During the costly holiday season, many individuals seek ways to boost their finances post-Christmas. Roy Foulkes, a retired police officer from West Hallam, Derbyshire, has earned over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant properties through YouSpotProperty since joining in 2024.
YouSpotProperty compensates individuals with a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for correctly flagging empty homes. Moreover, if the company acquires, renovates, and sells a property reported by a spotter, it awards 1% of the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Roy has accumulated £4,750 from 1% rewards after two properties he reported were rescued by YouSpotProperty, in addition to 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. His earnings have been utilized for household items, vacations, and creating memories with his grandchildren.
The first property Roy identified for the 1% fee was a neglected home he stumbled upon during a walk in his former patrol area. Despite prior reports to the local council yielding no action, Roy’s submission to YouSpotProperty led to a successful transaction.
The second property he reported was near an ex-local authority residence in Derby. Roy’s vigilance while out with his grandson led to the discovery of the property, ultimately resulting in him earning £1,620 as a 1% reward.
Aside from the financial rewards, Roy has redeemed his vouchers for household essentials. Expressing satisfaction in contributing to society, Roy has reported around 120 properties, with 39 meeting the qualifying criteria for vouchers.
The Empty Homes Network estimates that over £465 billion worth of properties in England and Wales lie unoccupied. YouSpotProperty distributes an average of 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers monthly to individuals who report eligible properties, with weekly reports ranging from 350 to 450 properties.
On average, seven 1% reward fees are disbursed monthly for homes acquired and rehabilitated by YouSpotProperty, with purchased properties ranging from £17,000 to £3 million over the past year.
Co-founder Benjamin Radstone emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing the issue of vacant properties and its role in reintroducing them back into use, benefiting both the community and those who report them.