Neighbour complaining about washing machine noise

[soundsystem]

We've lived in our house for a year and a bit. For all of this time, our washing machine has been in a cupboard off the upstairs landing. This is where the previous occupiers had their washing machine.

Recently, our neighbour has been complaining of a vibrating/irritating noise in their dining room, and has started asking lots of questions about where our washing machine is and helpfully suggesting it would be better off in the garage.

As we're fairly new (neighbours have been in their house for 21 years) I want to maintain friendly neighbourly relations, but...

We haven't changed anything, so I'm not sure why it's suddenly causing problems.

It doesn't make excessive noise, obviously there is a sound when it spins but not any different from previously and not beyond the sounds you'd expect from a washing machine.

We live in a terrace (I think this is relevant, as you do often hear your neighbours when you live in a terrace!)

We don't run the washing machine at anti-social hours, e.g. early in the morning, late at night.

I don't really know what to say to her. I mean, I'm really not going to move the washing machine to the garage. But I can't deal with her emailing me every time I put a wash on!

WWYD?

Why don't you ask her if you can go round while your machine is on to see/hear the problem for yourself?

I think it’s normal ‘living noise’ and unless it’s too early or too late it’s not an issue. If things like this annoy people then they need to move to the countryside with no immediate neighbours.

As they get older washing machines do sometimes get more noisy. Wear on the bearings, or something? We had to replace ours as an awful noise developed slowly, a crucial part was cracking. Maybe yours is making more noise or is rocking about more, and it doesn't seem more noisy to you because it has crept up IYSWIM.

Or maybe your neighbour is using her dining room more often and has become more aware of it.

I agree with pp who said go and have a listen. Then I'd try solutions such as putting a rubber mat underneath it, or a board with insulation behind it; and consider whether the floorboards need fixing to stop them rocking. Also maybe have a chat about the times when you use it - you've already said you don't use it at unsocial hours, but maybe she does something at a particular time of day and you could avoid it?

Some neighbours expect to live next to door mice.. if the machine/space for it hasn’t moved the likelihood is they could hear the previous owners washer just the same or they had a smaller household/less laundry. I highly doubt they sat watching for the neighbours to leave to do a load.

I’d definitely offer to pop round to check the problem, if they’re sitting in silence n it’s barely a noise they’re definitely at it. If the tellys blaring and the house is shaking maybe check if the machines properly level .

The only other suggestion is not to do loads around dinner time.. when I’m thinking they’re likely to be in said dining room.

I don't think it is reasonable for your neighbour to expect you to move your mashing machine to the garage.

I agree with the suggestion to go round and listen to it, and look at MrsAird's solutions if necessary.

Your next step really depends on how noisy you think it is once you've gone round to listen.

Her e-mailing you every time you put on a wash is pa and would piss me right off.

As they get older washing machines do sometimes get more noisy.

Yep, noisier and vibrate more as they age. Could be that there's a slightly loose floor board too which would amplify the sound/vibrations or that it's touching the wall, again causing amplification. A good idea above to go around to listen to it - could be a whole lot worse on their side of the wall. You could try moving it slightly so it's not touching any walls and also put something under it to cushion it, like carpet tiles or a carpet off-cut. You may not have noticed it getting louder as it happens gradually. We've just replaced a supposedly "silent" one than was making a hell of a racket just 5 years old - the new one is so much quieter - the old one must have been getting worse as each month passed, but we only noticed it recently as we're usually in other rooms or out when it's on.

It’s worth checking if the machine is vibrating against something, but otherwise I’d politely tell them to do one. Regarding friendly relations with the neighbours, I’d imagine that if she’s already complaining about the washing machine that friendly might not be possible. I’d bet there will be another unreasonable request if you complied with this one!

I have a new neighbour downstairs and I sometimes hear her washing machine, whereas I never heard the previous occupant’s at all. It’s not onerous - a spin cycle every now and then is perfectly tolerable.

I'd quite frankly tell her to fuck off

My washing machine tries to do a runner every spin cycle...i'm in an upstairs flat. Agreement is we don't use it between 7pm - 7am & downstairs doesn't complain about it. Give & take. Have a chat, explain you can't won't move it & come up with a compromise