Buyer of 85p Sicily home swamped with advice requests

A man who bought a house in Sicily for 85p says he has been inundated with thousands of requests on social media asking for his advice on how people can buy their dream home at an affordable price.

George Laing, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, bought a three-storey house in the town of Mussomeli in December 2022, and is just two months away from finishing renovation works.

The 32-year-old said since he shared his story, he has received between 30 and 40 messages a day across his social media platforms - even from as far afield as Australia.

He said: "I have never expected to get so much attention from people asking advice on how to buy bargain properties.

"I was even contacted by someone from Bondi Beach who said living in Sydney has become virtually unaffordable and they want to buy a home in Mussomeli."

Mr Laing said most people who contact him were hoping to buy their dream homes in Italy for between €20,000 and €50,000 (£17,000 to £42,000), which require little renovation work.

According to the UK House Price Index, as of February 2025 the average property cost in this country is £268,319.

The cheap homes in Sicily are part of an initiative across Italy to sell unused properties to attract new residents to poorly populated areas.

Mr Laing said while his Mussomeli property itself cost just 85p, the other associated costs included agency fees, legal costs, an energy certificate and notary costs which came to a total of £4,000.

"Living in the UK has become increasingly difficult. Many people are struggling to keep up with their mortgage and bills," Mr Laing said.

"People just want to have a better quality of life and not be trapped in a cycle where they can't enjoy life."

Mr Laing said he planned to buy between 15 and 20 properties in Mussomeli over the next five years to rent out.

"I also hope, at some point, to purchase an abandoned village in Italy, convert rundown homes so they have capacity for self-running electricity and water," he added.

"These homes are for people who need help, they can live in them for free. In return they do community work such as farming, so the village can be self-sustaining."

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