Of course neighbor A should pay. But neighbor B shouldn’t expect any compensation or a new ladder out they will probably be disappointed.

I borrowed a neighbors circular sander ($175 tool) and returned it to his front porch behind a planter. He thanked me for putting it there, but didn't move it for at least two days. And it was stolen. He asked that I pay for it and I declined because possession had already been transferred. Dude still gives me the cold shoulder.

The only caveat I can see affecting the consensus here is if the ladder owner had insisted that the ladder be returned that evening and then had a locked gate. Putting a ladder over a 6ft+ fence isn’t a reasonable solution since there could be plants, toys, or faberge eggs on the other side - it would take great upper body strength to slowly lower it down… especially without standing on a ladder to get more leverage.

Anonymous wrote:They should have held onto the ladder until you responded. They should buy you a new ladder.

New poster. This! Why on Earth wouldn't borrower neighbor just keep the ladder on his own property until he was able to return it properly? Leaving it in the alley was a huge brain fart. I understand, the ladder owner's fence was locked so borrower couldn't go back inside to return the ladder, but the solution was NOT to leave it in a public space, but to hang onto it until the next morning. The borrower ought to WANT to replace the ladder, to be honest. Anyone with half a brain would not need to be asked to replace it but would volunteer to do so and feel remorseful about such a dumb move.