Lisandra recently left her job and was surprised to receive a call informing her that she had been granted £1,770 for reporting an empty property. The reward came from YouSpotProperty.com, a platform that offers vouchers and cash incentives to individuals who report vacant and neglected houses in their communities.
When a property meets the required criteria, the reporter initially receives a £20 voucher for M&S or Amazon. However, if YouSpotProperty decides to purchase the property, the reporter is entitled to a 1% share of the property’s value, up to £10,000.
Spotting an abandoned property on her way to the bus stop in Crawley, Lisandra, 37, noticed the overgrown garden of a semi-detached house from the 1980s/90s located on a corner. She observed that the upstairs windows were covered with boards, the bins were always in the same place, indicating the house was unoccupied.
Having a passion for gardening, Lisandra decided to report the property to YouSpotProperty. The unexpected £1,770 reward came at a critical time as she had just left her job and was in the midst of attending multiple job interviews.
The windfall allowed Lisandra to cover her living expenses for another month while she searched for new employment. Originally from Portugal and residing in the UK for 13 years, Lisandra found the timing of the reward to be serendipitous.
Lisandra and her partner, who works at Gatwick Airport, are currently renovating their home, so any surplus from the payment will be invested in their DIY project. YouSpotProperty has already distributed over £1 million in rewards to members of the public in the form of vouchers and property price shares.
Ben Radstone, co-founder of YouSpotProperty.com, highlighted Lisandra’s case as an example of the positive impact of involving communities in bringing empty properties back into use. The property she reported was owned by a separated couple engaged in a dispute, leading to mortgage non-payment and repossession proceedings.
Through mediation, YouSpotProperty facilitated the sale of the property within three weeks, preventing repossession and addressing issues like fire damage on the first floor. Radstone emphasized the importance of community involvement in revitalizing neglected properties.
