During the holiday season, many individuals seek ways to boost their finances post-Christmas due to the high expenses incurred. Roy Foulkes, a retired police officer from West Hallam, Derbyshire, has successfully earned over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant properties through the YouSpotProperty platform.
Introduced to YouSpotProperty in 2024, Roy has been utilizing the website to generate extra income by pinpointing long-term empty houses. The platform initially rewards individuals with a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for correctly identifying an unoccupied property. Additionally, if YouSpotProperty purchases, renovates, and sells a property reported by a spotter, they receive a 1% reward based on the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Roy has accumulated £4,750 from 1% rewards after two properties he reported were successfully rescued by YouSpotProperty. He also received 39 £20 vouchers, totaling £780, which he used for various household items, vacations, and experiences with his grandchildren.
The first property that qualified for the 1% fee caught Roy’s attention while he was walking in his former policing area. Despite previously reporting the property to the local council without any action taken, Roy’s involvement with YouSpotProperty led to a successful outcome.
The second property Roy reported was near a former ex-local authority house in Derby. After noticing the neglected state of the property, he documented it with photos and reported it, ultimately earning £1,620 as a 1% reward upon its purchase.
Apart from the financial rewards, Roy has utilized the vouchers received to enhance his home. Expressing satisfaction in contributing to society while earning income through useful activities, he emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of empty properties in England and Wales.
YouSpotProperty continues to incentivize individuals to report eligible properties, with an average of 110 £20 vouchers distributed monthly. The company purchases and restores vacant properties, paying out seven 1% reward fees each month. Over the past year, properties ranging from £17,000 to £3 million have been acquired and revitalized by YouSpotProperty.
Co-founder Benjamin Radstone highlighted the significant impact of bringing empty homes back into use, emphasizing the shared rewards with the public through the platform.
