Spotting Empty Properties | Easy Student Side Hustle
- Simon Taylor
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Looking for side hustles for students in the UK doesn't necessarily mean getting another job, starting an online business or spending hours delivering food.
One University of Nottingham student has earned £650 simply by spotting long-term empty properties while going about his normal day.
Alex Worth, who studies Finance, Accounting and Management at the University of Nottingham, has been earning extra money by reporting properties he believes have been standing empty to Empty Property Hunters (EPH).
And he hasn't had to travel far to find them.
Most have been spotted around the area where he lives while walking between his student house, university and other places he would have been visiting anyway.
A different kind of student side hustle
Alex is already familiar with entrepreneurship. Alongside university, he runs House of Aquila, an online brand selling clothing and artwork inspired by Ancient Rome and Greek mythology through social media. But his latest side hustle requires considerably less time.
After noticing houses near his student accommodation that appeared to have been unoccupied for a long time, Alex began submitting the addresses to Empty Property Hunters.
EPH rewards members of the public for qualifying empty-property leads. So far, Alex has earned £650.
Alex said:
“As a student, I'm always looking for different ways to make some extra money alongside my studies and running House of Aquila. I started noticing houses near where I live that looked as though nobody had lived in them for quite a while, so I began sending them in."
"The great thing is that it doesn't really feel like work. I'm not going out specifically looking for properties – I just keep my eyes open when I'm walking around or going somewhere I'd be going anyway. I've made £650 from it so far, which as a student is a really useful amount of money.”
Can you really make money spotting empty houses?
Yes. Empty Property Hunters encourages members of the public to report residential properties they believe have been empty long-term.
EPH then carries out its own research into the property and, where appropriate, attempts to trace and contact the owner.
If the property is genuinely surplus to the owner's requirements, EPH may explore purchasing it, with the aim of ultimately bringing the property back into occupation.
For Alex, that means something he notices while walking down the street can potentially turn into extra money.
It can also help identify homes that might otherwise remain unused.
Why students make good Empty Property Hunters
Simon Taylor, founder of Empty Property Hunters, believes students are particularly well placed to spot empty homes. He said:
“Students walk everywhere. They're constantly moving between their accommodation, university, shops, the gym and nights out, and they often know their local streets incredibly well. Once you know some of the tell-tale signs of a genuinely long-term empty property, you suddenly start noticing them.
“Alex has earned £650 from properties around his student home while studying for his degree and building his own business. There must be thousands of other students around the country who could do exactly the same thing.”
Unlike many traditional student side hustles, there is no course to buy, no specialist equipment required and no fixed working hours.
Alex added:
“There are loads of side hustles advertised to students, but a lot of them require quite a big time commitment or money upfront. With this, I was already walking past the properties. Once you know what you're looking for, you just start noticing them.”
What does a long-term empty property look like?
There isn't one definitive sign that a home is empty, but possible clues can include:
Post building up behind the door
An overgrown front garden
Windows remaining permanently covered
No lights or obvious activity over a long period
A property appearing noticeably neglected compared with neighbouring homes
Bins that never seem to move
Signs that nobody has entered or maintained the property for a considerable time
One sign alone doesn't necessarily mean a property is empty, which is why EPH carries out further checks on submitted properties.
Why do empty homes matter?
There are long-term empty homes across England at the same time as the country faces significant pressure on housing supply. Simon said:
“Behind every lead is potentially a home that could be brought back into occupation. At a time when we desperately need housing, it seems crazy that existing homes can sit unused for years. If we can reward people for helping us identify them and ultimately return some of those properties to use, everybody wins.”
How can students get started?
Alex's advice is remarkably simple:
“Look up from your phone when you're walking around. You'd be surprised what you start seeing.”
If you think you've spotted a long-term empty home, you can submit the property to Empty Property Hunters.
It could turn your daily walk to university into a rather unusual student side hustle — and help identify a home that could potentially be brought back into use.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get paid for reporting an empty house?
Empty Property Hunters rewards members of the public for qualifying long-term empty-property leads, subject to its current eligibility criteria.
Do I need to own or work in property?
No. You don't need to be an estate agent, property investor or property professional to submit a lead.
Can students report empty properties?
Yes. Students can submit properties they believe have been empty long-term, provided they meet EPH's qualifying criteria.
Do I need to contact the property owner?
No. EPH carries out its own research and, where appropriate, attempts to establish contact with the owner.
Where can I find empty properties?
People often notice empty homes in areas they already know well — around their home, university, workplace or on journeys they regularly make.
Think you've spotted a long-term empty home? Submit it to Empty Property Hunters and see whether it qualifies for a Hunter reward.
