Spain is offering people up to €30,000 (£25,000) to move to a remote corner of the country and renovate empty villages. Castilla-La Mancha's regional government launched the "Moviliza tu vivienda rural" initiative, meaning "mobilise your rural home", to bring unused properties back to life. Eligible homeowners will be granted tens of thousands of euros to renovate their new homes and rent them out.
Funded through Spain's National Housing Plan, the scheme is designed to tackle depopulation in rural areas by giving homeowners financial security and legal protection. The maximum available grant is €30,000, comprising €12,000 for renovation and €18,000 to cover any damage at the end of the rental period. There will also be €600 given a month if the owner needs to use savings or take out a loan to cover renovation costs.
Rent Caps and Long-Term Commitment
Rent prices will be capped at €600 a month, and properties must be available for a minimum of seven years. The local council will also cover the cost of a building permit and 95% of the construction tax. These conditions aim to ensure that renovated homes remain affordable and contribute to long-term community stability.
Depopulation Crisis and Strategy
A report by the Comisiones Obreras trade union found that there are more than 300,000 empty homes in Castilla-La Mancha, 61% of which are in areas with fewer than 5,000 residents. Since 2021, a depopulation strategy has been in place to incentivise people to live and work in the area, resulting in nearly 5,000 new residents. Jose Luis Martinez Guijarro, the vice president of the regional government, said there is no need to build new housing as many empty properties are already available.
