Is this going to cause a massive family rift?

Honestly OP I wouldn't give him 50p for that pathetic and terrible paintwork. Nada. Nothing.

He's been mooching and taking the piss all his life. It's way, way past time it stopped.

I think that’s a good idea. Your husband is talking to him so let him deal with it, and if he says no payment go with his decision.
This must be so stressful, and all you wanted was a painted wardrobe for your new baby! Another reason for letting DH deal with this.
And never give him any paid jobs again!

At this point hand over the reins to your DH on getting this particular matter to a close. Your brother is talking with him now so let him bring it to a conclusion.

If your brother goes running his mouth off to your other family members, say to them that THEY can pony up the money to satisfy brother because as far as you’re aware, your DH and brother brought the matter to a close.

Deal with the next episode as and when it happens.

At this point, I would just show him this thread. If he has any sense of shame then that would be enough to shut him up for life and never ask you for money again.

At the very least show it your mum.

Who does DBro normally communicate with - you or DH? Is there significance in him contacting DH. Does DBro realise, after the w/e family lunch, that there's no point asking you at the moment so he has "gone behind your back" to DH instead?

Or ask him to pay £120 for the corrective work and then you will give him £50.

Please please please.
Deliberately misunderstand DBro. Accept his proposal that he gives you £100 towards the £120 it cost to correct his poor work.

Don’t allow it to be awkward. He wants you to pay him £50 for making a mess and mucking you around. No way. Listen to your DH. Would you pay a tradesman?

Your dh is right. Don’t pay him a penny

I agree with your husband here, please don't be a wet drip and pay him for a terrible job!

Thing is I do get how difficult it is when it's close family and all that the relationships entail. However abandoning your dog for that long when he agreed that he would look after him/her should have been it. I would not have wanted him in my home after that stunt. I do not understand why you keep rewarding his behaviour. Did he ever apologise or pay you back? Maintain a relationship if that's what you want but have it completely on your terms.

Probably a cliche to say this but you cannot change him or the others, however all you can do is change your behaviour towards him. Stop agreeing to pay him to do things, stop paying for him when he should pay for himself, etc. I do not see why you would not tell him that you do not want him to be a godparent anymore. Do you really want this guy to have a role in your kid's life? Even as a godparent.

He's abusing your relationship and love for him. Always remember that when he tries to make you feel sorry or guilty. Good luck.

@Whatdoyoudowiththedrunkensailor

at most 50£. DH wants to pay nothing but it’s quite awkward now.

OP it's going to be awkward whether you pay him £50, £100 or nothing at all. Paying him even a minimum amount leaves the door open for future machinations by him in the future when you'll have to go through all this again.

Listen to your husband who is making absolute sense and pay your grifter brother nothing! Remember this is the brother who you're planning on being godfather to your child (still?) and who's had his hand out for money from you pretty much the whole of his life. Who should have offered to do the job for free as a present his godchild.

Time to make a stand and break this pattern you're all in. Next in line for his grifting are your children. 🌹

No! And definitely not godfather. He would make grandiose promises to the child and repeatedly let them down. Just no.

He still sponged off us! I was a student with no money and he would do things like say (when we were living together) “ let’s go to the cinema”. On our way there he would say “I don’t have any money btw you’ll have to pay”. Or he’d say “I’m making lasagne do you want some?” And I/a friend would say yes and then we would eat it and he would ask us for 5£ each for ingredients. My mother left us at home once and he had the emergency money and he was so tight he used it on himself and when we ran out of loo roll bought cheap tissues.

Whaaat???

So you have felt responsible for how many years?

And have somehow dragged your husband into this?

I actually hope your husband has told him that he won't be paid.

He did a shit job that needed to be rectified before any work could be started by someone else.

He really does need to learn a lesson here

Just stop prolonging it - you're giving the impression if he argues enough you'll magically be talked into being (partially) happy with what he's done.

JESUS CHRIST

No-one would pay £50 for a part job! Don't bloody pay him! If he wants money for a job then he needs to do the bloody job!

The job was to finish the wardrobe, not do a bit of it.

I thought I was a terrible hand-wringer and over-thinker but you are next level if you're still considering giving him any money!

The worst thing is then you're still putting a monetary value on him dicking you about and causing you extra costs, hassle and disappointment.

Just far cleaner to say NO. FULL STOP.

If he wasn’t your brother would you pay him for the crappy work he has/hasn’t done? I mean my teenager could paint a pink line straighter than the one in the pic! I think you bung him £50 and say that will be the last time you give him any money as it’s interfering with your sibling relationship.

Give him £50 and make it clear why. Very tricky.

From the OP you offered 200-300£

Has he done a half or a third of a job?

Well in effect he has done a negative job as it needed correcting.

Perhaps it would be worth the 50£ for a lesson finally learnt?

Err, what do you think you should pay?