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Original poster

How much to pay neighbour for theft

379 replies

tippietoppy2 · 29/09/2019 15:03

We live in London in a converted building where there are several flats. We had some guests over to the communal garden, and during the visit one of our guests must not have secured the side gate properly (for a max of 30/45min). Our neighbour later said their bike, which they had secured with a bike chain, got stolen (they told us thief cut through chain with bolt cutters).
We were very apologetic to our neighbour, and asked if we could contribute towards the bike. Our neighbour has sent us an invoice for the bike purchase of £525 from 2017 and their bank account. They asked us to send them £550 to buy the current model.
We feel terrible their bike got stolen. We want to be a good and considerate neighbour, and want to contribute financially towards the bike. But TBH I was shocked by the amount they are asking for. We were not expecting to buy them a brand new bike. It's not like we stole the bike ourselves. We are not familiar with the bike involved, nor seen a police report for the theft.
We have not even bought brand new bikes for ourselves or our kids ever, always purchasing our family bikes (and even our children's buggies) 2nd hand. We also don't have the budget to pay them £550.
Our neighbour is evidently extremely wealthy with multiple kids in private schools (we are an ordinary family with kids in free state schools). Possibly they might not understand £550 is a huge amount to a normal family.
How much is fair and reasonable to pay towards the neighbours stolen bike?
a) £550
b) £275 - half the price of another brand new bike
c) £250 - full cost of a 2nd hand bike (eg buy same model on ebay/gumtree)
d) £125 - half the price of another 2nd hand bike
e) see if they can claim it under their home and contents insurance, and we contribute towards the excess. The bike was chained right outside their front door. Although I suspect they probably didn't report the theft to the police
f) £100 - goodwill gesture
Any other idea's or suggestions appreciated. Would like to try to resolve it so we all feel comfortable and happy.
PS The Freehold building insurance doesn't cover personal property

OP posts:
TheQueef · 29/09/2019 15:05

I would give £100 to ease my own conscience but no way the full cost.
You aren't obliged to give anything.

CircleofWillis · 29/09/2019 15:05

I would offer the full price of a second hand replacement.

ChilledBee · 29/09/2019 15:06

I'm a cynical bitch but I'd hazard a guess that no bike was stolen at all. I'd want police reports. I'd also wonder how they knew it was in that short period.

Lulualla · 29/09/2019 15:07

I would go with the standard "like for like" which is what insurance would do.

They aren't entitled to betterment. They just need to be made whole. That means I would buy them a like for like replacement. The bike was a couple of years old, so as long as the second hand bike of the same model is in a good condition then I would buy them that and give it to them. I wouldn't give them money.

Snazzygoldfish · 29/09/2019 15:08

I don't think I'd give anything without proof the bike had been stolen eg a police report. Even with that I'd only give a minimal amount as a gesture as a motivated thief could climb over a gate surely?

AllInTentsAndPorpoises · 29/09/2019 15:08

They should have insured their bike.

g) Tell them to send the bill to the guest who didn't secure the gate. It's not your fault their bike wasn't secure enough/insured.

FunkySnidge · 29/09/2019 15:08

This is so tricky. I wouldn't have offered in the first place. Are you sure that it was during the time your guest left the side open that this bike was chopped free and stolen?
What proof is there that you are to blMed for this?
They should get a crime number and claim on their insurance.
If you are sure it is the fault of your guests then it would be nice to pay the excess on that insurance claim.

Dongdingdong · 29/09/2019 15:09

It's such a tricky one! Honestly I'd probably go with the full amount just to keep the peace, as it was on your watch that the gate was left open. Really, why should the neighbour have to pay anything when he had secured the gate properly and your guest then left it open?

Sorry OP.

Butchyrestingface · 29/09/2019 15:09

Have they provided you with the police report?

What about insurance on the bike?

TwoBlueFish · 29/09/2019 15:09

You don’t know for definite that it was one of your guests who left the gate open. They should have insurance and that’s what it’s for. At the most I’d offer the cost of the same model 2nd hand.

SaveMeBarry · 29/09/2019 15:10

Their own insurance quite likely covers this anyway but as you've already indicated you want to pay something then £100 is plenty. Feeling responsible isn't the same as actually being responsible so in future you probably shouldn't be so quick to offer anything more than sympathy. After all anybody could have left the communal gate open and keeping property in a communal area carries a risk of loss, damage or theft.

mummmy2017 · 29/09/2019 15:10

Sorry but you do know your not responsible. Your unsure if the gate was or wasn't relocked.
Tell them to claim on their insurance that is what they pay it for.

Butchyrestingface · 29/09/2019 15:10

Sorry, I meant, evidence of insurance - do you know for sure that they have it?

berlinbabylon · 29/09/2019 15:11

If you are sure it is the fault of your guests then it would be nice to pay the excess on that insurance claim

This. If they weren't insured, their problem, not yours, but the value of the bike indicates that it should be insured on household contents.

No way would I pay for the full replacement value of the bike. In any event, where's the evidence that a thief couldn't have got through a locked gate? If they use Strava or similar people track you so they know where you live with your expensive bike. Or they just spot you on the street and follow you home.

berlinbabylon · 29/09/2019 15:12

Freehold building insurance doesn't cover personal property

Of course it doesn't. But everyone has household contents insurance, right? Especially rich people with multiple kids in private schools.

athenagoddessofwar · 29/09/2019 15:13

They tried to secure their bike. Not their fault the gate was left open. Seems unfair that they should have to claim. I'd be forwarding this to the person who left it open.

domesticslattern · 29/09/2019 15:13

I would not pay anything. It is inherently risky to leave a bike in a communal garden to which several flats have access. Sorry about that neighbour. The neighbour should have insured their bike themselves or kept it in their own flat.

NigellaAwesome · 29/09/2019 15:14

I'd send £100 as a contribution for a replacement bike, but ultimately it should have been insured.

IncrediblySadToo · 29/09/2019 15:15

Nothing. They should have had a D lick in the bike.

You don’t have any proof it was stolen or that one of your guests even left the gate unlocked

BlueJava · 29/09/2019 15:15

Why did you offer any money? They should have insurance to cover it. However as you have it's hard to get out of it unless you ask for a copy of the police report, then I'd hand over £100 as a goodwill gesture.

MyNewBearTotoro · 29/09/2019 15:16

If they can prove that your guest left the gate open and that this is when the bike was stolen and can show that they reported the theft to the police then I would offer to pay the excess on their bike insurance, but only after having seen the police report and the copy of their insurance policy.

If they can’t prove when the bike was stolen or that your guest left the gate open I would not take any responsibility. If they didn’t report it to the police I wouldn’t be paying anything. Equally if they didn’t have insurance taken out on the bike I would not pay to replace the entire bike, it really is their responsibility to ensure they have insurance covering their bike. Most bike insurance policies are only valid if you use a bike lock rated silver or above, usually a D-lock. If they were only using a cheap, low quality chain again I’d argue that it was their fault.

StCharlotte · 29/09/2019 15:17

Maybe offer to pay the excess on their insurance (which should be included on their contents insurance).

Also if they knew the garden was unsecured, why didn't they secure it - and presumably your guests would have seen someone nicking the bike? How convenient for a thief to happen along with some bolt cutters during the very time the garden was unlocked Hmm

FunkyKingston · 29/09/2019 15:17

They're playing you for a twat, don't give them anything. I'd be 90 per cent certain that they're at it.

NotQuiteUsual · 29/09/2019 15:19

I'd ask to see the police report and ask for the serial number so you can see about finding it on eBay or Gumtree as stolen ones reguarly turn up on there. Then I'd genuinely have a good look for the original bike. If it doesn't turn up I'd offer a contribution towards the house insurance excess. No way would I pay the entire cost of a new one, but I'd also want to do something for the sake of neighbourly relations and because it would be amazing to get it back for them.

Starlight456 · 29/09/2019 15:19

I wouldn’t pay anything . Tell them to claim on insurance.

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