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How does a 1 Euro House project work? Where to start and how to find benefits and possibilities suitable for us? 1 Euro Houses are usually privately owned. The owners often want to get rid of them so as not to pay taxes and flounces. We are talking mostly about dilapidated or dangerous properties in need of renovation. In some cases we also talk about houses built in the 80s and 90s. These need less extensive renewals.
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How does the purchase of 1 Euro Houses work?
The owners of the properties give the municipality the availability to sell the houses at the symbolic price of 1€. The municipal administration promotes the project and guarantees the regularity of the sale, which always takes place between private citizens. There are commitments that the buyers of 1 Euro Houses must guarantee:
- Plan a restructuring and revaluation project (usually within 365 days of purchase).
- Support notarial fees for registration and volture.
- Once you have all the permits, start the work within the time decided by the municipality.
- To guarantee the correct execution of the works by the buyer, the municipality asks to take out a surety policy of between €1,000.00 and €5,000.00. The policy expires at the end of the completed works, usually within 3 years.
Here's how to buy a house for € 1 with our ebook
- Available in English, French and Spanish in PDF and epub format.
- How to buy 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to find available 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to plan for the purchase and renovation?
To get access to 1 Euro Houses, interested buyers must contact the municipality directly. Some municipalities require the compilation of forms, through which the buyers expresses their interest and are then obliged to purchase and renovate the house.
Many municipalities (to make sure the buyer is serious) require that interested parties to visit the municipality before purchase and see the houses themselves.
In addition, we advise those interested in buying to contact a local notary and to work with Italian construction engineers, as they know better the laws, protocols and purchasing and renewal processes.
Tax relief for building restructuring and energy efficiency
For those who renovate their home, the Italian Government offers the SUPERBONUS 110% which gives the possibility of recovering 110% of the investment made. The benefit will be available until mid-2022. Click here to learn more.
There are always other tax, energy or building beneifts available. These can be used for the purchase and renovation of the 1 Euro Houses. We therefore recommend contacting an Italian accountant with experience in the field.
For those who are not Italian citizens, how does the purchase of 1 Euro Houses work?
In case we are foreigners (therefore not resident in Italy or without Italian citizenship) we must ask ourselves additional questions regarding the purchase of a house in the territory.
To have the possibility of buying a 1 Euro House in Italy, an agreement is needed between the Italian government and our home government. The general rule is that if an Italian can buy a house in our country, we too can buy a house in Italy.
You will need to receive the Italian tax code (to make the payment of taxes). The tax code, which is the instrument for identifying the citizen in relations with Italian public bodies and administrations, is issued by the Revenue Agency.
It can be requested abroad, both by Italians and foreigners, through the Consular Office.
The attribution of the tax code is immediate and takes place through a special telematic link with the Fisconline service of the Revenue Agency. The card will then be sent by the latter.
To apply for the tax code from the Consular Office, you must submit an application form together with a copy of an IDENTITY document.
Here's how to buy a house for € 1 with our ebook
- Available in English, French and Spanish in PDF and epub format.
- How to buy 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to find available 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to plan for the purchase and renovation?
Visiting Italy and residence
To visit Italy you will need one of the three documents or statuses:
- temporary residence permit,
- visa,
- italian citizenship.
Your visit will probably be linked to the purchase in the first place. After pthe urchase and renovation, however, the visits will be linked to the new home of your property.
Foreigners from the external borders of the Schengen Area are allowed to enter Italian territory when they:
- present themselves through a border crossing point;
- are in possession of a recognised passport or other recognised equivalent travel document valid for crossing borders;
- have documents justifying the purpose and conditions of residence and demonstrates that it has sufficient financial means in relation to the nature, the expected length of stay, and the costs of returning to the country of origin (or transit to a third State);
- are provided, where required, with a valid entry or transit visa;
- are not reported for non-admission to the Schengen Information System (SIS);
- shall not be considered dangerous to the public order, national security or international relations of one of the Contracting Parties, by national provisions or by other Schengen States.
A foreigner who does not meet one of the required requirements may be subject to refoulement, which can be implemented by the competent Border Authorities even if there is a regular entry visa.
What three documents are needed therefore depends on where we come from and how permanent our visit to Italy will be. Bureaucratic applications and processes vary, so we always recommend contacting your foreign governments or reviewing the information available on italian government websites.
You can check if you need a visa to enter Italy here. You can change the language of the questionnaire at the top right.
Here's how to buy a house for € 1 with our ebook
- Available in English, French and Spanish in PDF and epub format.
- How to buy 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to find available 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to plan for the purchase and renovation?
List of states and regulations
To help those interested in living in Italy, we have included some information for specific world states.
Member States of the European Union
If you come from a Schengen state, you can enter Italy and stay for investment or tourism reasons up to 90 days without a residence permit. This applies provided that entry into Italy does not take place for reasons of employment, self-employment or study/internship – study/training.
However, it is necessary to declare your presence in Italy within eight days of entry, to the Commissioner of the province in which you are located, using the expected form.
For those staying in hotels, a copy of the declaration made to the hotelier and signed by the foreigner will be a declaration of presence. The copy of these declarations will be delivered to the foreigner to be exhibited at any request by the officers and public security agents.
If the visit to Italy lasts more than 90days, you need a residence permit. A residence permit must be requested within eight days of entry into Italian territory. The request must be made to the Provincial Commissioner, using the expected form.
For those who want to become an Italian citizen in all respects, it is necessary to apply for Italian citizenship. For more information you can visit the official website here (language choice available at the top right).
United States
If a U.S. citizen visits Italy for less than 90 days, no entry visas or special documents are required.
You will be able to enter Italy with your passport valid for at least three months after the scheduled date of departure from the Schengen Area.
Upon entry into Italy, border authorities may request to present documentation justifying the reasons and duration of your stay in Italy.
For those who want to visit Italy for more than 90 days, the following documents are needed:
- application form for the entry visa
- recent photography in tile format
- travel document valid for at least three months longer than the visa required
- documented and extensive autonomous, stable and regular economic resources, of which continuity over time can reasonably be assumed, coming from sources other than employment activities
- availability of accommodation to be elected to residence, property or rent with a contract already concluded.
The visa application can be made in the Italian consulate closest to you (the full list is available once the questionnaire is filled in here).
United Kingdom
As the UK is no longer part of the European Union, some regulations have changed. If an English citizen visits Italy for less than 90 days, no entry visas or special documents are required.
You will be able to enter Italy with your passport valid for at least three months after the scheduled date of departure from the Schengen Area.
Upon entry into Italy, border authorities may request to present documentation justifying the reasons and duration of your stay in Italy.
For those who want to visit Italy for more than 90 days, the following documents are needed:
- application form for the entry visa
- recent photography in tile format
- travel document valid for at least three months longer than the visa required
- documented and extensive autonomous, stable and regular economic resources, of which continuity over time can reasonably be assumed, coming from sources other than employment activities
- availability of accommodation to be elected to residence, property or rent with a contract already concluded.
The visa application can be made in the Italian consulate closest to you (the full list is available once the questionnaire is filled in here).
Here's how to buy a house for € 1 with our ebook
- Available in English, French and Spanish in PDF and epub format.
- How to buy 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to find available 1 Euro Houses in Italy?
- How to plan for the purchase and renovation?
Other states
Each state has its own agreements with the Italian state regarding the possibility of real estate purchase, job opportunities, residence and visas. We recommend reviewing the official websites of the Italian government such as the questionnaire here.