Neighbour scolded me about washing out in the front

[OrangeSplot]

Hello.

I'm feeling a bit stung and embarrassed.

We rent in a close. A few retired homeowners take care of the communal area (off their own back - do the gardens etc but I think our LL pays for lawn to be cut etc).

My neighbor just told me that I should dry my washing at the back as its "not nice for the neighbours".

Incidentally, my DH hung washing out front yesterday as the stand was there from kids playing and was sunny.

I was a bit taken aback - although I know/suspect they look down on us for having toys in our front lawn etc and more weedy than theirs. I can imagine it's not ideal but you just accept that you have a neighbour with lower aesthetic standards than you, surely?

If it's relevant I was told off last year because my friend had left her car in the communal grounds (not obstructing etc, just parked) for about 2/3 days because she ended up getting a taxi home. Another neighbor had a real go at me about it disrespecting the neighbours etc. It's just a car in my eyes, it was removed on day 3 or 4 I think.

I said little because I didn't want to say 'yes of course'. And I didn't want to argue so I just said 'I'll think about what you said' and I think I may have uttered 'I think it's an unreasonable request'. She said 'Well, , if you don't hang your washing out the back, I think you should know that it will be taken further'.

I just feel upset. It's not nice to have upset from neighbours. I'm polite and friendly and my kids play with their grandkids happily.

Is she being unreasonable or am I?

[HackerFucker22]

OP may I suggest this for your front garden

[HackerFucker22]

Or get your local council estate involved

[gandalf456]

Very continental, Hacker

I like the cider and music suggestion or I have one of my own - a stained old mattress, accompanied by a broken down washing machine and perhaps can old wreck of a car, minus its wheels

[allnewredfairy]

Washing hanging to the front of a property doesn't look right to me. Have to agree it's a bit common (but I said that on the thread about sitting in front gardens too)

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

Next time he complains tell him you ll hang him next to the washing

[LilQueenie]

I have my washing out front as we cant see the communal washing lines out the back from inside and yet I'm the only one who hangs washing outside. Still it is in a closed off garden. Id rather that than having to dry it inside all the time.

[sepa]

Do it to piss her off

Someone I know was only allowed to hang their washing on certain days. This was 15ish years ago now though. I wonder if it's the same now..

[Lucylusmum]

i swear some people complain about anything! As long as you arent hanging your knickers out there what is the issue?
Certain people are just so miserable in their own lives they try upset others

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Our residents committee is even worse. They put a clause in our deeds that people can't hang washing at the windows in the flat and all washing much be kept from sight.

Needless to say this is ignored. They are all tiny flats and there is nowhere else to hang the washing.

[Potatoface2]

I once moved into a small close of newish houses....i work nights and came home one summer morning to find the neighbours sat in their jammies on a sofa in the parking area...asked me if i wanted to join them for a cup of of tea!.. that was one of the milder things they did...we only lived there a year..very odd people..never saw their washing though!

[Capricorn76]

Sorry but I would not like to see people's old greying underwear hanging in their front garden. I'm also guessing that all those who have supported it here wouldn't like it if their neighbours started doing it in IRL either.

[var123]

You are not a second class neighbour for being a tenant. You probably pay more per month for your home than they do, if that's what you think people are being judgey about.

I suspect its more to do with the weeds and the general untidiness that you've described. Its great that you are willing to do some work on the garden. FWIW I find nasturtium seeds are very cheap and a great ground cover. After you've weeded the bed, they take about 2 minutes per packet to plant, they cover the ground and they flower for months on end. It sounds like you might need some slug pellets too.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes exactly Barbaro

[SuperFlyHigh]

There will be a covenant in your lease (which you should have read before you signed it/accepted the property) re hanging out washing in certain areas. Flout it if you will but then be prepared for neighbours to possibly have a vendetta against you and find fault in other areas. I agree actually if no one else does it, then hang in back garden!

Quite common to state certain areas where washing can or cannot be hung same for cars being left in a certain area. Overnight? Yes ok, 2–3 days is taking the piss and some residents were probably worried, not known whose car it was and then worried further re getting it removed worse case scenario.

I''m not sure how much better it would go if you owned your own house but flats certainly there are a myriad of rules and regulations re pets, flooring, the type of flooring and where etc!

Personally I find the coloured garden furniture rule someone else posted about really snobby say it's rattan, or you want to paint it bright or pastel colours?!

[StealthPolarBear]

Our neighbours windows look straight into out back garden. Sure they're well used to my knickers. I think some people take offence very easily.

[crazymammy]

Grilled - I meant check if the property was freehold

[ppeatfruit]

Superfly White is not allowed, yes it's very snobby , but I can JUST understand the problem with light weight plastic furniture flying about in storms.

[GarthNader]

I know loads of people who only have front gardens that do this. It's healthier for you and your house to air outside. You are doing everything right.

[AugustaFinkNottle]

Thinking about it, we never ever see washing in front gardens where I live and it has never occurred to me to leave ours there. Other issues apart, the fumes from the traffic would put me off.

[angielou123]

I live in a close, I have a washing line in the back garden but the grass is so overgrown and the garden full of crap that I hate going out there. So I use clothes airers. They usually stand in my kitchen but if its hot, i'll stand one out the front by my front door. Nobody has ever said anything about me doing it. Tell her to mind her own washing and quit stressing over yours!

[wonderstuff]

We rented on a privately maintained close, and our neighbours got upset about us parking our car on the street, as far as we were concerned the street was outside our tenancy agreement, we weren't obstructing anyones drive, parked legally. Our neighbour reported us to our landlord who threatened us with eviction for anti social behaviour.
I put my washing out the front, but I'm in the fortunate position of now being an owner occupier.

[TwatbadgingCuntfuckery]

When the sun shifts I put my washing racks in the front garden. In fact I often have washing racks in the front garden loaded with hand dyed items I sell drying off.

My neighbours get pissy. They have done since I moved in. Anything I do is wrong. I don't weed properly, I let my hedge grow too big, my trees are an eyesore, my DC are too noisy, I do too much washing.

yesterday I piled a load of garden stuff outside my front door to go to the tip. All in well tied rubble sacks. The tip isn't open today. It will be taken tomorrow or Tuesday. Neighbour told me she would be reporting me first thing Monday for making a mess.

I'm tempted to leave it for an extra day or two just to piss her off.

They both watch me when I go out. Always come out and move my wheelie bin because its in the wrong place. I actually put a note on it last bin day. 'Thanks for moving my bin, do you not have better things to do?'

they've complained when I have guests and they park outside - public road, no markings. Basically it is a first come first served RE parking. They don't drive but NO ONE is allowed to park in their spot.

they huff and puff I'm ruining their time in their garden because I'm in mine at the same time.

Last week she was trying to be covert and said to her husband, 'she's out there again! we'll never get this finished'. I may have said rather loudly that yes I am here and next time I'll come out with bells on so you can be sure where I am.

Whoever posted that gnome though.. I'm buying one and positioning it in my garden so it points at their house I will have an army of them!!

I don't like my neighbours. They are stuck up and incredibly rude. I opened my legs for a council house according to them.

I have been reported repeatedly to the council by them. Housing officer is fantastic.

Thing is, they don't know I now own this house.

yes its batshit to buy a house with crappy neighbours but this is the only way i'd be able to afford it. They are in their 80's and will be dead soon anyway sorry its so blunt but its true . I can live with it for another few years and the look on their faces when they realise I now own it and their complaints will fall on deaf ears... priceless

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I couldn't care less if my neighbours hung their washing in the front garden. But then I am a bit council as a PP very charmingly put it

[APlaceOnTheCouch]

I don't think this is a 'council' issue. I was brought up in a council house and we'd never have hung our washing out the front. My DM still lives in a council house and she would be mortified if there were weeds in her garden. She's over 80 and will even go out to pick up any litter that blows in.

So I don't think your neighbour was BU: I think YABU.

[MrMainwaringsWife]

Who'd have thought there would be such a divide
Just for info I'm from the south and we don't
Family in the north do
It doesn't bother me