During the costly Christmas period, many individuals seek ways to supplement their finances following the holiday season. Retired police officer Roy Foulkes from West Hallam, Derbyshire, has successfully earned over £5,500 in cash and vouchers by identifying and reporting vacant and dilapidated properties through the online platform, YouSpotProperty.
Initially, YouSpotProperty rewards individuals with a £20 Amazon or M&S voucher for correctly identifying an unoccupied property. If the company proceeds to purchase, renovate, and sell the property, the spotter receives a 1% share of the purchase price, capped at £10,000.
Roy has accumulated £4,750 in 1% rewards from two properties he reported, in addition to receiving 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780. The earnings have been allocated towards household essentials, vacations, and memorable experiences with his grandchildren.
His first successful report was a neglected property he encountered while strolling through his former patrol area. Despite notifying the local council previously without any action taken, he discovered YouSpotProperty online and decided to give it a try due to its simplicity and effectiveness in handling the process.
The second property that qualified for the 1% fee caught Roy’s attention near a former local authority residence in Derby. After documenting the property obstructed by trees and a discarded refrigerator, he reported it, leading to a reward of £1,620.
Roy expressed gratitude for the opportunities that have allowed him and his family to enjoy various activities, including a recent cruise in Norway to witness the Northern Lights and upcoming plans for a Disneyland visit and a cruise to Seville and Tenerife.
In addition to the monetary rewards, Roy has utilized his vouchers for household purchases, emphasizing his satisfaction in contributing to society while earning income through a useful endeavor.
The Empty Homes Network estimates that over £465 billion worth of properties in England and Wales are vacant or unused, emphasizing the significance of initiatives like YouSpotProperty. The platform distributes an average of 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers monthly for eligible property reports, with hundreds of properties being reported weekly.
YouSpotProperty has facilitated the purchase and restoration of numerous derelict properties, ranging from £17,000 to £3 million, and co-founder Benjamin Radstone highlighted the company’s commitment to addressing the issue of empty homes by bringing them back into use and rewarding the public for their contributions.