During the costly holiday season, many individuals seek additional income opportunities to replenish their finances post-Christmas.
Roy Foulkes, a retired police officer residing in West Hallam, Derbyshire, has accumulated over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant and dilapidated properties. In 2024, Roy discovered YouSpotProperty, a platform rewarding individuals for flagging long-term empty houses, and has been utilizing it successfully ever since.
Initially, individuals receive a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for correctly pinpointing an empty property. If YouSpotProperty proceeds to purchase, renovate, and sell the property, the spotter is rewarded 1% of the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Having reported two properties that were subsequently rescued by YouSpotProperty, Roy has earned £4,750 in 1% rewards and received 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. The funds have been allocated towards household items, vacations, and memorable experiences with his grandchildren.
Spotting his first qualifying property during a stroll through his former beat, Roy noticed an abandoned house that he had previously reported to the local council without any action taken. Encountering the second property near a former ex-local authority residence in Derby, Roy captured photographs and reported it, ultimately earning £1,620, representing 1% of the purchase price.
In addition to his rewards, Roy has utilized his vouchers for household purchases and feels gratified contributing to society while earning extra income. The Empty Homes Network estimates that over £465 billion worth of properties in England and Wales remain unoccupied or underutilized.
YouSpotProperty distributes an average of 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers monthly to individuals reporting eligible properties, with 350 to 450 properties reported weekly. The company typically pays seven 1% reward fees monthly for acquired properties, ranging from £17,000 to £3 million over the past year.
Co-founder of YouSpotProperty.com, Benjamin Radstone, emphasizes the significant impact of bringing empty homes back into use, highlighting the shared rewards with the public in the process.