Money Moral Dilemma: A fire at my house damaged my neighbour's place - should I pay for the repairs?

Stelly21

The fire as you say was an accident and people have house insurance to cover these issues. I think it's unfair of them to ask you to pay £300 just because it happens to be the same amount as there excess. They agreed to that excess so they need to pay it. What's crazy is that you don't have house insurance, know that's playing with fire!

kcheetx6

i understand both sides of the comments here. All those saying the person shouldn’t pay the £300 payment, how would you feel if you were in those shoes?

What would you want the neighbour to do if their fire whether accidental or not, had damaged your property? Why should you suffer a rise in your insurance to claim for something not your fault?
it’s not nice to be on the receiving end of these things. I’m sorry but I think the OP should pay the money and look at getting home insurance.

to those saying insurance should be compulsary like car insurance…… look how that works with cars. How many uninsured vehicles are out there.

i will now await all the nasties out there who will slate me for my comments

Tealeaf24

Rob5342 said:

No, I wouldn't, that's what insurance is for.

Not having home insurance is absolute lunacy, for the sake of saving a few pounds a month you could have ended up homeless.

There are plenty of people in my town who have to use food banks because they can't afford to feed their children. We don't know OP's circumstances, but if I couldn't feed my children, I'd forgo home insurance too.

Mikkey

If your neighbour claims on their insurance it is quite likely that their insurers will persue you for the damages and it could eventually cost you more as they may claim for their costs as well especially if it ends up in court. Offer to pay by instalments if you can’t afford the whole amount at once. 

kimwp

Presumably when you say it was an accident, you mean you didn't deliberately set the house on fire, but it happened through your actions or lack of action.

In which case, you caused the fire, which damaged their house - pay up and get them a "sorry I set fire to your house" gift as well.

Fairisfair

Yes, you should. Being on good terms with your neighbours is more important. You don’t say what the accident was, but any damage caused by your property to others is your responsibility, regardless of whether or not you have home insurance (which you must get as a priority). You’re lucky the damage wasn’t more than £300. As others have suggested, along with a heartfelt apology and a houseplant.

MattMattMattUK

I have always found it odd that if someone crashes into my car I am fully reimbursed by their insurers and if they lack insurance my insurers will take court action to recover their losses, I do not have to pay an excess, but if someone causes damage to my home I have to suck up loosing the excess. 

So yes I would pay the £300. 

Amandawatts

Wow it amazes me how many people say not to pay the neighbour.  I would absolutely pay the neighbour's costs.  I don't think the neighbour should be out of pocket becuase of the OP's being irresponsible and having no insurance.

Groom

The fire on your property damaged your neighbour’s property so you are responsible. It sounds as if your neighbours have insurance, and if that includes legal cover, their insurance company is likely to sue you for the money anyway. It’s false economy not to have insurance - as you have now seen accidents do happen.  

SadieO

Rob5342 said:

Not having home insurance is absolute lunacy, for the sake of saving a few pounds a month you could have ended up homeless.

My parents' neighbours had a fire in their attached garage. Even though the actual house wasn't burnt, the smoke and water damage to the entire house was unbelievable. They were put up in a hotel (and their cats in a cattery) for weeks while a suitable rental was found for them. They had to buy all new clothes, food, toiletries etc while they were in the hotel as they couldn't retrieve anything from the house. They then lived in the rental for over a year (!) while their house was fixed. This involved them hiring furniture for the entire house, as a pre-furnished rental couldn't be found. New clothes, bedding etc for everyone. And of course, the repair of the house, decoration, new kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, entire house full of furniture, electronics, clothes etc. They even needed the garden and driveway redoing. I cannot even begin to calculate how much it must have all cost. I think my house insurance is about £120 a year. Although of course everyone hopes they'll never need it (like any insurance) the return you get on it in a worst case scenario is off the scale. 

OP you should think yourself incredibly lucky if all it costs you is £300 (and that also buys you goodwill from your neighbours) then you should gratefully pay that. It could have been a million times worse. You would have thought with my parents' neighbours that as it was only the garage then the house would have been fine, but they lost everything. Please get insurance in the future - lightning can strike twice!