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

JayD

CliveOfIndia said:

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.

Exactly!

Well said Clive

Jemma01

You don't owe them anything. They asked you to get rid of it, literally without offering you anything, how you choose to get rid of it is entirely your call. Sell it, dump it in the trash, keep it to yourself, etc. you had the free will to remove it out of their property WITHOUT charging them. How nice of you. Most ppl wouldn't do that job for free.

sunnyflower

I'd be inclined to tell him & offer to share it with him. If he's a decent sort he'll be pleased for you & tell you to keep it.

Confused_exstudent

 I would say go 50/50, any half decent neighbour will refuse a share and tell you you did all tje work/helped them out

Middle_Sister

Nope. You did them a favour. You took them to tip. You listed them. You keep the money.

kimwp

CrazyBee787 said:

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. 

I agree with this - depends on the relationship and if there's parity in helping each other. Thinking if I was in their shoes, you've done them a big favour and £100 is far less than paying for a professional would cost, so I'd be really pleased you were able to get financial benefit. If however, you made £1000's, I'd be a bit miffed to not receive some of it (though logically the money belongs to you)

TheRedHerring

It seems you have a good relationship with your neighbour in that they asked you to demolish their wall with railings but payment was not discussed.  Depending upon how long it took you to demolish the wall with disposal and then advertising the railings, it seems that you should benefit from the sale of the railings, partially or completely.  Discuss with your neighbour the value of your costs and time, that you made £100 from the sale, and depending upon the value of your involvement offer or not some of the money.

shera12

Yeah, I think the best thing to do is give your neighbour the money. Since the railings originally belonged to them, it’s only fair they get the cash from the sale. I know it might feel a bit awkward bringing it up, but being honest now will save any tension later. You could just explain that you didn’t mean any harm and wanted to make it right. Most people would appreciate the honesty it shows good character and keeps things friendly between neighbours.

rollingmoon

Your neighbours took you for a mug which, frankly, you were for doing all that work for free*. The fact that you sold their junk - that they weren't prepared to pay you a penny to take away when they thought it was worthless - for £100 is neither here nor there. Enjoy the proceeds of your good luck.

*assuming, of course that this actually happened. Which it probably didn't.

rollingmoon

shera12 said:

Yeah, I think the best thing to do is give your neighbour the money. Since the railings originally belonged to them, it’s only fair they get the cash from the sale. I know it might feel a bit awkward bringing it up, but being honest now will save any tension later. You could just explain that you didn’t mean any harm and wanted to make it right. Most people would appreciate the honesty it shows good character and keeps things friendly between neighbours.

LOL. I'd like to live next door to you... would you like to build my extension please? I have some valuable rubble you could sell on eBay