sleepover advice

[yikes6]

My 5 year old went on a sleepover and the next day when picking him up, the parents told me he threw a ball and damaged an expensive painting, then they said they would tell me how much I owed them. I was devastated. I asked my son what happened, he told me that he and their son were playing and it was an accident, I then asked where the parents were, my son said that one parent was sleeping and the other had gone out to get breakfast stuff, he said their son got the ball and they were playing and then my son threw the ball and it accidentally hit the painting causing a puncture. The parents said that I owe the £1,000 maybe more. I am shocked, I did not ask them to leave 2 5year old's alone unsupervised and I am not thinking I should pay due to them leaving the boys in that situation. Am I right? devastated!!!

I would firstly ask how they know it was your son. Where were they when this happened....? And also proof of how much the painting is worth and how much it is to fix it. Only then would I decide if I was going to make a contribution to it be fixed.

I agree with you there. You don't have to give £1000 for a painting that your child was left unsupervised with a ball near at the age of 5. They were responsible for it happening - he's 5 and they shouldn't have left them unsupervised! Refuse and don't feel bad! Point out that they were not being properly supervised. They don't have a leg to stand on. Different if you were at their house and let him play with a ball carelessly near the painting.

As neither of them were actually supervising your ds I would just laugh it off and ignore. They can claim on the house insurance. Cheeky Fuckery at it's best!!

House insurance for them and IMO 5 is way too young for a sleepover.

Thankyou both, I asked my son he said it was his pitch that hit the painting. But yes one parent had left the flat, and one was sleeping, so both boys left to their own devices. The flat is on the 5th floor, it could have been worse, the kitchen hob, the window!!! I just feel so awful and I feel that I would never leave such small kids alone allowing a situation to arise. No supervision and this happened, I am sure it would never of happened if someone was there. I really appreciate the advice as they obviously want me to pay, apparently the piece is worth 100K, not insured and an invitation for damage when small children are left by themselves. I just wanted to make sure by saying no I wont pay, that would be the right stance to take

If they have such a valuable painting, then they will have insurance or be complete fools. They should not have left 2 x 5yr olds unsupervised in the first place. That is what I would be questioning them about if they raised it again.

You have no legal liability whatsoever. The other child's parents were in loco parentis and responsible not only for the children's safety but also for safeguarding their own property while your son was in their "care". If they had no insurance I can only echo what has already been said: more fool them.

The have a picture worth 100k but live in a fifth floor flat?!

Thankyou all, what a great perspective, it was super helpful and it gave me a good understanding of the situation. I do fear its friendship out, but you never know, they may see things differently!!