Perched on the edge of a plateau in the Sierra del Segura region of Spain, the rural village of Letur wants to repopulate. The village is hoping to lure remote workers to expand its waning population of 900 residents. In fact, Repuebla Letur (repopulate Letur) is offering brand new, fully furnished two- and three-bedroom apartments in the center of town at low rents. Read on to find out how you can take advantage of this great deal.

Letur wants to repopulate with remote workers

The main advantage of being a remote worker is, well, you can work anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. So why not stay in a picturesque village up in the Sierra del Segura in southeastern Spain?

The village of Letur has launched a new initiative to repopulate the town under the banner of Repuebla Letur (repopulate Letur). Meanwhile, the village is betting big on the venture by building ten, brand-new, fully furnished two- and three-bedroom apartments right in the center of the village.

These new homes away from home are going at low rents of between €340 ($338) and €450 ($448) a month, excluding utilities. Even better, Letur has plans for a co-working space with a high-speed Internet connection close by.

The man behind the venture is Carlos García Osío of El Cantero di Letur, an organic dairy farm in Letur. Meanwhile, the hope is that the arrival of new residents will ensure the continuation of key services, such as the school and the doctor’s surgery, remain open in the village. Speaking of the venture, García Osío told Lonely Planet:

We want to give people who are tired of living in cities and ready to move into a home with furniture, appliances, everything that a family needs to enjoy a pleasant life here.

Become a remote worker in Letur, Spain

This tempting offer is open to anyone who works remotely. Meanwhile, García Osío and other village residents hope that their new neighbors will eventually think of Letur as their home. He added:

As long as people continue to telework and fulfill all their requirements, they can stay 10 or even 20 years.

One of the first steps in applying is to visit their website, repueblaletur.com. However, potential applicants will have to move quickly. Since the initiative was first launched in July, five of the 10 apartments are already occupied.

García Osío says the international attention they received has taken them by surprise. In fact, originally, their intention was to attract Spanish nationals or anyone who already has residency in Spain.

However, as long as applicants are able to legally live in Spain and are willing to declare Letur as their official residence, he says other nationalities are welcome. However, he did say that priority is given to families with children under the age of 12, who intend to enroll them in the local school.

About Letur in Spain

Despite its shrinking population, the mountain village has plenty to offer. In fact, Letur has five bars and restaurants, general stores, and a choice of supermarkets. Meanwhile, the village has a calendar of cultural festivals to enjoy.

Should anyone want to catch a movie, or visit a shopping mall, they can hop in their car and drive to Albacete, an hour away. Meanwhile, there is public transport, but García Osío says it isn’t reliable. Moreover, the nearest airport is Murcia, about a one-and-a-half hour drive away.

Readers can enjoy an aerial view of the village and the new apartments in the video below, courtesy of @repueblaletur on Instagram:

Remote working in Spain

Spain has an excellent reputation among the remote working community as being one of the best countries in Western Europe. The relaxed lifestyle, the food, and the great weather make it the ideal place. Meanwhile, the cost of living is a major benefit as, unlike in other EU countries, money goes further in Spain.

Visas for remote workers in Spain

Currently, there is no official visa for remote workers in Spain. However, a new Startups Law is coming into effect in the coming months. Under that law, eligible entrepreneurs and remote workers will be granted a visa for up to five years. Moreover, they will be subject to a special non-resident income tax bracket.

Until then, contact your nearest Spanish embassy or consulate to find out if you are eligible to become a remote worker in Spain.

This year, think seriously of becoming a remote worker in Spain, enjoying the sunshine and the local lifestyle while making a living from home.