During the costly Christmas season, many individuals seek opportunities to boost their finances post-festivities. Retired police officer Roy Foulkes shared how he has earned over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant properties.
Roy, residing in West Hallam, Derbyshire, discovered YouSpotProperty in 2024 and has been utilizing the platform to supplement his income. YouSpotProperty compensates individuals for pinpointing and reporting unoccupied residences, offering a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for each verified empty property. Moreover, if the company acquires, renovates, and sells the property, they reward the spotter with 1% of the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Having reported two properties that were later rescued by YouSpotProperty, Roy received £4,750 in 1% rewards and 39 £20 vouchers, totaling £780. The earnings from the first property amounted to £2,350, while the recent one fetched him £1,620. Roy utilized the money for household items, vacations, and creating memorable experiences with his grandchildren.
Roy’s first spotting of a property eligible for the 1% fee occurred during a stroll in his former patrol area, where an abandoned house caught his attention. Despite prior reports to the local council yielding no action, Roy’s submission to YouSpotProperty led to a successful outcome.
The second property that qualified for the 1% reward was identified near a former council house in Derby. Roy encountered the neglected property during a walk while accompanying his grandson to a swimming session. After documenting the state of the property and reporting it, he was informed of earning 1% of the property’s purchase price, totaling £1,620.
Through his efforts, Roy has not only received monetary rewards but also contributed to society by identifying and reporting numerous properties. The initiative aims to address the issue of empty homes, with YouSpotProperty reactivating hundreds of properties and sharing rewards with contributors.
The platform distributes an average of 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers monthly to individuals reporting eligible properties, with 350 to 450 properties reported weekly. On average, YouSpotProperty pays out seven 1% reward fees each month for houses they acquire, refurbish, and put back into use. In the past year, the company has purchased vacant properties ranging from £17,000 to £3 million.
Co-founder of YouSpotProperty.com, Benjamin Radstone, emphasized the significance of repurposing empty homes and highlighted the positive impact of the initiative in revitalizing properties and engaging the public in the process.