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Original poster

To ask neighbour to pay son more?

129 replies

SunIsOutAgain · 23/05/2026 18:53

My neighbour asked my 14 year old to do some jobs in the garden today. Cutting the lawn, taking back some hedges, tidying etc.

He is fairly competent at these things and it took him 2.5 hours. I would expect an adult could do it in 2, but it wasn't an especially small job.

She gave him £15 and he was a bit disappointed as he was hoping for 20. He said he didn't clarify the pay before starting (obviously an error that we've now discussed for next time).

It was very hot here today, which doesn't change the value of the work but does affect how he felt when he had finished!

Is this a reasonable amount of money? Should i speak to her?

OP posts:
Henriettina · 23/05/2026 19:10

It is too low. But now it’s done I wouldn’t ask for more - use it as a moment to teach your son the importance of agreeing things in advance.

NameChangeScot · 23/05/2026 19:10

Yeah that's shit, but he should have agreed the price beforehand. You can't go asking for more money now it's done.

My ds15 is going to cut our (very small) lawn tomorrow for £30. It'll probably take him an hour, or 90mins max. That's probably quite a lot for his age and experience but he wants a particular item so this was the way to help him earn it.

I'd say £15 an hour would be going rate for a teen, or £20-£25 for a an adult.

Somethingbland · 23/05/2026 19:10

I actually don't know whether that is a fair amount or not OP.
But your DS needs to take this as a learning curve. That in future he needs to assess what he thinks is a fair rate for the job in advance of doing the work and discuss and agree things before doing the work.
It's probable your neighbout thought it wasn't a proper commercial arrangement and more of a favour he was doing which they wre rewarding with a token payment. But really these things need to be clarified in advance.

Lifeisexpensive · 23/05/2026 19:09

I think you put her in an awkward position by not clarifying pay to start off with. Chalk it up to experience.