Yored: Paying for an Job I Never Asked For

The Halachah of Yored: Payment for Unsolicited Work 

 

The halachah of yored lenichsei chaveiro is often misunderstood. The halachah is that if a person enhances another’s property, even without permission in a manner that can be considered a form of gneivah (theft), but by virtue of the fact that the other’s property was improved—i.e., his field planted, his wool dyed, etc., he is entitled to some form of compensation from the owner. There is a discussion among poskim regarding what form this payment should take—and that of course depends on the work that was done. Very often, dayanim apply this halachah when adjudicating between two litigants. For example, if a shadchan suggests a shidduch that works out, but had not been approached for help nor been offered payment in advance—he is nevertheless entitled to shadchanus gelt; similarly, a business or real estate broker who suggests a deal on his own—and it materializes—is entitled to a commission. 294?1

https://halacha2go.com?number=294

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.