To not expect neighbour to use washing machine overnight

[BornInTheWrongCentury]

Just that really. Over the last couple of months our neighbours started using their washing machine/tumble dryer overnight, it was going on on at about midnight and stays on till around 3am.

My husband asked a them politely a few weeks ago when he saw them outside if they’d mind changing the time they have it on as it really disturbs us. We’re in a mid terraced house and they are the end of the terrace. Their kitchen is below our bedroom. The previous occupants took out a wall in their kitchen that separated the kitchen from their hallway so it’s open planned now so all sound from their house is amplified now anyway and noise seems to travel up the wall into our bedroom.

After my husband mentioned it to them they stopped for a couple of weeks but now the noise has started again as they are putting a wash on at about 10pm and it finishes at 1am.

It’s really upsetting me that I can’t go to bed and read/fall asleep in peace until at least 1am now.

If it’s relevant we own our house and their house is social housing. They are the end of the terrace so if I complain to the council or their housing association they will know it’s me. They are the kind of couple who seem ok as long as you’re on the right side of them but they are rather loud and look very intimidating and to be honest I don’t want to make things worse or get into an argument with them.

They are pretty good neighbours apart from this issue as in the only other noise we hear is their children (they have very screechy, door slamming children but I can cope with that during the day!) They don’t have parties or play thumping music - it’s just the issue with not being able to go to sleep when I want to. I don’t know if I’m just being over sensitive where I so tired.

What would you do?

YABU - just be grateful it’s nothing worse than a washing machine and try to ignore it/go to bed later when you know you’ll fall straight to sleep

YANBU - be brave and speak to them again asking them to not use after 11pm and complain to the council if they refuse?

[PurpleDaisies]

YABU

I would get some ear plugs.

[dementedpixie]

Are they an all electric house? If they are on economy 7 then it's cheaper to run appliances overnight

[KitKat1985]

I think I'd probably let this one go. The council aren't likely to take action over the noise of a washing machine regardless to be honest, and if they are otherwise good neighbours it may be worth trying to keep on good terms with them.

[Itsnotlikethiswithotherpeople]

YABU

[mrsbyers]

Yep you need earplugs

[livingthegoodlife]

Sorry tabu

I get it's annoying but lots of people run washing overnight.

You've tried to politely ask them and it didn't work.

Can you add insulation your side?

Having your bedroom over their kitchen sounds like a weird flying freehold situation. I thought you were going to say it's a flat.

[Thesearmsofmine]

It can be cheaper to run it at night, If they are otherwise good neighbours then I would try earplugs.

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

YANBU. I do suggest some nice soft earplugs though. I used to live under a flight path and I now cannot sleep without them.

Having said that, I run my machine at night because I find the noise soothing! (no near-by neighbours).

[Kroebero]

YABU we put washing on at night too, it’s not loud enough to bother us. I think this is part and parcel of you living in a terraced house and you should accept a little noise.

[Brefugee]

If it’s relevant we own our house and their house is social housing.

No it's not relevant. But you had to get the dig in.

Just ask them again not to put on their washing machine before 7am and in the evening so it ends not later than 10pm

[AhNowTed]

YANBU

Our old neighbour asked the same as us. Our machine was located on the party wall. We'd no idea it disturbed her. Same with the shower pump was was noisy and vibrated on the party wall.

Of course we changed our habits, so the wash finished before 10pm.

[Confrontayshunme]

Ear plugs and sound machine (or youtube video of white noise). I am a terrible light sleeper so I use these just so I'm not annoyed with anyone else.

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

I find that I'm fairly tolerant of noise and a washing machine is fairly benign white noise, but I really hate a tumble drier running when people are out or asleep. They are well known to catch fire.

[Hailtomyteeth]

Unreasonable.

[YetAnotherSpartacus]

Our old neighbour asked the same as us. Our machine was located on the party wall. We'd no idea it disturbed her. Same with the shower pump was was noisy and vibrated on the party wall.

Of course we changed our habits, so the wash finished before 10pm

You sound like a wonderful neighbour.

[wowfudge]

Wear earplugs. There is usually more noise transmitted in terraced houses. You cannot expect them to do their laundry when it suits you - it's normal noise of family life.

[x2boys]

What exactly do you think the Housing association and the council would do? They are washing clothes ,it's hardly anti social behaviour 🙄

[LIZS]

If theirs is sh they won't be responsible for the removal of the wall. There are no rules about washing machine use, unlike in some European apartment blocks. Maybe politely mention it again and ask them to check it is level and on soft flooring to minimise the noise of spin, but regular use is background noise.

[Lucieintheskye]

You could always ask your husband to mention it again, see what they say and go from there. It may have slipped their minds, or they may have a genuine reason. It's often cheaper to run appliances at night, but they might be able to compromise and run it from 8/9. If they're not willing to compromise/run it earlier, you can speak to the council.

[HaveeeeYouMetTed]

YABU. They've alrwsdy adjusted the time when they do their washing by two hours to presumably suit you. Washers / dryers are cheaper to run at night. If you're that bothered, offer to pay the difference in their electricity to do their washing when it suits you.

[LaBellina]

YABU.

It's a washing machine, they're not playing loud music in the middle of the night.
If you were my neighbour, I'd tell you that you don't get to dictate when laundry is being done in my house.

[RubyandPearl]

YABU sorry

[lcdododo]

YABU

[Runnerduck34]

This would annoy me, washing machines are loud, particularly final spins at 1am in an otherwise quiet house!
Realistically I'm not sure the council would do much, it probably needs to be sorted between yourselves.
They sound like fair neighbours, as they did initially stop and have now adjusted the times so it finishes earlier.
Basically you could either mention it again, thank them for changing the times but explain how much the noise travels and its still keeping you awake until 1am.
Or try and take measures to reduce the impact of the noise, use earplugs, perhaps reconfigure your room layout, wardrobe on party wall , add thick carpet or changing bedroom to another room if feasible. Playing the radio or music quietly could also deflect it.
Eventually you may just become used to it and be able to sleep through it.

[GoldieHelen]

I can’t believe the responses on this thread!

YANBU at all OP.

In fact if you look at the council guidelines for noise, it is not permitted to use the washing machine after 10pm in most cases