT index for workers' and employees' families): in 2025 it was €1,020.

Eligible costs include agreed rent, mortgage instalments for those who bought at judicial auction, and financial leasing rents. Excluded are leases for non-primary use and contracts in default for more than 12 months. Regional decree no. 3/2026 introduced the option to spread repayment if the tenant finds work within six months: in this case the refunded amount is converted into zero-interest microcredit.

Anti-fraud checks are strict: the Revenue Agency cross-references contract data with the tax register. Over the past three years 42 penalties have been issued for false declarations, recovering €1.3 million. The RegionaLombardiaSMS system sends a reminder 30 days before the contract expiry: this prevents automatic renewal at market rent, which often causes aid not to be renewed.

Differences with Ticino cantonal support

Ticino has no equivalent fund for involuntary arrears: those facing eviction can only access municipal housing support, covering 50% of rent for up to 24 months. The maximum is CHF 600 a month, but the income and asset statement (ARP) must be below CHF 23,000. A cross-border worker employed in Lugano and living in Varese can therefore benefit from both systems, but must choose: receiving cantonal support bars the regional contribution.

A key difference is timing: Lugano Municipality takes on average 90 days to pay support, whereas the Lombard fund advances 50% within 30 days. For those earning in CHF and paying rent in EUR, the advantage is clear: exchange-rate risk is avoided and arrears are covered immediately. The only constraint is residence: you must keep your domicile in Lombardy for at least 18 months after payment.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

Five practical tips for cross-border workers wanting to access the fund

1. Check your registered residence: if you moved to Switzerland but kept your residence in Varese, you can apply. You must prove you actually live in the property: utility bills, medical registrations, children's school certificates. Cross-checks with the municipal registry are strict: if you are registered abroad, the application is rejected.

2. Calculate ISEE with your Swiss salary: gross income must be converted to euro at the 2025 average exchange rate (1 CHF = €1.04). If you earn CHF 5,000 a month, the annual gross is CHF 62,400, equal to €64,896. With a wife and two children, ISEE rises to about €28,000: the aid drops by 25%, but remains worthwhile. Use the calculator to simulate the exact amount: for a €750 rent, the contribution falls from €525 to €394, still useful.

3. Submit the application by 30 November 2026: the pagoPA platform is saturated in the last 15 days. Upload documentation early: registered contract, last three payment notices, landlord statement. If the contract is expiring, attach the warning letter: the fund covers pre-default arrears.

4. Keep your residence for 18 months: if you move your residence to Ticino before the deadline, you must repay 30% of the aid. If you plan to move, compare the cost of living: it is often better to stay in Varese and benefit from the fund rather than move to Lugano with higher rents.

5. Combine the fund with CAD: if your municipality has funds available, you can also request the Autonomous Availability Contribution (up to €3,000) on top of the regional fund. The total cannot exceed 80% of annual rent: for a €9,000 contract the cap is €7,200. Contact your municipal social services office to check availability.

📊 Data updated to 21 March 2026: 218 applications admitted, 72 municipalities involved, average amount paid €650 a month for six months. 34% of beneficiaries are cross-border workers with a G permit.

💡 Next deadline: 30 November 2026 is the last day to apply. The ranking list will be published on 15 January 2027 on the Region Lombardy website.

⚠️ Attention: the fund does not cover agreed-rate contracts (3+2) or tourist lets. If you received the contribution in 2025, the 2026 amount will be reduced proportionally.

Source: Region Lombardy, Press Office 20 March 2026 – press release no. 47/ABIT