Revitalizing Italy’s Forgotten Villages: The Complexities of Selling Abandoned Homes in Patrica
Italy’s one-euro home sales have been a subject of fascination for many years, with numerous individuals drawn to the opportunity of acquiring abandoned properties in some of the country’s underpopulated towns. Among these towns are Mussomeli in Sicily and Zungoli in Campania, which have successfully sold several abandoned dwellings to foreigners seeking the Italian dream. However, not all towns have experienced similar success.
The remote medieval village of Patrica, with a population of barely 3,000 residents, is located south of Rome and is perched on a rocky plateau overlooking the Sacco valley in central Italy. This idyllic spot has struggled to sell more than 40 abandoned homes that have been left to decay since the early 1900s.
Mayor Lucio Fiordaliso of Patrica has endeavored to breathe new life into the dying village by following in the footsteps of other Italian towns that have put their empty homes up for sale at a nominal price. His efforts, however, have not yielded significant results thus far.
“We first mapped all abandoned houses and made an official callout to the original owners inviting them to hand over their dilapidated family properties. However, we managed to sell just two homes for one euro,” Fiordaliso shares with us.
The complications in selling abandoned homes in Patrica stem from the fact that local authorities don’t have jurisdiction to put these properties up for sale without the consent of their owners. Moreover, many abandoned buildings in old Italian towns are split among multiple heirs, and nothing can be sold without written consent from all parties involved, as per Italian law.
In the past, it was common for children to inherit portions of their family homes, including parts like a bathroom, balcony, or kitchen. However, as time passes and relatives’ relationships change, it becomes increasingly difficult to ensure that all parties are on board with the sale of an inherited property.
Fiordaliso explains that although ten owners responded positively to their call for involvement in the one-euro homes project, they all withdrew at the last minute. The rest of the heirs either never replied or couldn’t be contacted.
Another challenge is locating the descendants of those who have emigrated overseas and may have sold their Italian property to foreigners without notifying the town hall. It’s akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.
Despite these challenges, Patrica managed to sell two abandoned homes through its one-euro scheme as they were fully owned by local residents without any complications involving heirs. However, in cases where family feuds are at play, relatives might choose not to sell their share due to legal issues tied to inheritance disputes or as a form of revenge. Original owners who’ve been living elsewhere for many years might also be hesitant to come forward due to potential back taxes and waste disposal charges.
Furthermore, the state of some abandoned homes in Patrica might be a deterrent for potential buyers. For instance, Gianni Valleco and his brothers discovered that their parents’ abandoned home was in such bad shape that nobody would buy it, even for one euro. The house had been reduced to rubble and served as a dumping ground for their neighbor’s waste.
In conclusion, the sale of abandoned homes in Patrica faces numerous challenges, from locating original owners and dealing with family disputes to addressing the poor state of some properties. Nevertheless, the town’s mayor remains optimistic and continues his efforts to breathe new life into the village by implementing various incentives for potential buyers and investors.
