To not expect neighbour to use washing machine overnight

Try wax rather than foam ear plugs. You can make a pair last a week with care. A box should last a month so hardly a major expense. Also try sleeping with the radio tuned to one of those music channels with no yapping. Or white noise.

These are lifestyle differences and you cant expect people to change that for you. I had an old woman lived in the flat beneath when I was in my 20s. I didnt play loud music or have parties as these were against the rules. However she moaned because I was usually up til 1 oe 2 am (I am a nightowl) and she said that she "could not relax until she heard me go to bed as she was afraid I was going to wake her up if she dropped off."

She even complained to the committee (it was a resident run HA) and they quickly put her straight on the fact that I was not breaking the lease so there was nothing they could do. In the end we did negotiate an arrangement whereby I prepared supper etc so I did not have to bang about in the kitchen but no way was I going to let another person dictate what time I went to bed.

That's why councils tell you what times you can make noise and what times you can't!

Why should the OP suffer disrupted sleep because of inconsiderate neighbours?

However I do understand OPs frustration as sleep deprivation is awful! Maybe remind the neighbours and let them know your circumstances and you might find they have their own circumstances and you can come to an agreement?

Not at all a snob thank you- I am in a terraced house myself, and grew up in one. I absolutely love my house not that I have to justify that to you. But actually yes I realise that I DO have to put up with noise from time to time. Next doors house is for sale and requires a lot of work- I understand that I bought the house knowing the neighbour (bought from my mum) and knew that one day I would have to put up with noise as a result!
I just think anti social behaviour is a lot worse than someone using their washing machine at that time.
I’ll be bringing my children up to be considerate of all, as I genuinely believe I am myself, but then again has OP or yourself considered that in this case the neighbours have their own needs..?
Also, referring back to your original comment about terraced houses and snobbery....many terraced houses sell for 500K plus in some areas, much more than some detached houses in other areas.....owning any home is a great achievement in my book!

I can remember my Husband once told me (in response to our neighbour doing DIY at 7am on a Saturday morning every few weeks when we lived in a terrace house) to let it go and then they will let it go when you are too loud on occasion. He was right.

I understand it is frustrating and I know things are worse when you are tired, but using the washing machine during the night is not unreasonable as as PP has said, sometimes it can be cheaper. If they had kids they may also have a lot of washing to do and that genuinely be the best time to do it.

I don't understand how so many people claim not to be annoyed by this!

My NDN runs her washing machine between about 3 and 5am alternate nights. Earplugs wouldn't make any difference as it makes vibrations, especially the final spin.

It drives me insane. YANBU!

The thing is if you live close to other people you have to be considerate. If it disturbs you they should change their habits.

I think it works in your favour if they are HA and I would complain directly to it. If your council is any good it might help. However, I was once told by the council that noise coming from a kitchen is okay because it is not a living area despite the noise travelling through the house and waking us up.

I cannot bear inconsiderate neighbours. I am only buying a detached in a very quiet street next.

I cannot imagine putting the washing machine on late at night, that’s so inconsiderate!!

Sorry OP this sounds terrible. I’d try some ear plugs or ear defenders to see if these help you at all. As your husband has already asked them it would seem they have chosen now to ignore the request and on the possibility of things getting worse I would try anything possible on your side before having to speak to them again.

From a Home Office guidance document <a class="break-all" href="https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200610232156/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364849/Noisy_neighbours_information_note.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200610232156/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/364849/Noisy_neighbours_information_note.pdf:
Not all noise is unreasonable, even if it is causing concern to the person hearing it. For example, it is not unreasonable for babies to cry, telephones to ring, people to walk around in their flat or use their washing machines in the day

For the purposes of noise nuisance, night is legally defined as 11.00pm - 7.00am. One of the grounds for complaint is that the nuisance is detrimental to the health of the neighbours, and sleep deprivation comes under that heading.

A key factor in this would be the frequency of the noise. Once a week, the OP wouldn't get anywhere. More often and the council should certainly take it seriously.

I can't believe peoples general instruction is to wear ear plugs.

I need quiet. I wouldn't want to wear ear plugs.

I would prefer it is others were considerate.

Some of these comments are ridiculous!

So because you ‘choose’ to live in a terraced house or a flat (nothing to do with not being able to afford a detached house) then you should put up with noise from neighbours because what do you expect right?
But oh no OP is the snob for even daring to mention the words HA or council.

vodkaredbullgirl, loud music, TV, loud talking on the phone.

I don't mind the washing machine or hoover, been used during the day while i slept. It's loud bloody music that annoys me from my neighbours.

Interstate point though regarding shift workers if the OP worked nights so slept in the day would people expect next door to time their washing and hoovering etc so as not to wake them up?

@BornInTheWrongCentury I don't think YABU but I also think your neighbours ANBU by finishing when they do. I wonder if they are up at 1am to hang it out?

Maybe it's easier for them to have their washing drying over night when no one is using the space?

We don't have a tumble dryer so have to hang the load on an indoor airer and spend so much time wheeling it around out of the way.

Maybe you could speak to them again and ask them to finish by 12am.

Also you can get some lovely ear/eye masks online which help drown out the sound and can play white noise to fall asleep to as well. We've just got echo dots and I set the one in the bedroom playing ocean sounds for 15 minutes. I'm normally asleep before the ocean sounds stop.

Talk to them in the garden (2m apart!) make a joke out of it, be self-deprecating. Don't avoid the issue. Just talk to them. It may be that there's a bit of compromise from both households.

Really surprised at the responses, of course you don’t run a washing machine at night if u have neighbours!! Or, u know, do DIY, practice trombone...

Suggest you put the wall back in that is allowing the noise to escape...

It would be so easy (and safer) to put the laundry on at 8pm, finishing at 11pm which is a bit late for the noisiest part of the cycle but much less disturbing for the neighbours. And I wouldn't even put anything noisy finishing after 9:30-10pm personally.

It really takes no effort to be considerate. When neighbours are just as pleasant, everybody has a better quality of life