This Italian town is struggling to sell off its empty homes for one euro. Here’s why

For the past few years, Italy has been selling abandoned properties for just one euro which has been drawing in a lot of attention. Many people have chosen to take advantage of this opportunity and have purchased homes in towns that are experiencing a decline in population.

However, while some cities, such as Mussomeli in Sicily and Zungoli in Campania, have successfully sold abandoned properties to individuals desiring to experience the Italian way of life, other towns have faced difficulty in selling their unoccupied residences.

One of these places is Patrica, which is a small medieval town located in the south of Rome. It only has 3,000 inhabitants, and more than 40 abandoned properties since the early 1900s have been left to deteriorate.

Located on a rough hilltop that gives a stunning view of the Sacco valley in the center of Italy, Patrica is a peaceful and charming area. However, the residents of this place faced hardships in the past.

A lot of people departed to explore better opportunities in different places, resulting in their houses being unoccupied for many years.

Trying to revitalize the fading village, the mayor, Lucio Fiordaliso, has been attempting to replicate the achievements of other Italian communities that have made their unoccupied houses available for purchase for a euro, roughly equivalent to one dollar. However, he has had limited success thus far.

Fiordaliso, speaking to CNN, shared that they started by creating a map of all the homes that were no longer occupied and then asked the owners of these properties to give them away due to their current state of disrepair. However, despite their efforts, they only managed to sell two homes for a euro.

When there are earthquakes or other natural disasters causing a decrease in population, the local government can sell deserted houses without getting the owners' approval. However, this rule doesn't apply to Patrica and similar towns.

According to Fiordaliso, the initial necessity is to have the accessibility of proprietors or their successors in selling their antiquated dwellings.

We can only sell these properties after receiving their permission, which makes the procedure extremely complex and nearly unachievable.

According to Fiordaliso, the village put out a request for "one-euro-homes project" participation and received affirming feedback from ten proprietors. Unfortunately, they changed their minds at the eleventh hour and backed out of the project. The remaining property owners did not respond at all.

Fiordaliso thinks that some people may have reconsidered their decision due to conflicts with other family members who also had a stake in the property.

Old Italian towns may have abandoned buildings which are owned by multiple heirs. Each heir may only have ownership of a specific section of the building, such as a bathroom, balcony, or kitchen. In accordance with Italian law, nothing can be sold without receiving written permission from all the heirs involved.

In previous times, it was common for kids to receive sections of their family's residence, like plots of ground, water wells, and fruit tree gardens.

However, there is no assurance that family members will maintain positive relationships and stay in touch as time passes.

According to the mayor, the sale of one euro homes hit a roadblock because many family members who owned the property together were either in disagreement due to personal issues or couldn't reach a consensus on the sale. In some cases, they didn't even know each other or lived far away in different cities or countries.

Sometimes, there were situations where homes did not undergo the official process of being divided among inheritors in the past. As a result, the ownership line disintegrated over time without a definite indication of the current owner.

Fiordaliso has stated that it has been a difficult challenge to locate the descendants of property owners who have moved to other countries such as the US, Canada, and Argentina and may have changed their last names. It is also possible that these owners may have transferred their Italian property to foreigners without informing the town hall of Patrica.

He says that it's as difficult as finding a small needle in a large pile of hay.

The only two deserted houses that Patrica succeeded in vending through its one-euro program were completely possessed by two citizens from the locality. This meant they did not need to communicate with distant relatives or offspring of previous owners, making the selling process smooth and trouble-free.

When there are conflicts within a family, members may decide against selling their portion of a property because of legal complications arising from disagreements about inheritance, or as a means of seeking retaliation.

People who previously owned a property but have been living elsewhere for an extended period may feel uneasy about revealing their current situation to the local government, as they could be required to pay outstanding taxes and fees for waste disposal amounting to up to 2,500 euros (equating to about $2,730 per year), in addition to any overdue utility bills.

Another possible explanation for the lack of success of the 1 euro housing scheme in Patrica could be the poor state of the abandoned homes.

A few of the houses are extremely neglected and cannot be put up for sale, even if the proprietors give their consent.

Patrica resident Gianni Valleco and his two siblings opted to put their parents' empty property on sale to test the waters. However, they promptly realized that the house was in a poor condition and was unlikely to attract any buyers.

Valleco expressed that they had an idea to test out by saying, "What harm could it do?" Even if they only received one euro, it was better than having a collection of worthless stones just sitting around. They were also intrigued to see if anyone would express interest in purchasing them.

We knew that our parents' house had been ruined for over fifty years and it was completely demolished, as if it had been flattened to the ground.

The top part of the building and the majority of the sides had fallen down, creating a space that was now exposed to the outdoors and had become overgrown with plants and foliage. The only thing that remained was a plot of land that was unattractive and situated right in the middle of the significant part of town.

Valleco reported that somebody living nearby had been using the remains of the house to dispose of their old possessions.

He said that they eventually came to the realization that the property was not something that anyone would be interested in buying. The investment required a significant amount of money to renovate the house and was not worth it. He suggested that instead of investing in this property, it would be a better idea to purchase a smaller cottage in a rural area nearby.

Fortunately, not all of the uninhabited houses in Patrica that may perhaps be sold for a euro are in such a dreadful condition, and a few have aroused attention from prospective purchasers.

The mayor disclosed that a number of non-natives visited to inspect the one-euro residences that were deserted. Despite the considerable attention they received, the mayor regretfully stated that they had nothing to provide these curious individuals. The interested parties hailed from both Europe and the US.

Meanwhile, Fiordaliso has been brainstorming fresh methods to enhance the attractiveness of the town with the anticipation of attracting new residents.

The local government provided funds for the renovation of the outer appearances of certain historic palaces. This encouraged a number of residents to revamp their old family homes, which had been abandoned for several decades, and utilize them in new ways.

Alessandra Pagliarosi, who lives locally, went above and beyond by transforming her husband's 1950s estate into a sophisticated bed and breakfast named Patricia.

Pagliarosi says they renovated the roof and the interior of the property because it was in such bad shape. The mayor's decision was a great opportunity to fully restore the property, which had been unused for some time. They were able to take advantage of the town hall's new tax breaks to help boost the local economy.

Individuals who choose to commence a business venture, such as a bed and breakfast establishment or an artisanal boutique, in the historic district are not required to remit taxes on waste management, public space utilization, and advertising for a decade. Additionally, they are eligible for tax incentives on expenses related to renovations.

According to Pagliarosi, a tiny bed and breakfast could save approximately 1,200 euros (equal to roughly $1,310) per year on taxes, a considerable sum of cash.

Non-natives who intend to move to Patrica and establish a minor enterprise also have the privilege of receiving tax advantages.

Up until now, there have been two fresh accommodations called bed and breakfasts and one additional dining establishment that have come into operation.

According to Ilario Grossi, a real estate agent who owns Immobil Lepini agency situated in Ceccano, a number of American offspring of immigrant families have recently explored Patrica to check out potential properties.

The dwellings that are all set for immediate move-in in the town have garnered more interest. The properties that have two bedrooms can be purchased starting at a price of 20,000 euros (equivalent to $21,832).

According to Grossi, there is a level of curiosity about these old homes, however, when many foreigners finally take a look at the poor condition that they are in, they often decide to go for turn-key apartments that have already been renovated or only require small repairs.

Therefore, purchasing one of the latest models is more practical than opting for an outdated structure requiring extensive refurbishing, resulting in a significantly greater ultimate expense.

Fiordaliso has not given up on selling some of the town's abandoned homes despite the difficulties. The process can entail mediating between conflicting family members.