AIBU to think this is totally unreasonable?

[gallifrey]

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!

Our new machine has bizarrely long wash cycles. I use the one hour 3 mins option which is long enough.

Your LL can't police it but if you go out, leaving your washing machine on, and it catches fire and causes the house to burn down then you may get sued (especially if the LL's insurance won't pay out because it contained a similar clause). If the house never catches fire, the LL will never know, or indeed care

If this is important to you, contact your LL and negotiate striking out the clause - you may need to agree to pay for his extra insurance cost though.

Just a thought - is it YOUR washing machine or is it the LL's? If it is the LL's then she has an obligation to ensure it is safe so there should be no problem.