You Spot Property: Could That Empty House Earn You £20?

You might walk past the same empty house on the school run or while taking the dog out, wondering why nobody’s done anything with it. Perhaps the garden has grown over the path, the windows are boarded up and the place looks as though it hasn’t been lived in for years. Through You Spot Property, reporting a suitable home could earn you a £20 gift voucher, with a possible larger payment if the company buys it.

That larger reward is 1% of the purchase price, up to £10,000, so a qualifying £300,000 purchase would mean £3,000 for the person who spotted it. There’s more to qualifying than finding a house that looks neglected, though, and the owner might never want to sell. It’s worth understanding the rules before spending your weekend looking for properties or planning how you’d spend the money.

How do you earn money by reporting empty houses?

You send in the details, then the company checks whether the home is suitable and tries to contact the owner. The £20 voucher is the first reward for an accepted, qualifying report; you don’t have to wait for a purchase to get that. The separate cash payment depends on the company actually buying the property and you meeting the reward conditions.

There can be a difficult personal story behind an empty home. Someone may have inherited it, moved into care or struggled to organise repairs, so a neglected garden doesn’t tell you everything about the owner’s circumstances. Leave the approach to the owner to the company, and don’t enter the house or garden to investigate.

Which properties qualify?

The scheme focuses on privately owned residential properties in England and selected Welsh postcodes, generally empty for more than 12 months and in poor condition through disuse. There’s an exception to the usual vacancy period for homes recently affected by probate, the process of dealing with someone’s estate after their death. A property also needs to be worth more than £100,000.

You must be a UK resident aged 18 or over. Under the full reward terms, exclusions include rural homes, listed buildings, non-standard construction, shops and flats above shops. Homes marketed within 24 months, bought within five years or subject to a planning application within three years are excluded, alongside properties already on the company’s database. Further exclusions apply, and acceptance remains discretionary.

For example, an empty house with a sale board outside isn’t automatically a money-making opportunity. Nor does a scruffy exterior prove a property has been unoccupied for the required time. Give an honest account of what you know, rather than guessing details to make the house sound suitable.

How much could you receive?

The 1% is based on what You Spot Property pays for the home, rather than what a nearby house sold for or what the property might be worth after renovation. The examples below show the calculation, not likely earnings or valuations. You’d need an eligible completed purchase to receive the cash reward.

There are extra conditions for that payment. You must have no financial interest in the transaction, and reporting the property to a competitor can disqualify you; reporting it to a local authority is excepted. Receiving the 1% also requires participation in publicity, although your identity can be concealed. Read that requirement before deciding whether you’re comfortable taking part.

Bringing an unused home back into use can be a welcome change for the street. A charity donation of at least £500 is discretionary under the terms, despite firmer wording elsewhere on the website. It shouldn’t be treated as a guaranteed part of every purchase.

How do you report a property?

Use the report a property form, enter the location and your contact details, and add a photograph if you have one. The form includes an option to continue without a photo. If you’re unsure of the precise address, explain the location clearly rather than picking a house number that might send the researchers to the wrong door.

Take any photograph from somewhere you’re allowed to be, without entering the grounds or peering through windows. Save the submission email and a note of the address for your own records. You’ll then have something to refer back to if you need to ask about progress.

How long does payment take?

The company aims to respond within 60 days, and qualifying vouchers are normally emailed at the end of the following calendar month. Buying the property can take months or even years. The official FAQs explain the timings and how to follow up, so a slow purchase shouldn’t be confused with the initial voucher assessment.

After completion, eligible spotters are notified within 30 days. Return the bank-details form within 30 days of notification; payment follows within another 30 days. Keep an eye on your inbox, as missing the claim deadline could cost you the reward.

Is being a property spotter worth your time?

If you already know of a potentially suitable house, taking a few minutes to report it could be worthwhile. I wouldn’t spend money travelling around specifically to hunt for properties, because a rejected report leaves you with the cost and no reward. Even an accepted address doesn’t give you a purchase date or money you can safely put towards next month’s bills.

If you’d prefer opportunities you can apply for from home, our paid market research guide explains how interviews and focus groups work. Selection isn’t guaranteed there either, but you can consider a particular project and its payment before agreeing to take part. For property spotting, start with a home you already know, read the eligibility rules and keep your expectations realistic.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get paid to report an empty house?

Yes, You Spot Property offers a £20 voucher for a qualifying report and a possible cash reward if it buys the home. An empty house won’t automatically qualify.

Do I need a photo to report a property?

You can start without a photo, using the option on the reporting form. A recent photograph can help identify the house and show its condition.

Does You Spot Property cover the whole UK?

No, eligible properties must be in England or selected Welsh postcodes. Check the current postcode list before reporting a home in Wales.

Can I report more than one property?

Yes, you can submit different properties. Keep a record of what you’ve sent so you can follow up without confusing the addresses.