A Swiss mountain village is planning to sell homes for just one Swiss franc (81p) in an effort to restore the remote town near the Italian border.
The Italian-speaking municipality of Monti Scìaga, located in the province of Ticino, proposed the offer of selling nine properties for the symbolic price as a way of revitalising the hamlet’s stone houses, according to The Local.
As part of the offer, new residents would have to fully renovate the stone homes, locally known as rustici, in line with the local laws, as they are currently in ruins.
Fortunately, although major construction is required to make the homes liveable, buyers would not have to worry about plumping, as the village is hooked up to the water mains, The Local reports.
The desirable location of the village makes the offer worthy of consideration.
In addition to views of the Val Veddasca and Lake Maggiore, new residents could easily travel to Milan, which is a mere 70 miles away.
According to the online plan, which is written in Italian, Scìaga has been “almost completely abandoned since the 1970s but has maintained its original structure with traditional architectural elements”.
The local council first plans to build a hut for hikers and cyclists in an attempt to draw people to the area.
Before the houses are available to buy, local building authorities must sign off on the proposed plan, which is expected to take place in the fall.
In 2017, the Swiss village of Albinen offered people £15,000 to move there as a way of increasing the declining population.
The latest offer follows similar real estate opportunities in Italy, where homes are being sold for as little as €1.
