Neighbour keeps using my washing line.

[Horsegirl1]

We have only one neighbour as we live rural . Our gardens meet and she keeps using my washing line. Everytime I go out to hang up my washing g she has clothes on my line. She has only just started doing this. She has lived next door for 8 months but rarely speaks despite my efforts to be chatty etc (she is very quiet and private and says no more than hello) . Anyways she has suddenly started using my washing line. It's driving me crazy as I have 5 children so have tons of washing. Plus my husband is a farmer so again many clothes to wash . AIBU to politely ask her to buy/put up her own line ??? I wouldn't dream of doing this but maybe I'm an un reasonable bitch and should share ???

You need to go round and ask her not to use your washing line as you have a lot of washing.
As she rents the property from you surely you could provide her with a line of her own.

Bizarre!!

Maybe she's passive aggressive and this is her way of letting you know she peed off that you don't provide her with her own line lol

Ask her if she'd like her own line?

I know lonny iv been a coward. I just didn't /don't know how to approach her. I can't do any type of confrontation. I'm a wimp 😕

I think you need to talk to her to make it clear that it's your garden and your washing line- and if she's otherwise a good tenant then you could put a line up in her garden for her.

Best to get your dh to put up a line.

Yes, definitely a job for a man.

Maybe she thinks it's up to you as a landlord to provide one.

I think you should provide her with something to hang her clothes out in her garden. I think she probably just thinks it's the universal line as there only is one.

You need to provide her with a line as landlords.

She probably feels its OK since she rents from you.

I love all these ask dh to put up one for the tenant.
A woman can put up a washing line too, and we wonder why.

OP, take her clothes round and tell her there isn't enough room on your line for her clothes too.
Maybe as a good will gesture put one up for her.

PanGalactic has the ultimate answer.

I really would take her washing down and leave it in her garden on a bin bag or something. When you see her just say chirpily
"Oh I saw you used my line the other day. But I need it so please keep your washing in your own garden, thanks"

I probably wouldn't want to approach her either. I'm fine if a situation arises but find instigating it difficult. If it was me I'd take it all down and put it back in her garden when you've made sure she's not around every time she did it! Probably not the best thing really but if she's as timid as she sounds I'm sure she'll soon get the idea and not say anything.

To be honest she has a huge garden so we never even thought of a line. It's very easy for her to install a line. I'd do it if I rented. She coukd buy a rotary drier that pushes into grass. The house is a holiday cottage that she and her dh is renting longerm whilst they renovate their own home . As it's been a holiday cottage a wash line has never been an issue . I will get dh to install a line. He is on combining at minute so doubt he will have time this next week or so. Iv not seen him properly for weeks apart from when he climbs into bed at 11pm and gets up at 5am . A wash line is least of his priorities. Harvest is his focus at present .

So what have you been doing with your washing for 4 weeks?

She has a line doesn't she - the whirly thing. SO no need for you or some random male or anyone to put up a line. She could also put one up herself if she needs to!

Knock on the door and ask her to please stop using your washing line as your garden is not a communal area, or put a letter through her door saying that.

But they haven't given her anywhere to hang clothes in her own garden. Provide her with a line to save her having to use yours

If she rents from you, it's more accurate to describe her as your tenant than your neighbour. It sounds as though she needs a washing line. Could you organise one for her?

OP didn't say they had a whirly. She is using a clothes horse which is those portable ones normally used indoors

I see you haven't installed one as landlord, in that case installing one sounds sensible but she's chosen a passive aggressive way of getting one rather than just asking you to erect one.
I don't think this is the sort of thing a tenant should be supplying.

Go and knock on the door. Say 'Just a quick word, I noticed you've been using our washing line so I guess you could do with one of your own. I can get DH to do it but it'll take a couple of weeks because of harvest, or if you want to put one up yourself, we'll contribute towards the cost. Which would you prefer?'

Then, whichever she says, just go 'Super, right, nice to talk to you, do just come and ask next time you need something. Bye!' And done.

Sorry, x post

I misread your OP - she's been using a folding clothes wire thing. Thing is - she can go to a hardware shop and buy a rotating clothes line and put that up. It should be her expense.
If there have been things like that missing in any of the houses I've rented I've solved it and paid for the solution. Only if the ground was concrete so she couldn't put a whirly drier into teh ground, or the house would be damaged with hooks for a line, would you need to be involved.