Italy will pay you £13k to move to empty village for sunshine | Travel News | Travel

Brits are being given an opportunity to relocate to Italy to enjoy some Mediterranean warmth – and they could even be paid for their moving troubles.

Sardinia, in Italy, has introduced a scheme offering financial incentives to those willing to relocate to its less populated villages.

The programme has been created to revitalise rural areas experiencing ongoing population decline, with younger inhabitants departing for urban employment while elderly residents stay behind.

Highlighting the scheme on social media, TikTok user @hahoangquoc2 branded the prospect a “no brainer”, asking viewers: “Move to paradise? Sardinia will pay you €15,000! Is it too good to be true?”

The programme is available to anyone prepared to register as a resident in a small town across the island, on condition it has fewer than 3,000 inhabitants.

To facilitate the transition, local authorities are providing a non-repayable grant of up to €15,000 (approximately £13,000) per household.

The money is designed to assist with expenses related to purchasing or renovating a property, though it cannot exceed 50% of the overall value.

Participants must pledge to relocate within 18 months of acquiring a home or finishing renovation works, with the objective of promoting permanent settlement rather than temporary residence.

Beyond the initial grant, there are further benefits available for those seeking to establish roots and begin a family.

Couples can claim monthly payments of roughly €600 (£500) for their first child, and £400 (£350) for a second child until they reach the age of five. Officials have confirmed the scheme forms part of a broader initiative to bolster struggling communities and reinvigorate local economies.

Discussing the programme, the president of Sardinia said: “We have created the conditions for young people to decide to stay and develop the economic fabric of the most fragile territories.

“Thanks to the contributions to their first homes, this is strengthened and becomes fertile ground for those who will move there or decide to build a family.”

A statement from regional authorities confirmed that a €45 million budget has been allocated to fund the programme, which represents part of a long-term strategy aimed at reversing depopulation across rural areas.

There is, however, a caveat. The grant is exclusively available for properties located in smaller municipalities, while those already residing in comparable towns across the island are ineligible to apply.

Nevertheless, the promise of financial assistance, a more relaxed lifestyle, and year-round sunshine has already captured the imagination of numerous prospective expats online – with some declaring the opportunity simply too attractive to pass up.