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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:
Completelyfrozen · 17/01/2021 19:06

I'm astonished that so many people use their washing machine or tumble dryer while they're sleeping. Shock
My father had a habit of leaving his washing machine or tumble dryer running when he went to bed. About 3 years ago, he dozed off on the sofa and was awoken by a bang. Upon investigating, he discovered the glass door to the washing machine was black and when he opened the door, thick acrid smoke poured out of the machine. He was frantically opening all of the doors and windows to dispel the smoke.
Luckily, he had dozed off on the sofa because the fire brigade said it would have been much worse if he had been in bed.
Fire brigade do not advise leaving washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers to be left on unsupervised.
3 years later, much to my frustration, my father is back to leaving all of these appliances running overnight. Confused
I'd rather pay a little extra and be safe.

Happyone8 · 17/01/2021 18:43

@AhNowTed

Can't believe the number of inconsiderate people on here.
Causing absolute noise and stress to their own neighbours no doubt !
AhNowTed · 17/01/2021 18:26

Can't believe the number of inconsiderate people on here.

thosetalesofunexpected · 17/01/2021 18:15

@LaBellina

"You don't get to dictate when I do my Laundrey"

@LaBellina
Its called being a Consirdate Neighbours.!

You sound like you could be someone's idea of a Anti social Neighbour.!

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 17/01/2021 18:09

There was a house fire near us last year caused by a tumble dryer. Family were out so unhurt but the house was trashed. I only run ours now when we’re in and awake.

woodhill · 17/01/2021 18:05

So do I.

Tinkerbellflowers · 17/01/2021 18:03

YANBU. Not getting a good night's sleep in your own home is horrible. I have said to my DH that next time we move, I want to buy a house in the middle of nowhere because I can't bear noise! You say their kitchen is below your bedroom. Do you have carpet or hard floor in your bedroom? If the latter, would rugs or a carpet help to absorb the noise and the vibrations?

woodhill · 17/01/2021 18:02

We got rid of the economy 7 as it was already here when we moved in and it was an even more expensive, restrictive tariff - day and night originally.

Grapewrath · 17/01/2021 17:37

Sorry white goods noise which is considered regular household noise

Grapewrath · 17/01/2021 17:36

Yanbu to find it annoying
Yabu to ask them to do anything about it. Regardless if it is socisl housing, this will be regarded as white noise

Happyone8 · 17/01/2021 17:32

@Bambam2019

Lol we had a neighbour ask the same of us (only it was 7:30pm, apparently they had to be up early and how dare we not know and be respectful of that). We also live in a terrace. We know that in a terraced house, we might get some noise from the neighbours. Perhaps that’s why it was somewhat cheaper than the detached houses in the local area. You bought knowing it’s a terraced house and so you have to accept that people are on different routines to you. I’m not saying it’s not annoying, it probably is, but I just think you’re being unreasonable here. Like I said, not everyone is on the same routine as you.
I don’t agree with this at all . Unsociable hours are clearly outlined in many places ( council sites and such) and it’s just bleeding common sense ! I know lots of people with different routines , my dh being a shift worker , who don’t live in a bubble expecting the majority of neighbours to put up with noise when most should be asleep . That’s just being inconsiderate and selfish . My dh will do these noisy things within sociable hours , it’s really not that hard . Just because you live in a flat or terraced house doesn’t mean you have to suffer whatever noise your neighbours inflict on you . You sound like you haven’t suffered Proper noise from neighbours that disturb your sleep . Your example about your neighbours is obviously unreasonable on their side and is nothing like what the op is talking about . Of course she would be unreasonable asking her neighbours to not do washing earlier ( using your neighbours unreasonable 7:30 deadline) but we are taking about the middle of the night here
lockeddownandcrazy · 17/01/2021 17:14

@Chimeraforce

We run our appliances overnight because electricity is cheaper for us overnight. Perhaps they're the same.
Us too - yes we know there is a fire risk but there is a fire risk any time and better at night than when we are out and the dogs are here alone. Everything is set to go at 1.30-2am.
user1467048527 · 17/01/2021 17:13

Yes @JinglingHellsBells - sad how many posters think neighbours just need to put up with whatever is thrown at them because they chose to live there.

I'd like to know where these places are where you can expect quiet. Even the super-rich who have the most choice of all of us over where they live can be disturbed by twattish neighbours. Helicopters, basement extensions, renting out mansions or flash flats for parties on Airbnb. What hope for the rest of us?!

Alternatively, people could just be considerate, wherever they live and whatever their financial situation.

Robbybobtail · 17/01/2021 17:09

Lol we had a neighbour ask the same of us (only it was 7:30pm, apparently they had to be up early and how dare we not know and be respectful of that).

Slightly different to running it at 1am.

Cokie3 · 17/01/2021 17:06

@Feedingthebirds1 A pound to a penny if OP hadn't said, the first question would have been do they own or rent? And the second, do you know who their landlord is? To know what to suggest to the OP

Then all OP had to say was.....RENT. Not difficult is it? No need to say if it's privately rented or council-rented.

JinglingHellsBells · 17/01/2021 17:05

You bought knowing it’s a terraced house and so you have to accept that people are on different routines to you.
I’m not saying it’s not annoying, it probably is, but I just think you’re being unreasonable here. Like I said, not everyone is on the same routine as you.

Not all terraced houses have thin walls or sound issues.

And this is a bit of a reverse-snob comment.

you bought a terraced house= you are too poor to buy a detached house = so put up with anti social noise.

Is this how mums are raising their kids? To not give a monkeys about being a considerate human being?

Pretty shocking IMO.

JinglingHellsBells · 17/01/2021 17:03

[quote Cokie3]@JinglingHellsBells I find many people who accuse others of being inconsiderate, are inconsiderate themselves, certainly inconsiderate of the needs of shift workers, health workers etc etc. Consideration doesn't only go one way. Certainly, the 'clapping for the NHS' that the UK embraced was quite hollow, when there is no consideration shown on here for shift working NHS staff.[/quote]
Whichever way you want to say it, running a machine and dryer till 1am is inconsiderate. Even shift workers can put a load of laundry in at a more considerate time. If they work nights, they arrive home in the daytime. There simply is no excuse.

Bambam2019 · 17/01/2021 17:01

Lol we had a neighbour ask the same of us (only it was 7:30pm, apparently they had to be up early and how dare we not know and be respectful of that).
We also live in a terrace. We know that in a terraced house, we might get some noise from the neighbours. Perhaps that’s why it was somewhat cheaper than the detached houses in the local area.
You bought knowing it’s a terraced house and so you have to accept that people are on different routines to you.
I’m not saying it’s not annoying, it probably is, but I just think you’re being unreasonable here. Like I said, not everyone is on the same routine as you.

user1467048527 · 17/01/2021 17:01

@Cokie3 if by inconsiderate, you mean 'expect people to moderate their activities so they aren't making unnecessarily keeping me awake at night', then yes I'm highly inconsiderate.

Not a one-way street. I often watch tv or listen to music late at night. I wear headphones, but would prefer not to and in a detached house I wouldn't.

If I had this issue, I'd first try to engage with my neighbour reasonably and rationally. Obviously even that is a big if since you can see by the responses on here that the first response from many are excuses, dismissal, insults and minimisation.

If I could, though, and they said they were working nights I would hope we could find a compromise that would work. At least one poster on here doing night shifts has said this isn't necessary.

thosetalesofunexpected · 17/01/2021 16:59

Hi Op
😕Sound Cancelling headphones are your best friend in your kind of situation.

Persianparadise · 17/01/2021 16:57

vodkaredbullgirl

I work nights and next door, most days have their music on loud. Already had a word with them, they said the time is not unreasonable.
Bookmark

You could be a right bitch and before you leave for work shove on the black lace party cd up loud for them to enjoy 😉

Feedingthebirds1 · 17/01/2021 16:56

Are people still going on about the mention of social housing?

A pound to a penny if OP hadn't said, the first question would have been do they own or rent? And the second, do you know who their landlord is? To know what to suggest to the OP.

FWIW, our council spells out that appliance noise during the day is not a nuisance. It doesn't mention during the night, but there is an implication in what they do say.

Washing machines use hardly any electricity, dryers admittedly a bit more - but is the fact that it's cheaper for one household a good enough reason for them to deprive the neighbours of sleep?

callmeadoctor · 17/01/2021 16:53

Above guide from Cheshire Fire Brigade

callmeadoctor · 17/01/2021 16:52

So clean the filter after EVERY use and NEVER leave your dryer, washing machine or dishwasher running unattended or overnight. They are a fire risk because of their high wattage, friction and motors.