Lending a neighbour things...

[HotJambalaya]

Ok so, let me say, I'm great friends with my neighbours for what has pretty much become my holiday home. Dinners together, etc, their family is like my family too in a lot of ways. They're great neighbours that walk around my house while I'm away, keep an eye on things and collect my mail for me.

We havent seen a huge amount of each other recently due to me being away for a lot of time, but keep in touch.

Now, some time ago I bought a power washer. Used it all around my house which impressed the neighbour, so I lent it to him.

Quite some time passes, (well over a year!) due to my travelling etc, but he'd occasionally bring it up with "your power washer is in the garage if you need it" and a joke like "if you ever need to borrow your power washer let me know!"

Now I return back from my latest after another 8 months away. Pop over for a drink, and I'm told at some point, "oh your power washer broke, so we bought one, but don't worry, you're welcome to use it any time you want..."

Discussed this with a friend and his reaction and mine were somewhat different.

Thoughts?

[lufbramatt]

Borrow "his" power washer, put it in your garage, go away for another 8 months?

[thefamoushoops]

He should buy you a new one.

I once borrowed a hedge trimmer from an ex girlfriends mum and it broke whilst I was using it.

I got her to look for a new one to replace it with and I gave her the cash for it.

[krisdelta]

He's already decided he's done the right thing, you need to decide if it's worth challenging and risking the friendship over..

[lizardbrain]

In his defence, sounds like he jokingly tried to give the old one back to you a few times already.

Maybe it's a continuation of that joke? Maybe he feels it has evolved into a shared ownership kind of thing, he is just storing it, and it's a sign of familiarity that he hasn't bothered to move the location of the shared item, to your garage without reason.

If you asked him for 'possession' of the new one, would he not just give it you?


Either way, definitely not worth even a small dent to a good relationship for.

Edited by lizardbrain on Tuesday 17th August 16:14

[D1bram]

New power washer should have been bought for you IMO

[kambites]

If I was in his position I'd have bought you a new one.

If I was in your position I'd be slightly miffed but not annoyed enough to make an issue of it and potentially ruin a decent relationship with a neighbour.

[r1mike1983]

I’m not sure I’d look after your house and collect your mail for 8 months if you bought me a pressure washer, seems like a good deal.

[23.7]

The ownership is immaterial.

What matters is a working power washer is readily available as required.

[KAgantua]

Defintiley not worth a new PW as that is 'betterment' - perhaps source you a second hand one?

But equally, he has looked after it for you for X amount of time - and you allowed him to use it. Now he is allowing you to use his.

I dont see the issue myself, neither a borrower nor a lender be!

[valiant]

Good neighbours are worth far more than a pressure washer. I know it sucks but I’d let it go for the sake of remaining friends.

That and I’d borrow his new one and stick it in your garage and ps off for another six months and then return it broken and laugh at all the ensuing japes

[bigandclever]

kambites said:

If I was in his position I'd have bought you a new one.

If I was in your position I'd be slightly miffed but not annoyed enough to make an issue of it and potentially ruin a decent relationship with a neighbour.

I think I’m the same.

Of course the OP is being a cagey knob and not actually telling us what his position is, so on that basis I’d charge him for the drinks he came over to my house for if he moaned, and on his way out he could check the invoice for house sitting I’ve written out on the Royal Mail ‘this is how much mail redirection costs’ pamphlet

[cmvtec]

23.7 said:

The ownership is immaterial.

What matters is a working power washer is readily available as required.

I feel like this is the right answer here.

I wouldn't let something upset a good relationship. It'd cost a lot more than a pressure washer to do the things they do for the OP.

[Spare tyre]

The fecking things rarely last, you can now borrow his , for sake of good neighbor relations I’d not worry about it

[CarCrazyDad]

A bit frustrating but these days with so many people hating their neighbours and people not speaking to each other, is it really worth the argument?

If you wanted the power washer that much you'd have asked for it back, you obviously didn't need it! :-)

If anything, you're better off, as he has bought a new one and you can use it any time! If you want you are welcome to buy your replacement one, and then lend it to him again!

[V1nce Fox]

Borrow it back and bring it back home with you.

[bristoltype603]

r1mike1983 said:

I’m not sure I’d look after your house and collect your mail for 8 months if you bought me a pressure washer, seems like a good deal.

^^^ This. Some people would have started charging you rental for storing your old one after 3 months!

[bmwmike]

23.7 said:

The ownership is immaterial.

What matters is a working power washer is readily available as required.

+1! ownership is over-rated IMO anyway. And they are cheap enough anyway.

[RC1807]

Jonno02 said:

lizardbrain said:

In his defence, sounds like he jokingly tried to give the old one back to you a few times already.

My thought exactly.

Yup!
Should have recovered your PW when you had the chance, a long time ago.

[Alex@POD]

My original reaction is that he ought to buy you a new one, but thinking about it I don't think there's nothing to be worked up about. You've effectively both put in some money towards the shared use of a tool with a finite life expectancy. As long as that situation doesn't change, it's not too bad.