During the holiday season, when expenses tend to rise, many individuals seek ways to boost 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 through the platform YouSpotProperty.
Having discovered YouSpotProperty in 2024, Foulkes has been utilizing the platform to generate additional income. The website compensates individuals for pinpointing and reporting abandoned residences, offering a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for each correct identification. Furthermore, if the company acquires, refurbishes, and sells a property reported by a spotter, they award 1% of the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Foulkes has received £4,750 in 1% rewards for two properties that YouSpotProperty renovated based on his reports, along with 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. His earnings have been allocated towards household essentials, vacations, and memorable experiences with his grandchildren.
The retired officer first identified a property eligible for the 1% fee during a stroll in his former patrol area. Despite previously reporting the house to the local council without success, he found success with YouSpotProperty’s streamlined process.
Spotting another property near a former council dwelling in Derby, Foulkes captured images and reported it to YouSpotProperty. Subsequently, he was informed that he had earned 1% of the property’s purchase price, amounting to £1,620.
In addition to the monetary rewards, Foulkes has made use of his vouchers to enhance his household. Delighted with his contributions to society through reporting properties, he appreciates the opportunity to earn while engaging in meaningful activities.
According to the Empty Homes Network, an estimated £465 billion worth of properties in England and Wales remain unoccupied. YouSpotProperty distributes an average of 110 £20 vouchers monthly to individuals reporting eligible properties, with 350 to 450 properties reported weekly.
On average, seven 1% reward fees are disbursed each month for properties acquired and revitalized by YouSpotProperty, ranging from £17,000 to £3 million. Co-founder Benjamin Radstone emphasizes the company’s commitment to addressing the issue of vacant properties by bringing numerous homes back into use and sharing rewards with the public.
By leveraging the opportunity to report empty properties through YouSpotProperty, individuals like Roy Foulkes not only contribute to solving a housing dilemma but also earn rewards that assist in enhancing their livelihoods and experiences.