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Sick of the same ol’ job in the same town with the same crummy weather? Well, here’s the chance to not just leave it all in yer dust but to get paid to do so. The Italian island paradise of Sardinia wants to give people a whopping €15,000 (£12,600, $15,400) to settle down there. Sounds pretty dreamy, right?
And better yet, the money comes in the form of a grant from the Sardinian government, which means that you don’t have to pay it back. The scheme is all about combatting rural depopulation and providing an economic boost to the island’s struggling countryside communities.
Sardinia, for those not in the know, is well worth moving to. The second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is known for being home to some of Europe’s biggest and most pristine beaches. With culture-packed cities, a huge number of annual days of sunshine and one of the highest number of centenarians in the world, it’s tough to think of many more gorg places to settle down in.
As you can probably guess, there are more than a few catches to the new €15,000 scheme. Not only does the money have to go towards either buying or renovating a home, but to be eligible you’ll have to settle in a Sardinian municipality with fewer than 3,000 inhabitants. The €15,000 is also a maximum amount and the grant cannot exceed half of the total cost of the house or refurb.
In total, €45 million (£38 million, $46 million) has been set aside for the project – which will be enough for at least 3,000 households to make the most of it.
So what are you waiting for? Get packing your bags! According to TheMayor.eu, to be eligible for the grant, you’ll need to register your residence in Sardinia with the local government within 18 months of your arrival.
Did you see that these are the new rules you need to know before visiting Europe’s beaches this summer?
Plus: you could live on this Irish island rent-free for a year.