During the holiday season, many individuals seek ways to boost their finances post-Christmas due to the costly nature of the festivities. Roy Foulkes, a retiree residing in West Hallam, Derbyshire, has managed to accumulate over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant and dilapidated properties through the platform YouSpotProperty.
Introduced to YouSpotProperty in 2024, Roy has been utilizing the website to supplement his income. The platform compensates individuals for pinpointing and notifying about long-term unoccupied residences. Initially rewarding with a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for correctly identifying an empty property, YouSpotProperty further offers 1% of the purchase price, up to £10,000, if the property is acquired, renovated, and sold.
Roy has earned £4,750 in 1% rewards after two properties he reported were rescued by YouSpotProperty, in addition to receiving 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. The rewards, amounting to £2,350 for the first property and £1,620 for the second, have funded purchases for household essentials, holidays, and memorable experiences with his grandchildren.
Spotting the first property while strolling through his former patrol area, Roy’s persistence in reporting the neglected home paid off through YouSpotProperty’s initiative. Encountering the second property near a former local authority residence in Derby, Roy’s vigilance led to an additional reward of £1,620.
Embracing the perks of his earnings, Roy has indulged in various adventures with his family, including a recent cruise to Norway to witness the Northern Lights and upcoming trips to Disneyland, Southampton, Seville, and Tenerife. Utilizing his vouchers for household items, Roy finds satisfaction in contributing to society while earning a modest income through his vigilant property reporting.
In England and Wales, the Empty Homes Network estimates over £465 billion worth of properties lay vacant or unused. YouSpotProperty distributes an average of 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers monthly to individuals reporting eligible properties, with 350 to 450 properties flagged weekly. The company purchases and revitalizes derelict properties ranging from £17,000 to £3 million, rewarding spotters with 1% of the purchase price.
Co-founder Benjamin Radstone of YouSpotProperty.com emphasized the significance of revitalizing empty homes, noting their contribution to bringing numerous properties back into use and sharing rewards with the public.