Town near Rome is the latest to join Italy's one-euro house sell-off
The town of Maenza near Rome has joined the growing list of Italian villages that are using bargain homes to attract new inhabitants.
The list of idyllic hilltop villages in rural Italy offering up bargain properties for the symbolic price of €1 keeps getting longer.
The houses on sale are generally far-removed from bustling urban centres, but this month the town of Maenza became the first in Rome's Lazio region to join the project.
READ ALSO: Taranto becomes the first city in Italy to sell off houses for €1
Located in the Lepini hills, one and a half hour's drive south of the capital, the village has made available dozens of abandoned houses in the hope of attracting new residents.
The aim is to recover some 100 neglected properties by liaising between the owners and interested buyers, Maenza mayor Claudio Sperduti told CNN.
Potential buyers are invited to contact the town hall, where local officials will work to match their requirements, Sperduti said. Applications for the first batch of houses closes on August 28th, but more are expected to go on the market later on.
Buyers must agree to some conditions. They will have to commit to renovating the property within three years, and pay a deposit of €5,000, which will be returned once the renovation is complete. They must also detail whether the property will become a private home or a business, such as a shop, hotel or restaurant.
READ ALSO: These are the Italian towns offering houses for one euro
Becoming a permanent resident is not compulsory but the city council is keen to attract young families with children, and priority will be given to buyers wanting to settle down rather than those looking for a holiday home.
For more information and contact details, see the dedicated page on Maenza's town hall website.
The €1 house scheme has taken off in Italy in recent years with several towns and villages across Italy, often with dwindling ageing populations, offering up cheap properties.
Earlier this year the southern city of Taranto became the first city in Italy to join the scheme, in an attempt to improve the city's image.
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The list of idyllic hilltop villages in rural Italy offering up bargain properties for the symbolic price of €1 keeps getting longer.
The houses on sale are generally far-removed from bustling urban centres, but this month the town of Maenza became the first in Rome's Lazio region to join the project.
READ ALSO: Taranto becomes the first city in Italy to sell off houses for €1
Located in the Lepini hills, one and a half hour's drive south of the capital, the village has made available dozens of abandoned houses in the hope of attracting new residents.
The aim is to recover some 100 neglected properties by liaising between the owners and interested buyers, Maenza mayor Claudio Sperduti told CNN.
Potential buyers are invited to contact the town hall, where local officials will work to match their requirements, Sperduti said. Applications for the first batch of houses closes on August 28th, but more are expected to go on the market later on.
Buyers must agree to some conditions. They will have to commit to renovating the property within three years, and pay a deposit of €5,000, which will be returned once the renovation is complete. They must also detail whether the property will become a private home or a business, such as a shop, hotel or restaurant.
READ ALSO: These are the Italian towns offering houses for one euro
Becoming a permanent resident is not compulsory but the city council is keen to attract young families with children, and priority will be given to buyers wanting to settle down rather than those looking for a holiday home.
For more information and contact details, see the dedicated page on Maenza's town hall website.
The €1 house scheme has taken off in Italy in recent years with several towns and villages across Italy, often with dwindling ageing populations, offering up cheap properties.
Earlier this year the southern city of Taranto became the first city in Italy to join the scheme, in an attempt to improve the city's image.
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