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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this is totally unreasonable?

77 replies

gallifrey · 04/09/2013 12:51

We have recently moved into a nice (rented) house in a new area. While we were in the estate agents reading the contract it states that we are not permitted to leave the house unattended while the washing machine is on!!
I didn't say anything at the time but was quite bemused by this clause and wondered
a, if they were allowed to do this
b, how would they know?

Every time I put a load of washing on I think about this and it pisses me off!

OP posts:
BuskersCat · 04/09/2013 13:13

Neo, we've left the cooker on while we've popped to the shop.

NicknameIncomplete · 04/09/2013 13:14

I put my washing machine on & go out but not my tumble dryer. I will also leave my tv on if i am jus nipping 5 mins to the school.

My dsis' washing machine went on fire she wasnt in but her dd was luckily & managed to control it.

Scholes34 · 04/09/2013 13:14

Yep, I know someone this happened to - a housefire caused by a washing machine. No-one will know if you do it, but if there was a problem it would probably negate any insurance you might have.

Snazzyenjoyingsummer · 04/09/2013 13:16

I had never heard of this being so risky till now. Washing is done when I'm out all the time (timer delay thingy) or during the night. Hmm. Don't know anyone it's happened to either, although I suppose what I mean is no-one's had cause to mention it - clearly lots of you on here have heard of it!

oscarwilde · 04/09/2013 13:19

Learn something new on here every day. My pre-bed routine is to switch on dishwasher, washing machine and tumbledryer, simultaneously and tootle off to bed. The wiring in the kitchen isn't all that either...... Hmm

Pigsmummy · 04/09/2013 13:42

I was advised to stop turning appliances on as I leave the house, I used to out washing machine, tumble dryer and dish washer all on as I was leaving. It was a fireman who told me!

Original poster
gallifrey · 04/09/2013 15:00

so the fact that I'm in means if it catches fire I'll be here? Great I'll just burn to death as well then but it doesn't matter I'm only renting! What if I had to go to work all day?

btw I'm going out now and it's still going.... I'm such a rebelGrin

OP posts:
SarahBumBarer · 04/09/2013 15:00

Since people generally stopped using chip pans, the largest cause of house fires now is unattended washing machines apparently.

There is not much that your landlord can do to enforce this of course - give notice at the end of the assured tenancy period if they find out that you are doing this at worst I suspect and it does not really benefit them in any way although at least they sort of warned you if the worst does happen so could perhaps protect them from liability in the event of something actually going wrong.

The main point though is that you are letting it piss you off and it shouldn't. It is a bit nannyish but really quite sensible so perhaps chill about it a bit and not let it bother you?

SarahBumBarer · 04/09/2013 15:02

X-post.

Well presumably your rental agreement also has clauses about regularly checking smoke alarms are working etc? So hopefully if you do this you would not burn to death. Do those clauses annoy you too? Or can you see that they are sensible?

Sister77 · 04/09/2013 15:06

I read about someone who put their tumble dryer on and it caught fire, it gutted the house and their insurance was cancelled cus it was in the fine print. They lost everything.

CaptainCapybara · 04/09/2013 15:10

I usually put my washing machine on the timer when I go to bed so that the washing is just finished when I get up and ready to hang out. My machine takes ages so I wouldn't have time to put it on when I get up and get the washing out before having to go out to mums and toddlers/tumble tots/etc unless I got up an hour earlier which isn't going to happen .

LadyBigtoes · 04/09/2013 15:14

Yes, washing machine fire happened to a family at our school, when they were out - house burned down. They were insured though, luckily.

I usually try not to leave it on when out, though sometimes just nip out. It's easy for me though as I work (well, when not putting loads into washing machine) at home.

KatyaRachmanova · 04/09/2013 15:14

Oh dear. I go out with the washing machine on. And tumble dryer. If the dishwasher was working that'd go on. And I have popped out and left cooker on low.

I'd turn the TV off though because there's no point leaving it on.

I had better rethink my routine!

Montybojangles · 04/09/2013 15:20

Washing machines, tumble driers and dishwashers are high voltage, have friction causing moving parts, create heat and have motors. Most (if not all) fire depts advise you do not run these appliances when out, or when in bed. It's not a big risk, but it does happen.

If you are in and it starts to overheat/malfunction you are not going to stand there and let it burn the place down are you? You will call the fire brigade and have it put out before it causes serious damage to your or your neighbours property.

Were you to have a fire due to a faulty washer and you were out I imagine you are going to find your contents insurance invalidated, and footing a very large bill from the landlords insurers as you have breached your contract.

quoteunquote · 04/09/2013 15:23

Bathroom extractor fans (a lot), tumble driers, washing machine and toasters do catch fire quite often, over the years we (I build) have done a lot of repair work due to these devices deciding to burst into flames.

I wouldn't have a bathroom extractor fan in my home, or any we are responsible for, as we have done so many now,

I don't leave machines on if we are going out or to bed, none of them seem particularly safe.

angelos02 · 04/09/2013 15:27

I'd never go out while the washing machine is going. About 10 years ago our neighbour's washing machine caused a fire in their kitchen. Luckily they were home so were able to put fire out quickly. Just as well.

bookishandblondish · 04/09/2013 15:40

Apparently the issue with a washing machine is that if it's on and the water supply stops for any reason, then can cause a fire. And apparently insurance companies also stipulate it so suspect your landlord has included the clause so their building insurance isn't affected.
Found out when having washing machine repaired in rented flat.

burberryqueen · 04/09/2013 15:45

hmmm have lived in a flat before where this was a request, although not a stipulation; that request was made after the flat downstairs had been flooded by the washing machine while we were out....Grin

pigsDOfly · 04/09/2013 15:48

Over the years I've had two different washing machines flood.

The first one was when I was out and I came back to find the kitchen almost knee deep in water (the inflow of water wasn't cutting out).

Thankfully I was at home for the most recent one, which was my own fault as I'd mixed things I shouldn't have, and there was foam pouring from every part of the front of the machine and building up inside.

Can't imagine what it would have been like if I'd been out as it was like the little porridge pot story; the foam just seem to take on a life of its own and grew and grew. Got very hot and flustered over that one, but I did get to see the funny side as the whole time I was fighting this foam the cat was standing beside me yowling at me - suspect she was telling me what a fool I was; she's very old and probably thinks she knows everything about everything.

Original poster
gallifrey · 05/09/2013 09:37

But to actually have it in a contract you can't go out? Yes I can understand it's a fire risk and good advice but to stop someone from going out in my opinion is wrong.

OP posts:
ViviPru · 05/09/2013 09:41

Your LL will have to take out buildings insurance, and a clause of that insurance could well be that no appliance is left on while the house is unoccupied, otherwise her insurance might be invalidated. That's not stopping you going out, that's asking you to turn appliances off if you want to go out.

Montybojangles · 05/09/2013 09:44

But you signed the contract didn't you? They are not stopping you going out, you freely agreed to stay in when using the washing machine. You can go out anytime you like, you just have to plan your washing around that.

fuzzpig · 05/09/2013 09:46

It's only thanks to a thread a few months ago that we no longer leave the washing machine on overnight or when we go out. We just do it in the evenings.

JRmumma · 05/09/2013 09:48

I always put a wash on before i go out. i have to utilise the time or else the washing wouldn't get done.

To whoever said 'bur you wouldn't go out and leave the tv on', yes - but we all leave our fridge and freezer on constantly. IM not switching those off everytime i go out or go to bed!

GibberTheMonkey · 05/09/2013 09:48

I would never get any washing done

The whole is the biggest cause of house fires thing is stupid. If we stopped using them then something else would become the biggest cause. Unless there were no house fires ever

Having said that I would prefer my house to burn without us in it rather than with four young children to get out.