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You Could Own A House Outside Rome For Less Than £1

You Could Own A House Outside Rome For Less Than £1

The town of Maenza is the latest to join Italy's €1 Houses project and is situated only 70 kilometres south of the Italian capital

Simon Catling

Simon Catling

Fancy owning a house near Rome for less than a quid? Well now you can.

The picture postcard town of Maenza is situated in Rome's Latium region and lies about 70 kilometres south of the Italian capital. It is the latest to join Italy's €1 Houses project.

The scheme was launched last year as the country sought to combat towns and villages that were suffering from dwindling or ageing population.

Maenza is the first town in the Latium region to be included in the scheme and it has a lot going for it.

Commune Maenza

The town is high up on the wild Lepini hills was previously home to shepherds and tribes. There are dozens of abandoned stone dwellings that are now on the market for less than a Gregg's pasty, with the hope of breathing new life into the place.

The town's mayor, Claudio Sperduti, called it a 'pact for the rebirth' of his hometown.

Speaking to CNN, he said he wanted to recover every disused crumbling property by liaising between old owners and potential buyers who'd be interested due to the low prices.

He said: "We're taking it one step at a time.

"As original families get in touch and hand over to us their old houses, we place these on the market through specific public notices on our website to make it all very transparent."

There are some stipulations that those seeking to buy will have to abide by however.

First and perhaps most obviously will be a commitment to renovating the properties. Some of those on the market are in such a state of disrepair that they're currently considered dangerous to passersby.

Wikimedia Commons/Pietro Scerrato

The expectations will be that the renovations are done within three years of purchased. The new buyer will also have to pay a deposit guarantee of €5,000 (£4,300), which will be returned once the renovation works are completed.

Buyers can choose what they want the property to become - be it home, bed and breakfast, shop or restaurant - but they must have detailed plans and be able to file them to the town in order to get approval.

However, it won't be mandatory for buyers to live in the homes they buy and renovate.

Mayor Sperduti did say though that families with children and young couples who'd be interested in living in the town on a semi-permanent basis should apply.

Prospective buyers will apply to local officials who will then try to match them to their property requests. The first batch of buildings are up on the market now, although applications close on 28 August.

However, Sperduti promised that more will go on the market, meaning there look to be plenty more chances to get a piece of the Italian countryside to call home.

If you're interested, you can find out more here.

Featured Image Credit: Commune Maenza

Topics: World News, travel, Italy