There's a housing emergency on the island: one in three homes is unused.

One in three homes on the island is empty. There's something for everyone: from an abandoned ruin in a small inland village to a large inherited apartment in the center of Cagliari. Millions of square meters are not being rented out or made available to families, students, and workers who, in recent years, have been struggling with high rents and property prices that are reaching historic highs month after month.

Vicious circle

One of the most significant market shifts has been the post-Covid crisis. "The percentage of tenants in arrears has increased significantly," says Marcello Ciaravlola, regional president of Confedilizia, a historic property owners' association. "Landlords are afraid to rent out a property long-term because, in the event of non-payment, evicting an occupant is a lengthy and difficult task. Therefore, many prefer to leave their properties empty rather than waste time and money."

Voracious tourism

The other weak point in the real estate market is short-term rentals. Over time, many families have realized how profitable they could be and have converted their second homes, once rented to students or families for years, into small, private hotels to accommodate the many tourists who visit Sardinia.