Christmas can be a costly period, prompting many to seek additional income post-holiday season. Roy Foulkes, a retired police officer residing in West Hallam, Derbyshire, has generated over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant properties through YouSpotProperty since discovering the platform in 2024.
YouSpotProperty compensates individuals for pinpointing long-term empty houses, initially offering a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for correct identifications. If the company proceeds to purchase, renovate, and sell the property, it awards 1% of the purchase value to the informer, capped at £10,000.
Roy has amassed £4,750 in 1% rewards from two properties rescued by YouSpotProperty, in addition to 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. One property garnered him £2,350, while another earned him £1,620 more recently, which he has utilized for household items, vacations, and bonding experiences with his grandchildren.
The first property that qualified for the 1% fee caught Roy’s attention during a stroll through his former patrol area. Despite previously reporting it to the local council without success, he found a simple solution through YouSpotProperty, where reporting a property led to financial rewards.
His second discovery was near an ex-local authority house, obstructed by trees and neglected. After reporting it and validating the property’s purchase, Roy received a reward of £1,620. Besides his monetary gains, Roy has enjoyed various family activities, including a recent cruise to Norway to witness the Northern Lights and upcoming trips to Disneyland and Southampton.
With a keen eye, Roy has flagged approximately 120 properties, with 39 qualifying for vouchers, providing him a sense of societal contribution and supplemental income. The Empty Homes Network estimates over £465 billion worth of unoccupied properties in England and Wales, and YouSpotProperty routinely distributes M&S or Amazon vouchers to those reporting eligible properties.
The company purchases and revitalizes properties worth £17,000 to £3 million, sharing rewards with the public for their contributions. Co-founder Benjamin Radstone emphasized their commitment to repurposing empty homes, reviving hundreds and sharing rewards with the public in the process.