Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Legal matters

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have any legal concerns we suggest you consult a solicitor.

Original poster

£4000 found when ripping out kitchen

348 replies

ElizabethDarcy88 · 13/06/2022 18:06

Today after having old kitchen ripped out our fitter found hidden a box and inside was £4000 in cash. ...we have informed solicitor who managed the sale. (It was a probate house sale) what do you think will happen?

OP posts:
prettyteapotsplease · 14/06/2022 18:57

I think you've done the right thing OP. Trying to do otherwise would surely cause problems and it'd blow up in your face, then you'd be sorry. You've been honest and it's the right thing to do so you can live with yourself, albeit maybe a little poorer.

Lydali · 14/06/2022 19:11

Younghorse · 14/06/2022 18:47

@willwewontwe this is terrible.
And you put it here in so open.
Mumsnets threat’s are known sometimes being pick up by journalists and before you know it will be in the papers! And the previous owner of your house will read it and knock on your door rightly!
Disgusting!
And I’m appalled by how many people would just keep the money!
I would never even dream about it.
For example my poor mum has no bank account and all her pensions is being hidden under her bed under a floor bean. I can’t imagine that some shit like lots of you here would find it and keep it!

If you did a proper job of clearing the house then it would be yours. If you handed the house over with all the contents still there then it would be mine.

Grrrrdarling · 14/06/2022 19:15

mackthepony · 13/06/2022 18:11

You just created a LOT more work for the solicitor

About £4000’s worth 😂😂😂😂

Bettysnow · 14/06/2022 19:17

I agree you did the right thing OP. If i had found it id be thinking well that person who owned it most likely would have wanted it given to their family. A good and kind thing you have done handing it back

Looby57 · 14/06/2022 19:17

You’ll get to keep it and have a party?

mylifestory · 14/06/2022 19:21

i'd have kept it :-O)
My plumber found some money under the proverbial floorboards of an elderly neighbour's house, it was £20K. he gave it to them, told me they mustve forgotten about it. he's a lovely guy ....

wentworthinmate · 14/06/2022 19:23

IanOsenfrote · 13/06/2022 18:08

You buy a house and everything within it.

If you found toxic waste, it would be up to you to dispose of it.

Honestly, I would have kept my mouth shut and put it towards your kitchen.

Exactly this.

Bellysmackers · 14/06/2022 19:41

Wow, your honesty is certainly admirable! 👏

Dewix · 14/06/2022 19:42

The courts are about what's legal, not what's morally right.

Dewix · 14/06/2022 19:46

Dewix · 14/06/2022 19:42

The courts are about what's legal, not what's morally right.

Don't know what happened there, posted on one post & ended up on this one.
Can't seem to find a delete either...

Move22 · 14/06/2022 19:48

But are they current notes/legal tender

Ukrainebaby23 · 14/06/2022 20:16

I think worst thing is most of it will get swallowed up in tax and solicitors fees, surely that's not what the original saver wanted. But I admire your honesty.

notanothertakeaway · 14/06/2022 20:17

myusernamewastakenbyme · 13/06/2022 18:49

This happened to my dh years ago....he used to do house clearances for the council...anyway an old person died and dh was asked to clear the flat...he asked if there was any next of kin etc and was told no and to dispose of everything...he found 5k down the back of a cupboard....he kept it....he said if he'd given it to the council it would have gone in someones pocket.

@myusernamewastakenbyme your DH was bang out of order stealing the money

On MN, I'm often pleasantly surprised how honest people are. This thread, not so much

Tomasinabombadil · 14/06/2022 20:23

Just posting to find out what happens.🙂

TalkToTheHand123 · 14/06/2022 20:27

Whereas hiding money for tax avoidance has no moral issue 😂

The people I bought my house from had lots of debt letters so don't think I'll be going on a treasure hunt in a hurry.

Flossatops · 14/06/2022 20:28

Yes, totally unnecessary to declare it, I'd have thought.

MrsLighthouse · 14/06/2022 20:32

Tricky choice …l was brought up with the “if it’s not yours it’s someone else’s” and “no good comes of bad money” outlook so if l’d kept it l would have expected bad luck 😄 but l hope your honesty is rewarded and you get to have it.

Blantw · 14/06/2022 20:47

Why drug money? What a ridiculous thing to say. Older people often hide money in their homes, my father-in-law hid money in an air vent.

Blantw · 14/06/2022 20:48

I can't believe the number of dishonest people on this thread. They are disgraceful.

Solonge · 14/06/2022 20:51

Agree…

Ilovetea33 · 14/06/2022 20:54

That note in the picture hasn't been legal tender for years, I remember a foreign friend of mine trying to buy a drink with one at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and being refused.

Needwine999 · 14/06/2022 20:56

Omg why did you tell anyone, i wouldn't have!

Isaidnoalready · 14/06/2022 21:08

Old friend of mine cleared out her father's council house she offered to leave the carpets because they were in good order they said no if you leave them we will charge you for removal good job she did he had put cash under the carpets

WitchWithoutChips · 14/06/2022 21:18

DivorcedAndDelighted · 13/06/2022 20:28

Those are still legal tender until September this year; I have spent some recently. After September any old £20 notes have to be paid into a bank account & the bank credits you for them.
OT for this thread but in case people are interested!

Show quote history

That’s not what OP has. The paper ones which are valid until Sep 2022 are a blueish purple and have Adam Smith on the back. I think OP’s is an Elgar £20, which ceased to be legal tender in 2010. There would be no way to exchange them for current notes without raising a lot of questions.

Are they all marked like that one, OP?

Crazykatie · 14/06/2022 21:20

The elderly often hide cash in secret places, “for a rainy day” if an elderly relative of yours leaves a house SEARCH it thoroughly