A service has been set up which pays members of the public who spot empty homes which may then be brought back into residential use.

You Spot Property works like this.

A member of the public can spot a property they believe to be long-term empty: they take a photo of it, give its precise address, and submit the picture and information to the You Spot Property website. 

If the property matches the criteria of long-term empty with the capacity of being brought back into use, the ‘spotter’ receives a £20 voucher from the website. The criteria include the requirement for the property to be privately owned, not being on the market, and not having a recent or pending planning application. 

Then the website tries to make contact with the owner to facilitate buying the property that’s been reported. If the site is successful, the spotter then receives 1% of the purchase price – so, for example, if the property is purchased for £200,000, the spotter gets £2,000. The website will also donate £500 to a local charity.

The company is linked with Hyjan Investments, a company which specialises in the acquisition of unmodernised, long-term empty, unregistered, derelict, probate or short lease properties.