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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not expect neighbour to use washing machine overnight

583 replies

BornInTheWrongCentury · 17/01/2021 09:39

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?

OP posts:
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DriveMeCrazy1974 · 25/09/2025 09:54

YANBU OP. I think it's the height of selfishness to do your washing at the time of night you've mentioned. We live in a middle floor flat and we've experienced this behaviour from the upstairs and downstairs neighbours at different times -it's horrendous.
Anybody suggesting earplugs has clearly not had to put up with this kind of thing, because you'll still feel the vibrations when the washing machine spins.
I'm pretty sure most councils have a rule that you can't do washing this late at night anyway! This is from our local council's website "Most Conditions of Tenancy require that tenants do not cause nuisance to neighbours and landlords should take action if a nuisance is being caused", meaning the council would have to talk to the tenants about this.

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 25/09/2025 09:49

PurpleDaisies · 17/01/2021 09:40

YABU

I would get some ear plugs.

You do realise that even with earplugs, you'd most likely still feel vibrations from the spinner, right? We had a neighbour who used to do their washing very late at night and it was horrendous. People who say the same as you clearly have never had to put up with this kind of selfish behaviour.

EmmaWithTheGreatHair · 25/09/2025 07:40

YetAnotherSpartacus · 17/01/2021 09:45

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).

Can you recommend a make?

Sandrine1982 · 23/09/2025 18:49

Omg I can't believe people are saying YABU. Washing machine noise at night against a party wall is unbearable !!!

NuovaPilbeam · 18/09/2025 07:50

I would probably start by trying earplugs - they are probably desperate to save money using electricity over night when cheaper. If the machine takes 3 hours, then they are probably also trying to ensure its got all day on the line to dry, its so much harder getting washing dry when the weather turns.

MyDogHumpsThings · 18/09/2025 07:37

GoldieHelen · 17/01/2021 10:18

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

This this this!

People say you must expect noise living in adjoined; I say you must expect to be more considerate of your neighbours and you should have the right to expect the same of them!

Createausernameplease · 18/09/2025 07:11

A lot of companies are now offering incentives to use appliances outside of peak hours, maybe that’s what they are doing and good for them every little helps

ASimpleLampoon · 18/09/2025 06:58

That's a normal household noise and the poor sound proofing is not their fault. They probably have cheaper electricity at night so unless you're willing to pay a portion of their bill yabu.

InterestedDad37 · 18/09/2025 06:23

terrafirma2025 · 18/09/2025 03:43

Normally never say this when it comes to noise - but buy earplugs. They are obviously doing it for a reason and you will only piss them off. If they are good neighbours otherwise, learn to live with it.

Oh never mind, zombie thread 🙄

Edited

... but it would be nice to know how things panned out 🙂

terrafirma2025 · 18/09/2025 03:43

Normally never say this when it comes to noise - but buy earplugs. They are obviously doing it for a reason and you will only piss them off. If they are good neighbours otherwise, learn to live with it.

Oh never mind, zombie thread 🙄

OnNaturesCourse · 20/05/2024 22:23

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 20/05/2024 21:39

Buy them a quieter machine

🤣😂🤣

I know this is a zombie thread but that comment got me lol

Blondeshavemorefun · 20/05/2024 21:42

@BornInTheWrongCentury what happened in the end 3yrs on are they still using their machine

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 20/05/2024 21:39

Buy them a quieter machine

Eistigi · 20/05/2024 21:30

hMG206 · 19/05/2024 23:15

This thread is months old, are u ok hun?

Edited
Show quote history

The thread is yearsssss old!

Oblomov24 · 20/05/2024 21:10

My Dh has just asked for octopus smart meter, to charge his car 12pm-4am for 7p per/hr. We will now also do washing machine, dish washer and heated rack at that time too. No one can afford not to. We are 3 staggered end of terrace, but hear nothing from neighbours ever.

hMG206 · 19/05/2024 23:15

Sandrine1982 · 19/05/2024 23:01

It's crazy what people in this country think is reasonable behaviour. Washing machines / tumble dryers on at night, next to the party wall, is frigging evil....

This thread is months old, are u ok hun?

Sandrine1982 · 19/05/2024 23:01

It's crazy what people in this country think is reasonable behaviour. Washing machines / tumble dryers on at night, next to the party wall, is frigging evil....

Anna8089 · 14/01/2024 14:17

Illegal after 11pm and yes the local council and police will deal with it.

LakieLady · 10/10/2023 19:13

I asked a similar question a year or two ago: my neighbours used to start theirs a bit before 5am, and they sound of their water tank, just on the other side of the party wall from my bedroom, emptying and refilling for 90 minutes or so, made it impossible to get back to sleep. It sounded like Niagara Falls!

I was told I was unreasonable and try earplugs. I bought a few different sorts of ear plugs over a few months, but they all fell out in the night - even the type that are used by MotoGP riders when racing!

Anyway, I realised a few months ago that they either don't do it any more, or it's stopped waking me up.

I don't think YABU, but a lot of people may think you are. I hope yours stop doing it, it's bloody annoying.

Daveismyhero · 10/10/2023 19:03

Our energy is cheaper between midnight and 4am so we frequently run our dishwasher/washing machine at this time. It's made a huge difference to our energy bills. It also means I can hang the washing out before work and ita dry by the time I get home

Catmuffin · 10/10/2023 18:54

Yanbu. I live in a terrace and thank God my neighbours aren't noisy at night. Can't believe some people think it's fine. (Probably because they're inconsiderate neighbours themselves.)

GabriellaMontez · 10/10/2023 18:45

Yanbu.

They should be running it in the day.

Oblomov23 · 10/10/2023 18:42

I feel differently to most on this thread. I don't think it's ok. I don't want to wear earplugs, I want peace at night when I sleep.

defi · 10/10/2023 10:24

This is what comes of living in a terrace. I could hear my next door neighbour sneeze. Invest in good ear plugs or move

Cleverpolly3 · 07/10/2023 16:30

Socialhousingandproud · 06/10/2023 14:41

Are you joking? So on your say so they cant fart then without your permission? You own only your boundary not theirs... cheeky sod saying they cant wash their clothes during the night? What if they are on econamy 7 or its cheaper to use the washer at night? What is wrong with you? Get some ear plugs or use white noise if it bothers you so much! Or sell up and move, how dare you put social housing tenants in such a bad light just because you own a tiny bit of land in the grand sceme of things, how dare you tarnish social housing tenants in this way!

How did you even come across this thread …. Did you go looking for social housing comments to rant about ?