A chance encounter at a bus stop sparked a lucrative hobby for Linda Williams, a retired shop owner who has discovered a way to earn significant income by identifying and reporting long-term vacant properties. Her unique method has not only provided her with extra cash for luxuries like a cruise but also contributes to revitalizing communities.
The Accidental Property Scout
Linda, 62, was waiting for a bus in Haydock, Merseyside, when an elderly gentleman mentioned he lived next door to an empty house. This seemingly ordinary observation resonated with Linda, who saw an immediate opportunity. As an avid walker, she has a keen eye for spotting uninhabited and neglected properties, a skill she has honed into a profitable venture.
Linda is among thousands of individuals across England who act as property scouts. Their role involves actively looking for homes that have been vacant for extended periods, often becoming an eyesore in their neighborhoods. Upon identifying such a property, scouts capture photographs and submit the address to specialized companies that track down property owners. These firms, like Empty Property Hunters and You Spot Property, then facilitate the purchase, renovation, and resale of these homes by developers, who aim to profit from the process.
How Property Scouting Works
Scouts typically receive a finder’s fee of £20 for each valid tip-off. If the owner is located and agrees to sell, the scout may also receive a percentage of the sale price, usually around 1 percent.
In Linda’s pivotal case, the elderly gentleman confirmed the house had been vacant since 2009 and was causing damp issues to his property. Intrigued, Linda investigated further and, noting the overgrown state of the house, promptly emailed photos to Empty Property Hunters. Investigations revealed the owner had inherited the property but faced probate delays, leaving it unoccupied for years.
Within seven weeks, Empty Property Hunters successfully acquired the house for approximately £50,000. Linda’s efforts yielded a total of £420 – her £20 finder’s fee combined with £400 from the sale. She used this windfall to fund a cruise along the Norwegian Fjords.
More Than Just a Finder’s Fee
Since embarking on her property scouting journey about 14 months ago, Linda has accumulated £600. An additional £200 came from finder’s fees, which she used to treat her family. She discovered the opportunity through a free sign-up after seeing an advertisement on Facebook.
Linda, who previously worked as a property landlady for many years, combined her interest in real estate with her passion for walking, often exceeding 35,000 steps in a weekend. She views spotting empty properties as a supplementary income stream, alongside other money-saving activities like maximizing supermarket loyalty points and using cashback apps. “The money comes in handy as a little extra to spoil my grandchildren,” she noted.
Community Impact and Compensation
Empty Property Hunters boasts a roster of over 5,000 scouts, some of whom have earned substantial amounts. The company accepts property vacancy reports via email, phone, or WhatsApp. Common contributors include dog walkers, estate agents, delivery drivers, and tradespeople – individuals whose daily routines take them across various communities.
Eligibility for the finder’s fee requires the property to be privately owned, not council or company-owned, and not have been listed for sale or sold within the last five years. Crucially, the property must have been vacant for at least 12 months.
Analysis from the campaign group Action On Empty Homes indicates that there are 303,185 homes that have been long-term empty across England, with vacant properties increasing by 50 percent since 2016. Common reasons for prolonged vacancies include bereavement, probate complications, family disputes, or owners living abroad.
Simon Taylor, founder of Empty Property Hunters, shared an example of a property vacant for seven years due to the owner living far away and feeling overwhelmed by its condition following a divorce. The property, lacking heating and in significant disrepair, was eventually transformed into a modern family home after refurbishment.
Taylor emphasizes that while scouts are encouraged to identify empty homes, they must refrain from trespassing, peering into windows, or invading privacy.
Expert Tips for Aspiring Scouts
Steve Cox, a leak detector for a water company, covers extensive ground in north Kent. Over two years as a property scout, he has earned £4,480, with £1,580 from finder’s fees. Initially, Steve, 48, submitted photos of properties that appeared unoccupied but were, in fact, still inhabited. He has since learned to identify definitive signs of long-term vacancies, such as overflowing gutters, overgrown gardens, and accumulated mail.
Steve employs a strategy of using Google Maps to examine properties, noting if the landscape, including bins or cars on driveways, has remained unchanged for years. This technique helps him assess potential long-term emptiness.
Ben Radstone, founder of You Spot Property, suggests that tools like Google Maps and Google Street View can help identify potentially abandoned properties without leaving home. He advises looking for signs like boarded-up windows, visible neglect, and deteriorating roofs.
Radstone believes the most successful scouts are observant individuals who notice properties others overlook. He added, “Spotters aren’t just earning money; they are helping to improve communities.” He noted that a single neglected property can negatively impact an entire street, diminishing neighborhood pride and potentially hindering property sales for adjacent homeowners.
Steve, who recently earned £160 in finder’s fees in a single week, is investing his earnings in the stock market for retirement. He describes his scouting activity as an excellent “side hustle” given his extensive daily travel for his primary job.
