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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:
Cabinfever10 · 06/10/2023 14:50

@Socialhousingandproud this thread is a zombie 🧟‍♀️

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!

woodhill · 26/01/2021 12:11

@PeggyHill - indeed especially if they have a tendency to be sick and are little

I'm sure occasionally it's fine to put the WM overnight on but OP implied it was a regular occurrence

Happyone8 · 26/01/2021 08:44

Even if there are accidents - surely it’s not dcs being sick etc every night ! More likely just regular washing being put on at inconsiderate o’clock !

PeggyHill · 25/01/2021 23:30

@woodhill

Why have a double bed sheet for a dcConfused
This is such a classic MN style question Grin
OnNaturesCourse · 25/01/2021 20:20

@woodhill

Why have a double bed sheet for a dcConfused
My little ones tend to come to my room to tell me then promptly throw up all over the place. I have a super king bed, they have a double. Either way it's a lot of sheets.

I am getting the impression you are now arguing for the sake of it, and aren't willing to accept that some people do need to use a washing machine at night. Part of life that everyone's circumstances are different. What would happen if I worked shifts and I was only home at night? As I said before not everyone is on a normal schedule.

woodhill · 25/01/2021 19:19

I would rather clean off some of the muck before putting in my machine anyway

woodhill · 25/01/2021 19:18

Why have a double bed sheet for a dcConfused

OnNaturesCourse · 25/01/2021 18:58

Totally possible with double bedsheets, pyjamas etc 🙄

woodhill · 25/01/2021 18:53

Soak the stuff in a bucket then wash next morning?

OnNaturesCourse · 25/01/2021 18:50

@Macncheeseballs

Onnaturescourses - not sure anyone 'needs' to wash their pants in the middle of the night
Clearly never had kids or pets have accidents or sickness in the middle of the night, or have electricity that is 50% cheaper at that time.
Macncheeseballs · 25/01/2021 17:57

Onnaturescourses - not sure anyone 'needs' to wash their pants in the middle of the night

simonisnotme · 25/01/2021 17:48

why should the OP pay her neighbour a quid a day (whatever) not to use the washing machine at night , thats bloody stupid.
running a washer at night is anti-social and could be dangerous, surely you dont save that much on the leccy bill

woodhill · 25/01/2021 17:22

Unless they live in the middle of nowhere away from others they do not

SnoozyLou · 25/01/2021 13:06

I guess so. Its called just sucking it up and understanding not everyone is on a normal sleep / wake schedule

It's for the person who doesn't have the "normal" schedule to be considerate, not the rest of society, ie the norm, to fit in with them.

Cooking, taking a shower, starting their car, watching tv - of course that's all fine. Hoovering, running spin cycles, mowing the lawn? If you know you're disturbing people, no way. Particularly not night after night.

Nanny0gg · 25/01/2021 12:57

And her neighbors have a right to live and do as they need to do in their own home.

Not without considering their neighbours!

OnNaturesCourse · 24/01/2021 14:59

@Hardchoices
You've got to be kidding - having lived in a flat where the whole block was all electric and most on economy metres I know what it is like to have washers and dryers running at all hours. Same goes for the drug fueled parties that happened in the house next door to the flat... Difference was that's not someone just going about their business , that's someone out to cause hassle and be inconsiderate. Completely different things - someone needing to wash their pants and someone throwing a massive party.

OnNaturesCourse · 24/01/2021 14:54

@user1467048527

Well, they can find out what it's like to live next to that if op starts her hoovering in the night, can't they *@OnNaturesCourse* ?
I guess so. Its called just sucking it up and understanding not everyone is on a normal sleep / wake schedule
Darbs76 · 23/01/2021 21:06

You’re not being unreasonable but perhaps they have cheaper heating overnight (my mum always had her washer and dryer on a timer for cheaper electric). Might be worth asking again, I wouldn’t bother complaining to the council, maybe put a polite letter through saying you’re sorry to be a pain to ask again but you’re a really light sleeper and it’s impacting on your sleep and therefore your work etc. If they still don’t I guess invest in earplugs

user1467048527 · 23/01/2021 20:34

Well, they can find out what it's like to live next to that if op starts her hoovering in the night, can't they @OnNaturesCourse ?

Happyone8 · 23/01/2021 19:30

They don’t have the right to do anything they want . If I want to have a party at 1am is that ok with you? Next to your room on a Sunday night? Didn’t think so . The op found that a washing machine running late was similarly deemed unsociable and not allowable .
I don’t think those who are commenting thinking it’s fine to do whatever you want & whenever you want - have actually lived with proper noise disturbance when you are trying to sleep . It’s a form of torture . It really isn’t a huge effort to be a nice person

OnNaturesCourse · 23/01/2021 18:39

@Hardchoices

I can’t believe some of these responses. The OP has the right to sleep peacefully in her house. I would speak to them again and if there was no resolution I would likely retaliate to let them see how irritating it was. Maybe running the hoover round just as the cycle finishes.
And her neighbors have a right to live and do as they need to do in their own home.
Hardchoices · 23/01/2021 12:45

I can’t believe some of these responses. The OP has the right to sleep peacefully in her house. I would speak to them again and if there was no resolution I would likely retaliate to let them see how irritating it was. Maybe running the hoover round just as the cycle finishes.

woodhill · 23/01/2021 12:30

Also they don't have to stay on the cheap night rate tariff. Ours is the same at any time, we gave up on the economy 7 which is designed I believe for the storage heater system

sue20 · 23/01/2021 11:47

YANBU. I live in a terrace converted flat and upstairs washing machine very old and loud especially on spin. But they are great and don't put it on beyond 8.00pm, without me even complaining. I do same back, it's just common social courtesy. The fact that you have spoken about it and they continue is really selfish. Posters remember the noise is very variable depending on age and make of the machine, some have very low noise, others are like a jet taking off! You can get mat things to go underneath, might help.
I would just mention it again, in a nice way. Say it's interrupting your sleep.