Money Moral Dilemma: Should I give my neighbour the cash I made from selling their railings?

MSE_Kelvin

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...

My neighbour asked me to demolish and dispose of their patio wall with decorative iron railings. I did it as a favour and payment wasn't discussed. I took the rubble to the tip, but the railings wouldn't fit in my car, so I listed them on an auction website for 99p just to get someone to take them away. I was amazed when they sold for £100! I'm inclined to keep the money for my work, but should I hand it over to my neighbour?

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CliveOfIndia

To my mind, it depends on your relationship with your neighbour.  It sounds like you're on very friendly terms, so if it were me I'd offer to split the proceeds 50/50 with them.

Whilst you've incurred some costs in terms of fuel to take the rubbish to the tip, as well as your time, it sounds like you were willing to do it for now't in the first place.  So making £50 for yourself is a bonus, and I'm sure your neighbour wouldn't say no to a bit of extra cash either.

Saying that, it could well be that you offer to split it with them and they tell you to keep it all.

But overall, if you're good friends with your neighbour then I think offering to split things 50/50 is fair to everyone.  It might be a different discussion if you'd taken payment for the work initially.

CrazyBee787

My first reaction is keep the money, but I really don't know what your relationship with them is like what they are like and what they do for you in return for this favour you did them. If you are asking the question then possibly there is a reason to your thinking like they often cook a pie for you or they walk your dog, exchanges like this are kind for kind in which case I would tell them and let them decide. However if it is all one sided you take the wall down, you go to the dump, then I would be inclined to say keep it. But the fact that you are asking suggests there may be a reason like they are elderly and a little senile? or something which is stopping you from feeling free to keep it. Of course I wonder how it came up in conversation to take down the wall? I guess these things do, but was it in your mind to sell the railings when you suggested it? You didn't say it was in your post but was it in the back of your mind I wonder? Because I wouldn't feel bad about selling skip goods for services rendered. Of course if they asked to keep the railings back which I am sure they didn't again this would be a different answer. 

keithyno.1

Split it 50/50 - you'll feel better then, and it'll be a win/win situation for both you and your neighbour.

If you were inclined to keep the £100 for yourself you wouldn't even be submitting the question as a MMD to MSE, you'd just do it. But you know it's not the right thing to do, hence why you're seeking reassurance. 

ColinMudd

Good neighbours are golden. Split it 50/50 - you won't regret it

2702

Keep it. But depends on your relationship. What if you tell them and they want all the £100. Or you could tell a white lie and say you sold them for £50 and give it to them. You did do a bit of work and they never offered you payment. You know the situation so you decide.

Katecooks

No keep ALL the money; you neighbour asked you to demolish THEIR wall all dispose of it with no offer of payment. You did them a huge favour and spent your time on it. They should have gone to the effort of selling the railings themselves and offered you the money.

oldnewhand

As others have said, it depends on your relationship and whether they help you out in other ways. Did you offer to do the work or did they ask? You seem tempted but also guilty. You could say I took all the debris to the tip, but the railings wouldn't go in my car, so I put them on an online auction site for 99p to get rid of them, do you mind? You'd then be able to gauge from their reaction whether they expected all or none of the proceeds. It would only seem fair for you to at least have a share of the £100. An alternative solution could be that you go out and celebrate with the neighbour, maybe a meal out?

squirrelpie

As others have said: it entirely depends on your relationship with your neighbour. But if you're friends then offer to split it 50/50. My wife often asks the neighbours to sell things for her because she doesn't like computers (and I don't want the hassle). But it sounds as if neither you nor your neighbour knew the value of the railings, so tell them the story and split the money 

Aimee_p

Your neighbours asked you to dispose of them, which you did.  It’s reasonable for you to keep the money.  Demolish and dispose of a patio wall and railings is a job you would expect to pay a few hundred pounds for, if there was no offer to pay you for this it’s fair recompense, they still got the better deal.  They ask you to do a significant piece of labour for them and they receive money in return, that doesn’t seem right.  Most people wouldn’t put rubble in their car, you did a good deed.  You can offer half but if they take it they don’t sound like friends, they should refuse and tell you to keep it.  

amgockie

I’d tell them exactly what happened, pause and wait for them to offer you to keep it which any decent person would do. I’m thinking if this were my mum and she was short of cash, she’d be delighted to have found a way to pay you at no loss to herself. If it’s not forthcoming perhaps you can quickly explain the time involved and then suggest the 50/50..