How La Rioja pays under‑45s to buy homes in its smallest villages

Across much of inland Spain, villages have been losing residents for decades. La Rioja is among the regions where shrinking populations are putting pressure on schools, health services and local businesses. In response, the regional government has decided to test a different approach aimed squarely at younger adults who are ready to commit to rural life.

Empty Spain and why La Rioja is paying young people to move

Many of La Rioja’s rural municipalities fall into what is known as "Empty Spain", with small, ageing populations and services under pressure. The Revive Plan targets these areas by offering direct housing grants to people aged 45 or under who are willing to settle there.

For the scheme, a “small municipality or population centre” is any town, village or settlement in La Rioja with 5,000 inhabitants or fewer. Eligible buyers can receive support to buy, self‑build or renovate a home.

How La Rioja’s Revive Plan works for young homebuyers

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Who can apply and where

The Revive Plan is aimed squarely at younger adults who are in a position to buy a home but need a significant financial push to make the move to a small town viable.

• Applicants must be 45 or under at the moment they apply. They must be Spanish citizens, nationals of another EU or EEA country or Switzerland, or qualifying family members under the relevant rules.

  Non‑EU nationals can also apply, as long as they hold a valid residence or stay authorisation in Spain.

• The home must be in a municipality or population centre in La Rioja with max 5,000 residents.

Income conditions

The scheme is also targeted by income:

• Applicants’ annual income must not exceed six times the IPREM, Spain’s public income indicator used for many social and housing policies.

Conditions you must meet to keep the grant

In return for generous support, the Revive Plan imposes some clear obligations on beneficiaries.

• The subsidised property must be the habitual and permanent residence of the beneficiary.
• The home must be used as a main residence for at least five years from the date of acquisition.
• It must be occupied within a maximum of three months, and this is proven through a local registration certificate or empadronamiento.

How much money can you get to live in a small village in La Rioja?

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The headline feature of the Revive Plan is the scale of the support on offer. The grant is calculated as a percentage of the eligible cost, up to a maximum amount that depends on how small the municipality is. 

The maximum eligible price for how much the home, or home plus works, can cost is €180,000 before taxes, and the maximum subsidy levels are:

Municipality size (inhabitants)	Maximum % of eligible cost	Maximum grant (€)
Up to 500	40%	€40,000
501 to 2,000	30%	€30,000
2,001 to 5,000	20%	€20,000

Application deadlines and how to apply

The Revive Plan is not a short‑term pilot. It runs over several years, giving potential applicants time to plan a move.

• The main period for submitting applications runs from 10th May 2024 to 1st June 2027, both dates included.

How to submit the application

The regional authorities offer both digital and in‑person channels:

• Online, via the electronic application system (“Tramitar”) on the Government of La Rioja’s website.
• In person, at the registry office of the competent department or at other authorised public registry offices.

Examples of La Rioja villages using the Revive Plan

San Asensio, La Rioja. David Silverman Getty images

The Revive Plan applies broadly across La Rioja’s rural map, from wine‑producing areas on the Ebro plain to small mountain settlements. Among the many municipalities that fall under the 5,000‑resident threshold are:

• Agoncillo, a municipality east of Logroño with several small population centres and good road links.

• Alberite, a town in the Iregua valley within commuting distance of Logroño, but still under the population limit.

• Aldeanueva de Ebro, in the Rioja Baja area, where agriculture and wine are central to local life and housing remains more affordable than in larger cities.

• Tobia, a much smaller village setting, where the higher 40% grant band for places under 500 residents could apply.

Getty images

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