This is how you can live in a vacation home in Italy rent-free

When the pandemic struck the world in 2020, many people left their offices and began to work from home. Remote work created new opportunities for those who want to explore the world and build a career at the same time. If you are flexible to live and work from anywhere in the world, your next destination might be Italy. 

The country has a lot to offer: from a warm climate and relaxed lifestyle to diverse culture and a relatively low cost of living. You can invest in a vacation home in Italy or choose this country as your retirement destination. 

Before you decide to make Italy your temporary or permanent home, you need to make sure you know exactly where to move. Whether you want to enjoy a thriving nightlife or live in a quiet location surrounded by nature and the Mediterranean sea, Italy got you covered. 

A few years ago, multiple towns across Italy announced that they offer to sell abandoned houses in rural Italy for just 1 euro. The initiative aims to bring people back to smaller towns and help local communities. Homebuyers must renovate the property and make it habitable within three years after the purchase. One of these 1 euro houses was purchased by Airbnb. 

Recently, the company announced that they are looking for someone who will move into the fully renovated home in one of the warmest regions of Italy, Sicily, and live there rent-free for a year. 

The program is called the 1 Euro House and invites one person to become an Airbnb host in a heritage home. The selected applicant must be at least 18 years old, speak conversational English, and move to Sambuca, Italy, for at least three months starting from June 30, 2022. They may bring a friend, partner, or a family member and two children. 

Airbnb will pay for a plane ticket to Sambuca, one month of Italian lessons, and four cooking classes with a local mentor. In addition, the participant can keep their earnings from being a host. 

Last month, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced that he will be living full-time in different properties listed on the website, Money Control reports. He will move to a new place every couple of weeks. 

“In 2022, I think the biggest trend in travel will be people spreading out to thousands of towns and cities, staying for weeks, months, or even entire seasons at a time,” wrote Chesky in his Twitter thread.

“More people will start living abroad, others will travel for the entire summer, and some will even give up their leases and become digital nomads. Cities and countries will compete to attract these remote workers, and it will lead to a redistribution of where people travel and live.”

Click here to learn more and apply to the 1 Euro House program.

Image credit:

Airbnb website

Resources:

“The 1 Euro House,” (Airbnb)

“Rent-free home in scenic Italy? Airbnb has an opening,” (Money Control, 2022)

“Why Airbnb CEO is moving full-time to properties listed by his company,” (Money Control, 2022)

“22 Important Pros and Cons of Living in Italy,” by Louise Gaille (Vittana, 2019)