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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Washing lines

80 replies

eltsihT · 13/01/2014 12:11

We live in a new estate, we were one if the first in and have been in about 2 years. In our missives it states we can only have a whirligig washing line.

We have 2 new neighbours (moved in in September) both have washing lines with poles strung across their gardens I am 99% sure their missives are the same as ours.

It irritates me they aren't following the missives, should I leave it alone or complain to the builders. (I know this is a bit petty)

OP posts:
MaidOfStars · 13/01/2014 12:13

Surely you have better ways of filling your time instead of worrying about your neighbours washing lines?

ISeeYouShiverWithAntici · 13/01/2014 12:13

What can be done to someone who owns their own home and puts a washing line up?

What's the problem with a washing line? Why did the builders say that the people they were selling the houses to couldn't have them?

BrokenFairylights · 13/01/2014 12:14

Does it really metres that much? It seems such a silly thing to complain about I'd personally save complaining about restrictive covenants for the big things that spoil the estate.

WaffilyVersatile · 13/01/2014 12:15

sorry so you have paid for a house and are being told that the only way you can have of drying your washing is to have one of those ugly rotary lines? I would have something to say about that!!

Why do you care what washing line someone else chooses?

Personally we have www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-15m-dual-retractable-washing-line/p217821?kpid=231153133&s_kenid=57be6a01-1e43-da49-720a-00001d37907e&s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73 I hate those round ones. Yuck.

chemenger · 13/01/2014 12:16

A BIT petty? Really? How do their washing lines impact on your life so negatively that you feel the need to complain, behind their backs, to a third party?

TantrumsAndBalloons · 13/01/2014 12:16

Oh dear god, they have a washing line

Call 101

Original poster
eltsihT · 13/01/2014 12:17

I am at home with 2 small children, odd things bother me.

I believe the builders can leagily enforce the missives. I.e if we cut down our hedge they can force us to replant it (hedge is also in missives)

OP posts:
WestieMamma · 13/01/2014 12:18

If you're happy to fall out with the people you'll be living next to for possibly years to come and get into a dispute which may devalue your house, then yes by all means go ahead and complain. I mean, putting up a washing line in their garden, how very dare they Hmm

Tulip26 · 13/01/2014 12:18

Sometimes I think AIBU should be renamed First World Problems...

Original poster
eltsihT · 13/01/2014 12:20

I am not a fan of the rotary ones either but we were told it was all we can have. I get annoyed when rules aren't applied evenly.

Tbh I suspect I won't complain just seeth quietly about it

OP posts:
IDoBelieveInFairiesIDoIDo · 13/01/2014 12:20

The builders are unlikely to care even though it is in the missives. I'm not allowed to park a caravan at my house - quite a few houses have massive work vans and one house had a school mini bus. Do I care? Nope! These people are just living their lives.
Can you imagine the AIBU thread from the person who got grassed up for having a washing line?

WestieMamma · 13/01/2014 12:20

The builders would need to go to court to enforce the missives. Do you really think they'll fork out for the costs of that and risk losing and incurring the costs of the other party all for the sake of a washing line?

Botanicbaby · 13/01/2014 12:21

Leave it alone. Find something worthwhile to get annoyed about if you must.

Those whirligig washing lines are the ugliest things ever, far prefer a proper washing line with poles. Your neighbours have good taste. What idiot wrote those missives anyway?!

Rules were made to be broken Wink

Topseyt · 13/01/2014 12:22

They are washing lines. They do nobody any harm. Why on earth do you even care what washing lines they have in their gardens (says she, who needs to buy a new one soon).

Get yourself a t-shirt with the slogan on it "Keep Calm, Its Only a Washing Line" and then just live and let live.

RobinSparkles · 13/01/2014 12:22

Tbh, I think that the neighbours ABU and you have a good mind to string it around their necks! Or better yet hang them from it, that'll teach them.

Washing line wankers!

WestieMamma · 13/01/2014 12:24

There's an episode of The X-Files where the housing estate busybody summons up some monster which comes in the night and devours residents who don't follow the rules in the residents handbook perfectly. Perhaps you could try that?

birdybear · 13/01/2014 12:24

why do you feel the need to keep looking in their gardens?

does it affect you in any way at all? get a life!!!

fackinell · 13/01/2014 12:25

Grin I'm so glad it's not just me!

I had a raging row with some old neighbours over a line that I put up and they constantly used (there were loads of them in the flat.) told them to get their fucking own and they cut my line and used half for theirs. I ended up taking the whole thing down in a rage. Nothing more annoying than traipsing downstairs with an armful of wet washing to find theirs swinging on my line.

Not very helpful but I get you. Now I'm Angry again! Grin

Stinklebell · 13/01/2014 12:25

We bought a house that had these kinds of conditions on - it was a new build in a conservation area. We weren't allowed to do anything to change the exterior of the property - no satellite dishes, not allowed to change the colour of the front door, wooden window frames, stipulations on plants in the front gardens, etc.

We all merrily ignored it. One neighbour built a conservatory which they were forced to take down, but petty stuff was overlooked

I really wouldn't get my knickers in a twist over someone else's washing line

JinglingRexManningDay · 13/01/2014 12:27

You would seethe over a washing line? Really?

Original poster
eltsihT · 13/01/2014 12:29

Yeah we had washing line wars in the flats we moved from. We all had out own lines and the first person down that morning got to use the poles... My washing was even removed and left ion the ground at one point so someone else could hang theirs.

Also all I can see from the kitchen is their gardens

Maybe I should plant some trees

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 13/01/2014 12:30

I know you like rules to be complied with, but why does it really matter?

I don't know or care what washing line my awful neighbours have.

RobinSparkles · 13/01/2014 12:31

On ours it says that you can't have a satellite dish on the front of the house, an aerial visible, you're not allowed to have a work van outside, rubbish bins must not be visible/left at the front of the house and gardens must be in a good state (grass neat etc). We can't keep chickens or ducks either Hmm.

A lot of people break the rules though. I'm not going to tell over next door if they decide to buy a couple of chickens!

Topseyt · 13/01/2014 12:32

You sound like you have too much time on your hands. Either that or this thread is a joke one. I think it is funny anyway.

Starballbunny · 13/01/2014 12:34

My parents estate has missives about no fences.

In years gone by (before houses were built on the field above and across the road) they had visits from sheep and even treating ponies.

The houses all have fences, hedges and walls and have had for almost 40 years Grin

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