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New neighbours complaining about our toilet

342 replies

Amanda98 · 16/05/2025 13:30

We’ve got a new build where one side of our house completely backs on to a neighbours garden - that’s the back wall/boundary of their garden essentially.

Downstairs, we have a toilet with a window which is on the side of the house where that wall is, and has a small window which opens at the top. Their garden is slightly lowered so it isn’t within reaching distance. It’s a fairly odd design but we’ve lived here for years with no issues.

The neighbours have recently changed. In one of the early weeks in April when it was warm, they put a note through the door which asked we keep the window closed when it’s sunny because of the smell. We don’t really open it much anyway so thought nothing of it.

We’ve since had a further note through this week asking it stays closed on Saturday because they are hosting a BBQ for a family members birthday. We also have family over on Saturday and the downstairs loo is the one they’d naturally use.

Are the neighbours being CF? They surely can’t expect us to introduce a rule where we only crap upstairs whenever they say so!

OP posts:
Elsvieta · 16/05/2025 18:16

Seems amazing they'd be able to smell anything. Is it possible there's something going on outside your house, like a leak in the sewer or something?

Lucelady · 16/05/2025 18:14

I have three friends that use my downstairs loo each week for a poo, one doesn't check the flush properly and it's the size of something a Great Dane would leave. I have an extractor fan but the most successful pong purger has been an Aldi nectarine diffuser. The husband is not allowed the ensuite as he has an arse like a drain, it is for wees only. Do I get a MN badge?

Fairislesweater · 16/05/2025 18:06

GasPanic · 16/05/2025 18:00

Well you've got what you've got.

Probably best to make sure you give it extra flushes and take care not to stuff too much down it.

I will admit I’m slightly paranoid about it blocking. But luckily my loo window opens onto my own garden, so it’s only us that have to contend with any smells

GasPanic · 16/05/2025 18:00

Fairislesweater · 16/05/2025 17:58

I’m intrigued by the idea that it’s good etiquette to only use the downstairs loos for wees. Given I only have a downstairs loo, should I be shitting in my wardrobe?

Well you've got what you've got.

Probably best to make sure you give it extra flushes and take care not to stuff too much down it.

Fairislesweater · 16/05/2025 17:58

I’m intrigued by the idea that it’s good etiquette to only use the downstairs loos for wees. Given I only have a downstairs loo, should I be shitting in my wardrobe?

TheignT · 16/05/2025 17:57

TheignT · 16/05/2025 17:53

My downstairs loo window opens onto our patio where we sit and never noticed any problem.

Thinking about it I have 3 plants, quite big ones, on the window sill, maybe plants reduce the smell? Might be worth trying, you could even get something with a nice smell.

DrPrunesqualer · 16/05/2025 17:56

Pinkywoo · 16/05/2025 17:54

Precisely.

Did you and @HelpMeGetThrough work on that joke together 🤣

Pinkywoo · 16/05/2025 17:54

HelpMeGetThrough · 16/05/2025 15:25

Come again?

Precisely.

KnickerFolder · 16/05/2025 17:54

CFery aside, isn’t your house going to stink of smoke if you leave the window open while they barbecue?

ThatDaringEagle · 16/05/2025 17:53

PuppyMonkey · 16/05/2025 17:10

Can you start a WhatsApp group and add them so that the lads can give everyone fair warning when they’re about to dump their load?Grin

Edited

And what about wanking?
you better ask them on the WhatsApp group if they'd like notice of this too !? 😂

TheignT · 16/05/2025 17:53

Dinosweetpea · 16/05/2025 17:50

Their fault for buying/renting a house with a garden that has someone elses toilet window open onto it!
Saying that, Our downstairs toilet window opens onto our back garden (as millions must do) and I have never smelt a thing and the window is open most of the time!
They are being ridiculous.

My downstairs loo window opens onto our patio where we sit and never noticed any problem.

UndermyShoeJoe · 16/05/2025 17:52

I mean maybe double check the planning on your house incase the wrong window was put in as well… it is odd for a new build to have a window opening into someone else’s garden.

SingtotheCat · 16/05/2025 17:52

johnd2 · 16/05/2025 16:53

If it's bad it's possible you could be breaking the law on this one. If they can't relax in the garden because of the smell, you would be in the wrong. Although I'm not sure if that would get to court.

"For the smell to count as a statutory nuisance it must do one of the following:

unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises"

Personally I'd get the drains checked for leaks or gaps and just fit an extractor, I'm sure it's more the thought of it than the actual smell.

Felonious flatulence, criminal crapping and terrorism by turd.

TheignT · 16/05/2025 17:51

tripleginandtonic · 16/05/2025 13:36

Why does yout toilet smell so bad?

That was my thought, I was surprised that so many seemed to think it was normal for a toilet to smell that bad.

DrPrunesqualer · 16/05/2025 17:51

PiggyPigalle · 16/05/2025 17:49

I agree, but there are no men here. Some seem to live on meat and cheap bread, washed down with fizzy drink and no, going to the gym does not undo the damage.
As for Vegans, my daughter lives a very strict vegan lifestyle and she never smells. (Her dog honks a bit .)

Thankyou for seconding that !

We also tend to be nice and regular too.

The nursery actually used to fight over who changed our kids because of their non smelly delightfully superior poos. It’s on their CVs

Dinosweetpea · 16/05/2025 17:50

Their fault for buying/renting a house with a garden that has someone elses toilet window open onto it!
Saying that, Our downstairs toilet window opens onto our back garden (as millions must do) and I have never smelt a thing and the window is open most of the time!
They are being ridiculous.

PiggyPigalle · 16/05/2025 17:49

BrianaBlessed · 16/05/2025 16:29

It’s not normal to have foul smelling poos at all - people are very wrong about this. Yes a slight smell perhaps but nothing that lingers after a minute or so. I can’t smell if my daughter has done a poo, and vice versa. Nor my parents come to think of it. And hardly ever at work and there’s no windows.

But so many people’s diets are shit it comes out in their shit I guess.

I agree, but there are no men here. Some seem to live on meat and cheap bread, washed down with fizzy drink and no, going to the gym does not undo the damage.
As for Vegans, my daughter lives a very strict vegan lifestyle and she never smells. (Her dog honks a bit .)

DrPrunesqualer · 16/05/2025 17:49

ItGhoul · 16/05/2025 17:42

I hate to break this to you, but that’s complete nonsense. It has nothing to do with diet.

I’m that sad I’ve googled it 🫣
@BrianaBlessed is correct

New neighbours complaining about our toilet
DrPrunesqualer · 16/05/2025 17:46

pinkdelight · 16/05/2025 16:15

How smelly are your dumps?

So weird that anyone on this thread thinks their dumps aren't smelly! There'll be variations of course, but no one's dumps smell good, except to coprophiliacs I guess.

I can verify despite the amount of greens we all eat my family do not have smelly poos. ( verified in writing by the nursery, I’ll thank you )
We are superior in that we are vegetarian,

🧝‍♂️🧝😁

uncomfortablydumb60 · 16/05/2025 17:46

They are being ridiculous!!!
can’t believe they can smell your toilet next door!
Doesn’t bode well for Peaceful enjoyment of your property( which is your legal right)

ThatDaringEagle · 16/05/2025 17:46

GasPanic · 16/05/2025 17:39

A dump so bad it actually breaks the law ?

'That's just bad shit man!!' ;)

ItGhoul · 16/05/2025 17:42

BrianaBlessed · 16/05/2025 16:29

It’s not normal to have foul smelling poos at all - people are very wrong about this. Yes a slight smell perhaps but nothing that lingers after a minute or so. I can’t smell if my daughter has done a poo, and vice versa. Nor my parents come to think of it. And hardly ever at work and there’s no windows.

But so many people’s diets are shit it comes out in their shit I guess.

I hate to break this to you, but that’s complete nonsense. It has nothing to do with diet.

ACynicalDad · 16/05/2025 17:42

Does the window open into their garden? If not, get your kids to let off a stink bomb.

DrPrunesqualer · 16/05/2025 17:41

Lapidarian · 16/05/2025 17:38

I imagine it’s something like this in terms of the OP’s window actually opening into the neighbour’s garden, though here it’s fairly obviously a dodgy extension. Whereas the OP says they live in a new build, so presumably planning compliant..?

I’d be putting a fence right in front of that

DrPrunesqualer · 16/05/2025 17:40

LittleNote55 · 16/05/2025 15:21

We have a very similar layout with the neighbours loo. You can hear absolutely everything when you’re sitting on our patio. I bet it’s this, and not any smells.

Maybe you are OPs neighbour
in which case…..now’s you’re chance