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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Confront or report

43 replies

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 18:54

I live ok a corner plot, from my back garden if you look diagonally south west there is a bungalow. It’s a L shaped bungalow with a chimney right in the centre. The chimney is not tall at all. For reference we in a smokeless area,

due to the fact that they are in a bungalow, alongside the chimney not being very tall when their fire is lit, if the wind is a certain direction is blows directly into our garden.

The amount of times I’ve had to shut the kitchen door as the smell is overwhelming. But the most annoying thing is our washing. I’ve had to re wash countless clothes. We thought we’d brought them in on time but just going through washing, inc the kids school uniform it all absolutely stinks and will need to be re washed.

I’m so angry and am deciding whether to go around and have a (calm) word with them and explain what is happening or just to report them straight to the council. As I’m looking at it now the chimney is oozing out smoke.

AIBU to just report them and go through the long drawn out complaints procedure?

what would you do?

OP posts:
Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 20:28

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 20:21

Me, because I have terminal ill health and am fucking freezing again with the massive temperature drop we've had recently. It's currently 7 degrees and dropping here.

Also the difference in price between real coal and smokeless is shocking. With coal being banned now yet again those that can't afford are screwed.

Between late December and now I've spent approximately £350 each month just on smokeless coal because the walls of my rented 300+ years old cottage are very thick stone and it takes a lot to build the heat up and keep it in and no I can't move because I have a ridiculously cheap rent because of this.

If it comes to it I will (and have done when desperate) chuck in anything that I think will burn - that's the reality of Fuel Poverty and if you dared to pitch up at my door to whinge you'd be sent away with a flea in your ear.

I just want a quiet life and folk like you make that so much more difficult.

Show quote history

Folk like me??? Who don’t want their kids stinking of smoke just by playing in their back garden? What about their health???

I’m really very sorry for your situation, we struggle with the cost of fuel too. We think thank the lord the weather is better so that we’re not having to have the heating on to dry the clothes, and then being faced with washing it AGAIN - how much extra money is that causing. And you insinuate that I’m the selfish one???

OP posts:
MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:25

How long have you and they lived there, OP? Has one of you recently moved in? I just wondered why it has become such an issue for you just now?

Sinamin · 29/04/2023 20:21

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:53

With the smell that emits I’m pretty sure that they are burning just about anything and everything. It’s been beautiful here today, I mean who lights a fire at 3pm on a gorgeous sunny day

Me, because I have terminal ill health and am fucking freezing again with the massive temperature drop we've had recently. It's currently 7 degrees and dropping here.

Also the difference in price between real coal and smokeless is shocking. With coal being banned now yet again those that can't afford are screwed.

Between late December and now I've spent approximately £350 each month just on smokeless coal because the walls of my rented 300+ years old cottage are very thick stone and it takes a lot to build the heat up and keep it in and no I can't move because I have a ridiculously cheap rent because of this.

If it comes to it I will (and have done when desperate) chuck in anything that I think will burn - that's the reality of Fuel Poverty and if you dared to pitch up at my door to whinge you'd be sent away with a flea in your ear.

I just want a quiet life and folk like you make that so much more difficult.

Whochangedmynamec · 29/04/2023 20:20

If you report they will ask if you have talked to them

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:16

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:53

With the smell that emits I’m pretty sure that they are burning just about anything and everything. It’s been beautiful here today, I mean who lights a fire at 3pm on a gorgeous sunny day

They could have a back boiler for hot water?

Some houses are cold and damp on the inside even at this time of the year. We have elderly neighbours who light their fires early so it's nice and warm by the evening. Some have fires in all day, and 'backed up' all night, especially with back boilers and no other form of heating or water heating.

PuffinPuffinPenguin · 29/04/2023 20:14

The conservation area is irrelevant. They are breaking the law. I'd report them.

drpet49 · 29/04/2023 20:10

MRex · 29/04/2023 19:04

I'd report them, because you clearly don't have an existing relationship to work out their reaction. If they refuse to listen then it gets uglier, but report them and you don't get the hassle.

I like this approach

MmaRra · 29/04/2023 20:08

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:02

Will this stop under the new coal laws coming in on Monday when they have to change to smokeless coal?

Traditional house coal can't be sold from that date but people will still be using up what they've already got in stock at home. Some people on bulk deliveries from a coal merchant will have a whole coal shed full still to use up.

WolfFoxHare · 29/04/2023 19:58

I’d report them without confronting them. If you confront them, then report, they’ll know if was you and it they are going to be aggressive, you’ll be a target.

Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:53

With the smell that emits I’m pretty sure that they are burning just about anything and everything. It’s been beautiful here today, I mean who lights a fire at 3pm on a gorgeous sunny day

OP posts:
strawberryfluff · 29/04/2023 19:51

Ask them if they can text you when they're putting on the fire so you can get your washing in?

Then report them. It's disgusting and nasty and they should be fined.

Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:48

We are, and have been in a smokeless zone, for many years (the entire area so my house and bungalow are both in smokeless zones) My house is in a conservation area due to being on the same road as a national trust historically preserved property. The house with the chimney is set back and not on the main road so the conservation area doesn’t apply to them

OP posts:
PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:30

Oh maybe I misunderstood. Are you saying the bilungalow is in the smokeless zone and not the conservation area? If they're burning coal that's giving off that much smoke, it sounds like they're not burning smokeless coal. Maybe wet wood? That's illegal from Monday too.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:27

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:05

We are already in a smokeless zone though (as well as a conservation area - but the bungalow isn’t in the conservation area as the house isn’t on the front it’s set right back)

Show quote history

On the 1 May, the whole country goes smokeless so they will be in the zone! We'll all be in the zone!! 😄

Original poster
shoulditbethishard1 · 29/04/2023 19:05

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:02

Will this stop under the new coal laws coming in on Monday when they have to change to smokeless coal?

We are already in a smokeless zone though (as well as a conservation area - but the bungalow isn’t in the conservation area as the house isn’t on the front it’s set right back)

OP posts:
MRex · 29/04/2023 19:04

I'd report them, because you clearly don't have an existing relationship to work out their reaction. If they refuse to listen then it gets uglier, but report them and you don't get the hassle.

PollyPeptide · 29/04/2023 19:02

Will this stop under the new coal laws coming in on Monday when they have to change to smokeless coal?

bloodywhitecat · 29/04/2023 19:01

I'd speak to them first to see if it could be resolved.

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