During the costly Christmas period, many individuals seek ways to boost their finances post the festive 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. Utilizing the platform YouSpotProperty since 2024, Roy has earned £4,750 in rewards from two properties the company purchased based on his reports, along with 39 £20 vouchers totaling £780.
After spotting an abandoned property during a walk in his former beat, Roy reported it to the local council with no action taken. He then turned to YouSpotProperty, impressed by its simplicity and effectiveness in managing the process of refurbishing neglected houses. The second property he reported, located near an ex-local authority house in Derby, also resulted in a significant reward of £1,620.
Aside from the financial gains, Roy has utilized his vouchers for household purchases, expressing satisfaction in contributing to society while earning extra income. The Empty Homes Network estimates that over £465 billion worth of properties in England and Wales remain unoccupied. YouSpotProperty issues around 110 £20 M&S or Amazon vouchers monthly for eligible reports, with an average of 7 1% reward fees paid each month for purchased properties. Co-founder Benjamin Radstone highlighted the company’s impact in bringing numerous vacant properties back into use and rewarding the public for their contributions.