Monday, 8 May 2017

Need a new start?

 Idyllic but desperate Italian village offers €2,000 to anyone who wants to move there (and rents of €50 a month) over fears it will turn into a ghost town

  • Cash reward for those who relocate to Bormida in mountainous region of Liguria
  • As well as money boost, they will also be paying as little as €12.50 a week in rent
  • Dozens of people have responded to the idea saying they want to move there
  • Mayor Daniele Galliano floated his idea on Facebook and it proved to be popular


The mountainous village of Bormida (pictured), which is more than 50 miles away from Genoa

The mountainous village of Bormida (pictured), which is more than 50 miles away from Genoa


The mayor of an Italian village is offering to cough up €2,000 in cash to anyone prepared to move there to stop it becoming completely deserted. 
Those willing to relocate to Bormida, in the mountainous region of Liguria in north-west Italy will join just 394 other people with a promise of the simple life. 
With the nearest major city - Genoa - more than 50 miles away, the village has become a bit of a ghost town and as a result, tenants will be paying as little as €12.50 a week in rent as part of a scheme to boost the population.

The isolated village is home to less than 400 people, and many have left in search of work

The isolated village is home to less than 400 people, and many have left in search of work
The Mayor of Bormida Daniele Galliano came up with the initiative to stem the flow of people

The Mayor of Bormida Daniele Galliano came up with the initiative to stem the flow of people
Logs piled on the side of a road running through the village of Bormina in the region of Liguria

Logs piled on the side of a road running through the village of Bormina in the region of Liguria
The mayor, Daniele Galliano, floated his idea on Facebook, and said the initiative should be ready to be rolled out in two months.
The update prompted dozens of people to get in touch, and judging by the responses, Bormida could see a population swell. 
Vincent Gaspar wrote: 'Mr Mayor, I would certainly love to live there.
'I hope this bill goes through, because I will move there in a heartbeat.' 
The mayor, who will be hoping to implement the scheme this summer, which will drop the rent rates of a number of properties down to a tiny €50 (£42.50) a month.
In Central London, a two bedroom house can cost upward of £3,000 a week, or £12,500 a month. 
New York prices are similar, with two bedroom apartments in Manhattan costing $3,000 (£2,310) in rent.

What will €12.50 a week get you?

This is one property listed in the village of Bormida - a semi-detached house with four bedrooms and a bathroom. 
The two-storey home boasts a kitchen, living room, utility room, garage, cellar and legnaia - an outdoor decked area. 
For those looking to get out of the village, it is based near the bus stop and has its own private garden.
The kitchen, which boasts two cookers and tiled flooring as well as a dining table

The kitchen, which boasts two cookers and tiled flooring as well as a dining table
Double bedroom in the house which could cost tenants as little as €12.50 a week

Double bedroom in the house which could cost tenants as little as €12.50 a week
Main bathroom
Exterior of the house
Bathroom (left) inside the house (right) which is listed at €350 a month at the moment
The living room, kitted out with pictures, mirrors, chairs and a table inside the house

The living room, kitted out with pictures, mirrors, chairs and a table inside the house


The landlord is looking for a long-term tenant.  
There is central heating, it comes fully furnished and is in good condition, according to the listing. 
At the moment, it is listed for €350 a month, but tenants could see this price drop to €12.50 a week under the new scheme introduced by the mayor.  



Sohail Rana echoed the comments and said he would even waive the €2,000 incentive, posting: 'Mr Mayor, you can count me in as well.
'It's not your offer, but the country side is beautiful.'
Mr Rana is a Danish national and said he would happily emigrate to Italy.
It appeared to be a common theme among those responding, with people from India, the United States, Britain, Hungary and Indonesia all showing an interest in relocating to the Italian mountains. 
The threat of not being able to find work in the village which is home to four restaurants and a church did not appear to put some people off.  
Many asked if there was a high-speed internet connection in the village, with those responding insisting they could work remotely as long as they had wi-fi. 
Deborah Liao wrote: 'As long as there is good wi-fi, I do not need to worry about local employment and can work remotely.
'I have no need for a €2,000 incentive either, just beautiful mountain air and far away from cities.' 

The mayor, Daniele Galliano, posted his idea on Facebook, and said the initiative should be ready to be rolled out in two months

The mayor, Daniele Galliano, posted his idea on Facebook, and said the initiative should be ready to be rolled out in two months


The church in the village of Bormida, Italy, where there is a scheme to boost the population

The church in the village of Bormida, Italy, where there is a scheme to boost the population

A manager at one of the village's restaurants warned potential residents they would have to find some activities to help entertain themselves. 
'There is nothing much to do here,' the manager told The Guardian.
'But life is so simple and natural, we have forests, goats, the church, and plenty of good food. Life would definitely be free of stress.'
A councillor, who asked to remain anonymous, told the paper: 'We’re still working out the plan, but anyone is welcome to come and live here.
'We’re a small community but very welcoming. We’re high up in a mountain area but also not far from the sea – it’s a healthy lifestyle, the air is very clean.' 
  

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