A man who bought a rundown home in Italy for just 85p was ultimately forced to give it up after failing to meet strict renovation deadlines caused by a shortage of builders.
Danny McCubbin, 58, purchased the property in the Sicilian town of Mussomeli under the popular “Case 1 Euro” scheme, which aims to revive struggling communities by selling abandoned homes to foreign buyers at token prices. The Australian chef, who had lived in the UK for 17 years and worked with Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Foundation, said the opportunity to own a home abroad for so little was too good to pass up, and he encouraged others to consider doing the same.
However, the scheme came with a crucial condition: buyers must complete renovations within three years to gain full ownership. For McCubbin, that requirement proved impossible. Italy’s construction sector has been hit by severe labour shortages, and despite repeated efforts, he was unable to find builders willing or available to take on the work in time.
Speaking to iNews, he explained that the situation only worsened as time passed. “It was very difficult to find a builder and over time the house deteriorated,” he said. “By the time I did find a building company, the cost to renovate had doubled. I decided it was no longer worth it.” After just a few months, he sold the property back to an estate agency and received his original payment.
Despite the setback, McCubbin said he was disappointed but not discouraged. He had fallen in love with the quiet pace of life in Mussomeli, a town of around 11,000 residents. Determined to stay, he later bought another property for £6,700 (€8,000) that required far less work. He also managed to hire two builders for a week, spending £4,200 (€5,000) on minor repairs.
The move allowed him to settle permanently and launch a community kitchen providing free meals to vulnerable families. Local officials have since acknowledged the builder shortage, with the mayor pledging to attract more construction workers from abroad to support future renovation projects.
