During the costly Christmas season, many individuals seek ways to supplement their finances post-holidays. Roy Foulkes, a retired police officer from West Hallam, Derbyshire, has managed to pocket over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting abandoned properties through YouSpotProperty since discovering the platform in 2024.
YouSpotProperty compensates individuals for pinpointing long-term vacant houses, initially awarding a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for accurate identifications. If the company purchases, renovates, and sells the property, the spotter receives 1% of the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Roy has earned £4,750 in 1% rewards for two properties successfully rescued by YouSpotProperty, along with 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. His earnings have been utilized for household items, vacations, and memorable experiences with his grandchildren.
The initial property that qualified for the 1% fee was noticed by Roy during a stroll in his former patrol area. Despite prior reports to the local council yielding no action, Roy’s submission to YouSpotProperty led to significant earnings for him.
The second property, located near an ex-local authority residence in Derby, caught Roy’s attention during a family outing. After reporting it and receiving confirmation of his reward, Roy secured an additional £1,620.
In addition to enjoying various leisure activities, Roy has utilized his vouchers for household purchases, finding satisfaction in contributing to society while earning extra income through this meaningful endeavor.
Data from the Empty Homes Network indicates that over £465 billion worth of properties in England and Wales remain unoccupied. YouSpotProperty regularly distributes around 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers each month to individuals reporting eligible properties, with an average of 350 to 450 properties reported weekly.
The company purchases and rehabilitates empty and dilapidated properties ranging from £17,000 to £3 million, issuing an average of seven 1% reward fees monthly for properties brought back into use.
Co-founder Benjamin Radstone emphasized the significant impact YouSpotProperty has had in reviving empty homes and sharing rewards with contributors, underscoring the importance of addressing the issue of vacant properties.