A FRENCH town is offering Brits the chance to up sticks and purchase a house for just one euro.
The quaint village, located in Auverne, central France is struggling with a declining population, so is offering the bargain properties in a bid to entice newcomers in to the area.
The quaint village is struggling with a declining population[/caption]
Just 6,500 people currently live in Ambert[/caption]
The town is famous for the Forme d’Ambert cheese[/caption]
Italy launched a similar scheme back in 2017, with thousands relocating to idyllic Italian properties purchased for as little as 86p.
Declining population
Just 6,500 people currently live in Ambert, with locals hoping that the scheme will help to boost the population.
The town, which is famous for the Forme d’Ambert cheese, has revealed a five year plan to improve the number of residents, with 60 percent of properties left vacant in one suburb.
The wider scheme appears to have proven successful so far, as an extra class was added to the local school two years ago.
Two one euro homes are currently on the market, both of which need significant renovations doing to them.
Situated within a natural park
Those who choose to purchase the homes will find themselves living within the surroundings of the stunning Natural Regional Park of Livradois-Forez.
The natural park features rolling hills, deer, beautiful landscapes and plenty of quaint towns and villages to explore.
In Ambert itself, you can find the Museum of Cheese, dedicated to Fourme d’Ambert, a blue cheese which dates back to Roman times.
The town also has a paper mill, and a circular town hall called La Mairie.
Plus, residents bask in 300 days of sunshine a year.
Homes come with strict terms and conditions
Although the homes may seem like an absolute bargain, they come with their fair share of terms and conditions.
To start with, anyone looking for a second-home is prohibited from snapping up the one euro properties.
Plus, although the initial cost is extremely low, the two homes will be expensive to renovate.
Once the houses have been made habitable, the owners are required to live in them for at least three years.
Four cheap home renovation tricks
YOU don’t have to spend loads to give a room a new look. Here are five other home renovation tricks you can try.
Kitchen cupboards
One way to give your kitchen a complete transformation for less is to change the look of the kitchen cupboards. There are loads of different vinyl coverings out there to choose from, and it’s a quick and easy way to update your home.
Handles
Another thing you can try that won’t break the bank is to change up the handles. You can pick up relatively cheap handles in DIY stores, or even in the charity shop. Adding new ones to your kitchen cupboards, or doors in your house, can be extremely effective.
Leftovers
Most of us have old half-used tins of paint in the garage, but they’re often forgotten about. However, there may be enough in the pot to paint a feature wall in another room, and you won’t have to spend a penny.
Freebies
It’s worth checking your local Facebook Marketplace, or Freecycle, to see what other people are getting rid of. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. And if someone’s planning to revamp a room, they might want to get rid of a sofa, or a coffee table, which you could use to give a lounge a new look.
If they do not, hefty fines could be given out, including paying back any government grants given out for refurbishment.
If you’re looking for a job once you’ve moved to Ambert, the town’s historic chamber of commerce and industry building is currently undergoing renovations.
Once it reopens in 2026, it will bring lots of new jobs for locals.
You will of course, have to brush up on your French though.
One Brit who previously bought one of Italy’s one euro homes, told how it hardly cost anything to renovate.
Another revealed that hundreds are now desperate to pay to rent his one euro home.
The Church of Saint-Jean d’Ambert in the town centre[/caption]
The town’s paper mill[/caption]
