The Struggles of a Town in Italy Selling Houses for 1 Euro

Có hơn 40 ngôi nhà ở Patrica đã bị bỏ hoang vào những năm 1900. Ảnh: Comune di Patrica

Patrica, a village dating back to the Middle Ages, with around 3,000 inhabitants, is located in the southern part of Rome. In the early 1900s, over 40 houses were abandoned in this area.

Nestled on a rocky plateau overlooking the Sacco Valley in central Italy, Patrica is a peaceful village. However, life here was never easy for the locals.

The Abandoned Houses

Many people chose to leave Patrica in search of a brighter future elsewhere, leaving behind these vacant homes for decades.

In an effort to revitalize the struggling village, Mayor Lucio Fiordaliso learned from successful experiences in other Italian villages that sold abandoned houses for just 1 euro. However, his efforts have been largely unsuccessful so far.

“First, we mapped all the vacant houses and contacted the original owners to ask them to hand over their family properties,” said Fiordaliso. “However, we were only able to sell 2 houses for 1 euro,” he added.

Ngôi làng thời trung cổ xa xôi có dân số khoảng 3.000 người. Ảnh: Comune di Patrica

While the authorities in other sparsely populated towns have the power to sell these abandoned houses without the owners’ permission, Patrica and other towns are not as fortunate.

“First and foremost, we need the consent of the owners or inheritors. Only then can we sell these properties, making the selling process very complex, if not impossible,” said Fiordaliso.

He explained that the town received positive responses from 10 owners after reaching out to them for the 1-euro housing project, but they backed out at the last minute. The rest didn’t respond.

Challenges of Selling Abandoned Houses

Abandoned houses in Italy’s ancient towns are sometimes divided among multiple heirs. These heirs may only own a portion of the house, such as a bathroom, balcony, or kitchen. According to Italian law, these houses cannot be sold without written consent from all the heirs.

In the past, children would inherit a portion of the family home, including land, a well, and a garden. However, not everyone maintains good relationships with their relatives or keeps in touch.

“The sale of 1-euro houses has stalled because most relatives with shared assets are in conflict due to personal reasons or cannot agree on the sale. Some hardly communicate, while others live in distant cities or even abroad,” said the mayor.

In some cases, the houses have never been officially divided among the heirs. Therefore, the current ownership is unclear.

Ngôi làng Patrica nằm ở phía Nam Rome. Ảnh: Comune di Patrica

According to Fiordaliso, finding the emigrated heirs or those who may have transferred their assets to foreigners without informing Patrica is a challenging task. “This task is like searching for a needle in a haystack,” he said.

Another reason the 1-euro house program in Patrica has not been truly successful is the condition of the houses. Some houses are in such poor condition that even if the owners are willing to sell, it is not feasible.

Fortunately, not all the abandoned houses in Patrica are in terrible condition. Some houses have garnered interest from potential buyers.

“Some foreigners have come to see the abandoned 1-euro houses. There is a lot of interest, but unfortunately, we have nothing to offer them,” said the mayor, adding that interested parties are mainly from the United States and Europe.

Meanwhile, Fiordaliso has come up with new measures to make the town more appealing in hopes of attracting newcomers.

New Measures

Recently, the town of Patrica spent money renovating the facades of some old houses. Several locals have completely rebuilt their family’s old houses, which had been abandoned for decades, and put them back into use. One such house has been transformed into a bed and breakfast called “Patricia.”

“We renovated the walls and the interior. The mayor’s initiative finally gave us a good reason to renovate the entire plot of land that was previously lying useless,” said Alessandra Pagliarosi, a local resident who benefited from the new tax reductions introduced by the town hall to revive the local economy.

Others have started commercial activities, such as opening tax-free artisan shops in the historic district and utilizing public spaces for ten years without charges, advertising, and receiving tax credits for restructuring costs.

“For a small bed and breakfast, that amount will save us around 1,200 euros per year. It’s a significant sum,” said Pagliarosi.

Foreigners with plans to move to Patrica and establish small businesses also enjoy tax incentives. As a result, there are now 2 bed and breakfasts and a restaurant open to guests.

Nhiều gia đình đã rời thị trấn, để lại những ngôi nhà bỏ hoang trong nhiều thập kỷ. Ảnh: Comune di Patrica

According to local real estate agent Ilario Grossi, some inheritors from the United States have returned to Patrica to see the properties.

However, the newer houses in the town, starting at 20,000 euros, are proving more attractive.

“When many foreigners see the poor condition of the old houses, they opt for the newer apartments that have been renovated or only require minor repairs. So, buying these newer houses is more convenient than purchasing an old building that needs extensive and expensive renovations,” Grossi explained.

Despite these challenges, Fiordaliso still does not give up on his efforts to sell some long-abandoned houses in the town, even if it means negotiating with the owners.

This article was written for Business Today.