I made so much cash tipping off developers about empty houses that I was able to pay for a cruise. Here's how YOU can do the same...
Linda Williams was waiting at a bus stop in Haydock, Merseyside, when an elderly man struck up a conversation and said something that stopped her in her tracks....
News Desk
Staff Writer
Published
Jun 14, 2026
Source
This is Money
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AI Insight:This story highlights the lucrative opportunities available to individuals who can identify and report empty properties, sparking a conversation about the potential for profit in real estate.
Linda Williams was waiting at a bus stop in Haydock, Merseyside, when an elderly man struck up a conversation and said something that stopped her in her tracks. He mentioned that he had recently been approached by a property developer who was interested in buying his empty house, and that the developer had told him that the house had been empty for years and was being advertised on a website for £160,000. Williams, who is a keen property investor, was intrigued by this information and decided to do some research of her own. She discovered that the house was indeed empty and that the developer was planning to sell it for a significant profit. Williams contacted the developer and offered to provide him with information about the house in exchange for a share of the profit. The developer agreed, and Williams was able to earn a significant income from her tip-off. Williams' experience is not an isolated incident, and there are many individuals who are making a living by identifying and reporting empty properties to developers. This phenomenon has sparked a conversation about the potential for profit in real estate, and has raised questions about the ethics of profiteering from the sale of empty homes.