Money Moral Dilemma: Should my neighbour return my money?

MSE_Sarah · 16 October 2018 at 11:48AM

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

I live in a block of flats, all owner occupied. My neighbour asked me to contribute £150 towards the cost of replacing carpets in the communal hallway, which I did. Several months later there are no new carpets - apparently the contractor has disappeared with the money.

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moneyistooshorttomention · 16 October 2018 at 11:51AM

I'd be finding out if this was true or no to start with - ie it really was the contractor and not the neighbour that was the thief.

My response would vary noticeably according to the answer to that question.

Though, assuming it really was the contractor - then I would also want the answer as to how the neighbour had safeguarded our money whilst waiting for the contractor to do the work. Surely they wouldnt have paid the contractor until AFTER the work had been done and I'd be very suspicious that they were, at worst, the thief and, at best, bad at managing our money and needed to be "relieved of their post" on that one.

Overall - I'd be inclined to think the "buck stopped" with the neighbour and they were the one due to "carry the can".

hazyjo · 16 October 2018 at 12:57PM

Of course it's not the organiser's fault (presuming they didn't nick it!). However, how big is the block? What was the total amount of money? They would surely know which carpet company they gave the money to and would have needed a receipt for accounting records, so definitely over to police to look into it!

If the block's large, I'd call fake post as I can't imagine there wouldn't be a management company organising this.

Pixie5740 · 16 October 2018 at 1:11PM

hazyjo wrote: »

If the block's large, I'd call fake post as I can't imagine there wouldn't be a management company organising this.

It could be a block of flats where everyone has a share of the freehold or it could be in Scotland where everyone actually owns their flat instead of just a lease. Until recently I thought that only small blocks of flats like a converted house would have the leaseholders sharing the freehold but then I read the thread about the visiting dog where 65 leaseholders own the freehold.

hazyjo · 16 October 2018 at 4:44PM

Pixie5740 wrote: »

It could be a block of flats where everyone has a share of the freehold or it could be in Scotland where everyone actually owns their flat instead of just a lease. Until recently I thought that only small blocks of flats like a converted house would have the leaseholders sharing the freehold but then I read the thread about the visiting dog where 65 leaseholders own the freehold.

Know it's SoF - but would still expect a management company. I had SoF with 10 flats in the block - certainly wouldn't want to manage anything larger between owners without outside assistance! The visiting dog thread mentions a management company (as I would have expected for 60+ flats) (#12).

davidmcn · 16 October 2018 at 4:49PM

hazyjo wrote: »

If the block's large, I'd call fake post as I can't imagine there wouldn't be a management company organising this.

I think all these "dilemmas" are fabricated by the MSE interns (or stolen from elsewhere, as I've noticed in the past...).

hazyjo · 16 October 2018 at 5:02PM

davidmcn wrote: »

I think all these "dilemmas" are fabricated by the MSE interns (or stolen from elsewhere, as I've noticed in the past...).

tbh I'm with you 100% :rotfl: I think I was trying to be 'generous' and hoped it might help someone in the future lol.

lookstraightahead · 16 October 2018 at 5:28PM

What does your contract / agreement state? What did the quote say? Lol

bertiewhite · 16 October 2018 at 6:59PM

The simple answer is "No, they shouldn't".

The Communal Hallway Carpets Act 1983 states that "residents of flats, maisonettes or bedsits shall pay an annual contribution towards the upkeep of carpets, laminate and similar flooring media not exceeding £151 per annum, regardless of whether or not the carpets need replacing or have actually been replaced."

Assuming that this is the first time you've had to pay (how long have you been living there?) it seems like you've got off lightly for some time.

Marvel1 · 16 October 2018 at 7:11PM

I say yes, who pays before the job is done let alone started?!

Chris47 · 16 October 2018 at 11:50PM

Your neighbour cannot just give you this throwaway explanation and expect that to be the end of the matter. I hope you got a receipt from your neighbour. Ask him/her for the receipt they got when the money was handed over to the carpet fitter so you can have the details as well. You can then make follow up enquiries yourself. Might be best to hold a residents' meeting to discuss the matter further as presumably others have lost out too.

Money Moral Dilemma: Should my neighbour return my money?

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