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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
I made £10,000 by dobbing in my neighbour – it pays for my holidays abroad & anyone can do it
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) YOU may be able to earn money on the abandoned house on your street. A company will pay out up to £10,000 if you take a simple step regarding derelict properties. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Ben Radstone from presented Rebecca with a cheque for £10,000 Credit: 6 Rebecca received the money after reporting a derelict home in her area to the company Credit: Balham resident Rebecca heard about the initiative after seeing a post on social media. The story detailed a company, which rewards members of the public for reporting empty and derelict homes in their neighbourhoods. If the house was eligible according to the firm's criteria, the person who reported it would receive a £20 voucher. And for houses the company actually ends up buying and putting back into use, they would pay "spotters" 1% of the purchase price, up to a cap of £10,000. Read More On Property LEVEL UP I'm a property pro - 7 key factors that have helped celebrities sell their homes Last month, confirmed it handed out more than £1 million in reward monies and vouchers to members of the public. Rebecca recalled how she shocked she was to learn the value of her reward from the company. 'I'd come across on social media and thought I'd give it a try when I uploaded a few lower value derelict looking properties," she explained. "The house in question though – on the corner of my road - I thought would be the least likely to get anywhere. "It's a large, 2,000 square foot, late Victorian house with some intricate detailing. "It was boarded up, but a neighbour had told me it was squatted in where there was a broken window." Inside Graham Norton's incredible £6million New York townhouse he bought from huge supermodel as Brit star puts property on the market The 54-year-old decided to leave a note for the owner in the letter box but "received no reply". "Done up versions of such properties would fetch anywhere around £1.5 million so I thought such a valuable house would ultimately be on the owner's radar," Rebecca said. And as it turns out, reporting this property turned out to be a profitable bet. Recently, Rebecca received the phone call from Ben Radstone, co-founder of informing her she had earned £10,000. The spotter, who has worked in television production on popular programmes such as Cash In The Attic and crime-related shows, said the money would be put to good use. 5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers. 1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out - holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway. Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month. 2. Have a realistic property search Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it? 3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they're great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London. 4. Consider buying with another person Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner. You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven't already. 5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs. She plans to repay a £5,000 loan to her mum in addition to buying a "decent" computer. The remainder of the cash will be put into savings with some set aside for holidays, potentially to Ibiza where she visited many times before. explained the investigation process involved after the house was brought to their attention. 'Having discovered that the house had sat empty for a number of years, our investigation uncovered that the owner was still alive but incapacitated and living elsewhere in care," Ben said. 6 The company rewards 'spotters' for flagging abandoned houses in their area to them Credit: 6 The property had been derelict for a 'number of years' as the owner was 'incapacitated and living elsewhere' Credit: "We traced the owner's sister who has asked our advice as what to do to help her brother (the owner) liquidate his house so the proceeds could be put towards his care. "In order to gain permission to act on her brother's behalf she had to gain court of protection for her brother – enabling her to legally make decisions on his behalf. "We were eventually able to secure the house for £1 million. "Listing a house in such a condition with a high street estate agent would otherwise [have] taken ages to sell and mortgage buyers would struggle to gain finance for such a property – this is where we step in. 6 rewards 'spotters' up to £10,000 for flagging properties in their area Credit: He went on to reveal the company has applied for planning permission to covert the home into three flats. "Most of it hasn't been touched in more than 40 years and is in serious need of refurbishment," Ben added. "We hope to have new home makers in there as soon as possible.' For more than a decade, has identified and put back into use, through the help of the public, more derelict homes around the UK than any other single organisation.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I made £10,000 by dobbing in my neighbour – it pays for my holidays abroad & anyone can do it
YOU may be able to earn money on the abandoned house on your street. A company will pay out up to £10,000 if you take a simple step regarding derelict properties. 6 6 Balham resident Rebecca heard about the initiative after seeing a post on social media. The story detailed a company, which rewards members of the public for reporting empty and derelict homes in their neighbourhoods. If the house was eligible according to the firm's criteria, the person who reported it would receive a £20 voucher. And for houses the company actually ends up buying and putting back into use, they would pay "spotters" 1% of the purchase price, up to a cap of £10,000. Last month, confirmed it handed out more than £1 million in reward monies and vouchers to members of the public. Rebecca recalled how she shocked she was to learn the value of her reward from the company. 'I'd come across on social media and thought I'd give it a try when I uploaded a few lower value derelict looking properties," she explained. "The house in question though – on the corner of my road - I thought would be the least likely to get anywhere. "It's a large, 2,000 square foot, late Victorian house with some intricate detailing. "It was boarded up, but a neighbour had told me it was squatted in where there was a broken window." Inside Graham Norton's incredible £6million New York townhouse he bought from huge supermodel as Brit star puts property on the market The 54-year-old decided to leave a note for the owner in the letter box but "received no reply". "Done up versions of such properties would fetch anywhere around £1.5 million so I thought such a valuable house would ultimately be on the owner's radar," Rebecca said. And as it turns out, reporting this property turned out to be a profitable bet. Recently, Rebecca received the phone call from Ben Radstone, co-founder of informing her she had earned £10,000. The spotter, who has worked in television production on popular programmes such as Cash In The Attic and crime-related shows, said the money would be put to good use. 5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers. 1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out - holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway. Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month. 2. Have a realistic property search Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it? 3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they're great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London. 4. Consider buying with another person Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner. You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven't already. 5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs. She plans to repay a £5,000 loan to her mum in addition to buying a "decent" computer. The remainder of the cash will be put into savings with some set aside for holidays, potentially to Ibiza where she visited many times before. explained the investigation process involved after the house was brought to their attention. 'Having discovered that the house had sat empty for a number of years, our investigation uncovered that the owner was still alive but incapacitated and living elsewhere in care," Ben said. 6 6 "We traced the owner's sister who has asked our advice as what to do to help her brother (the owner) liquidate his house so the proceeds could be put towards his care. "In order to gain permission to act on her brother's behalf she had to gain court of protection for her brother – enabling her to legally make decisions on his behalf. "We were eventually able to secure the house for £1 million. "Listing a house in such a condition with a high street estate agent would otherwise [have] taken ages to sell and mortgage buyers would struggle to gain finance for such a property – this is where we step in. 6 He went on to reveal the company has applied for planning permission to covert the home into three flats. "Most of it hasn't been touched in more than 40 years and is in serious need of refurbishment," Ben added. "We hope to have new home makers in there as soon as possible.' For more than a decade, has identified and put back into use, through the help of the public, more derelict homes around the UK than any other single organisation. 6
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Woman made £10,000 by reporting neighbour and claims anyone can do it
"I thought such a valuable house would ultimately be on the owner's radar." A woman has told how she managed to earn £10,000 by reporting an empty and run-down house in her neighbourhood. Rebecca from Balham in Greater London, noticed squatters in a boarded up property - a large, 2,000 sq ft late Victorian house and wondered what had happened to the owner. After leaving a note and receiving no reply, the 54-year-old decided to report it to a company called which rewards members of the public for spotting derelict houses. If the property you find meets the eligibility criteria, then you will initially be awarded a £20 voucher for M&S or Amazon. But if YouSpotProperty goes on to purchase that home, then you get a 1% share of the property value, up to £10,000. Rebecca told the Mirror: 'I'd come across on social media and thought I'd give it a try when I uploaded a few lower value derelict looking properties. The house in question though – on the corner of my road - I thought would be the least likely to get anywhere. "It was boarded up, but a neighbour had told me it was squatted in where there was a broken window. I'd left a note to the owner, whoever they were, in the letter box which I can see was taken, but I received no reply. "Done up versions of such properties would fetch anywhere around £1.5million so I thought such a valuable house would ultimately be on the owner's radar.' Rebecca is the second person to receive the maximum £10,000 reward since 2017. Last month, YouSpotProperty revealed it has handed out more than £1million in money and vouchers to members of the public. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Ben Radstone, co-founder of YouSpotProperty, revealed how the company discovered the owner was still alive, but was incapacitated and living elsewhere in care. 'A year ago we traced the owner's sister who has asked our advice as what to do to help her brother (the owner) liquidate his house so the proceeds could be put towards his care. 'In order to gain permission to act on her brother's behalf she had to gain 'court of protection for her brother – enabling her to legally make decisions on his behalf. 'We advised her on this in May 2024 and all the legals took the best part of a year. Fast forward to now and we were eventually able to secure the house for £1million. 'Listing a house in such a condition with a high street estate agent would otherwise taken ages to sell and mortgage buyers would struggle to gain finance for such a property – this is where we step in.' In the past couple of weeks Rebecca received the phone call, informing her of her win. Rebecca, who has worked in television production on programmes such as Cash In The Attic, said the money will be used to repay a £5,000 loan to her mum, in addition to buying a "decent" computer. The rest will be put into savings and some set aside for holidays.
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'I made £10,000 by reporting my neighbour - anyone can do it'
Rebecca, 54, from Balham in Greater London, knew the boarded up property - a large, 2,000 sq ft late Victorian house - was being squatted in One woman has explained how she scooped a £10,000 reward - just by reporting an empty and run-down house in her neighbourhood. Rebecca, 54, from Balham in Greater London, knew the boarded up property - a large, 2,000 sq ft late Victorian house - was being squatted in, and wondered what had happened to the owner. After leaving a note and receiving no reply, she decided to report it to a company called which rewards members of the public for spotting derelict houses. If the property you find meets the eligibility criteria, then you will initially be awarded a £20 voucher for M&S or Amazon. But if YouSpotProperty goes on to purchase that home, then you get a 1% share of the property value, up to £10,000. Rebecca said: 'I'd come across on social media and thought I'd give it a try when I uploaded a few lower value derelict looking properties. The house in question though – on the corner of my road - I thought would be the least likely to get anywhere. "It was boarded up, but a neighbour had told me it was squatted in where there was a broken window. I'd left a note to the owner, whoever they were, in the letter box which I can see was taken, but I received no reply. "Done up versions of such properties would fetch anywhere around £1.5million so I thought such a valuable house would ultimately be on the owner's radar.' Rebecca is the second person to receive the maximum £10,000 reward since 2017. Last month, YouSpotProperty revealed it has handed out more than £1million in money and vouchers to members of the public. Ben Radstone, co-founder of YouSpotProperty, revealed how the company discovered the owner was still alive, but was incapacitated and living elsewhere in care. 'A year ago we traced the owner's sister who has asked our advice as what to do to help her brother (the owner) liquidate his house so the proceeds could be put towards his care. 'In order to gain permission to act on her brother's behalf she had to gain 'court of protection for her brother – enabling her to legally make decisions on his behalf. 'We advised her on this in May 2024 and all the legals took the best part of a year. Fast forward to now and we were eventually able to secure the house for £1million. 'Listing a house in such a condition with a high street estate agent would otherwise taken ages to sell and mortgage buyers would struggle to gain finance for such a property – this is where we step in.' In the past couple of weeks Rebecca received the phone call, informing her of her win. Rebecca, who has worked in television production on programmes such as Cash In The Attic, said the money will be used to repay a £5,000 loan to her mum, in addition to buying a "decent" computer. The rest will be put into savings and some set aside for holidays.
