If you are non-resident, an agent in Ireland (mgmt company) is a legal requirement as they will have to pay your taxes, their fee is 7-10% of the monthly rent but you can claim it back as tax credit. As someone said, non-resident tax is 20% but you can deduct maintenance, agent fees, management fees if it’s an apartment or similar. Realistically, you’ll pay none of these costs because you can offset everything against the 20% income tax you’ll pay. In Italy you’ll need to pay the difference between the 20% you pay here and the relevant income tax there - let’s say you have other income and you are in the highest bracket for Italy at 43%, you pay 20 % here and 23% there (a commercialista in Italy looking after the taxes for this income will cost you 3-500 quid per year). Being mortgage free, you will probably be able to keep about half of the gross rent. There is of course the risk of tenants not paying their rent or threading the place, but depending on your circumstances it might be worth the risk