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A Sussex man bought his first home for just “one euro” in Sicily. George Laing, who lives between Mussomeli and Eastbourne, bought his derelict, three-storey home for 85p in the Sicialian town in December 2022, under a council scheme to encourage people to renovate abandoned homes. Administration fees, agency costs and energy certificates took the total to 5,000 euros (£4,300) for the property.
The 32-year-old has so far managed to keep the renovations to his “shoe-string” budget of less than £10,000. The property George Laing bought for 85p in Mussomeli (Image: George Laing / SWNS) After fixing the leaky roof, adding electricity and reconnecting the water supply among other infrastructural issues, George has nearly renovated the entire house almost entirely on his own. “I love it, it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” he said.
He has documented his project on social media, primarily on his Instagram page @george_laing_. Now he claims more than 500 followers have signed up through his website to a queue to rent the home in support of his journey. Buoyed by the response, he bought a second one-euro home in the Mussomeli area in April 2025.
“It’s the power of social media,” said George. George Laing (Image: George Laing / SWNS) “It was about a year ago that I launched my Instagram – I’ve got 164,000 followers there and 70k followers on Facebook “Now, I’m in the process of buying another one-euro home. It’s a five-minute walk from mine, and overall it will cost me four grand – a similar price to the first one.
“This one should be slightly easier. I got pretty lucky, it’s structurally sound, it’s huge and it won’t take too much work. Read more: i360 owner reveals how much she paid for tower as she unveils revamp plans “That project will start in the next two to three months.
Whether I go for another property on top of that depends on how much money I make from the first one. “If I have the money I would love to have whole rows of one-euro homes – I could buy a whole community, that’s the long-term goal.” One stipulation for the one-euro home scheme is a three-year deadline to renovate the facade and the roof.
George has been refurbishing the property (Image: George Laing / SWNS) If the owner does not carry out this work within 36 months, a fine of up to 5,000 euros can be issued. George – who works as an antiques trader after being made redundant from his role as a concierge during the pandemic – believes this rule prevents foreign nationals from simply buying up the properties and not renovating. He also wants to open an antiques shop.
"For 5,000 euros I can buy a 200 to 300 square foot retail shop, which in the UK could be between £200,000 and £300,000 to buy,” he said. “There are no antique shops in Mussomeli, but there are a lot of old nonnas who want to sell things, and there is nowhere they can go at the moment, so I think it could do well. “Funnily enough, in my one-euro home, there was about £4,000 worth of things – I found an 18-carat gold solid chain which I’m keeping, but I could get at least a grand for it.
“I found an 18th century 14-carat gold ring which is also being kept. “But I have sold an antique clock, and 1920s gold earrings. I’ve made roughly £2,500 which I got for free with the house – from the beginning it was self-generating cash.
“I’ve had so many people asking me to clear out their properties and I have accumulated a great collection of wonderful antiques from that too.” George has also faced setbacks and has battled with storms, no electricity and a lack of running water. "I wouldn’t say it’s a completely glamorous lifestyle, but it's definitely a rewarding one,” he said.
(Image: George Laing / SWNS) George said the UK is “unbearable” and prefers the Italian style of life to the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, especially with the help he receives from the Agenzia Immobiliare Siciliana, which oversees many of the “one euro” projects. He said: “Eventually in the long term I do want to buy a countryside house in the UK, but property is so expensive, and there’s such a disparity between wages and property prices. “I’m in a position where I am savvy enough and not scared of taking risks and could come here, but life for most people in the UK is unbearable right now.
“No one is thriving, everyone is just surviving, taxes shouldn’t be getting to 40 per cent, and after rent, bills, national insurance, the UK has become crazy expensive. “A coffee costs £5, a pint is £8, it’s £10 to travel around London, nobody can afford anything – the average person is struggling. “When you go to Sicily, the difference shows in how slow everyone walks.
It’s nicer to take your time and enjoy life. “It’s a shame because the UK has a lot to offer.”.
