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AIBU?

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Original poster

To tell my neighbour that 1130pm is not the time to do washing!!

99 replies

pomadas87 · 19/11/2017 23:56

... or would that be crackers?? Would I come across as weird and controlling?

It's 1130 at night and my upstairs neighbour (live in a flat) has their washing machine on the loudest spin cycle, it feels like our ceiling is shaking. Lying here in bed thinking this is ludicrous but don't want to seem cause a fuss ... it is bizarre to do washing that late, no? They both work 9-5 so it's not because they're on funny shift patterns. It's at least once a week and their kitchen is above our bedroom.

WIBU to say something, politely?

OP posts:
Hiphopopotamus · 20/11/2017 01:36

But 'otter' these aren't actual rules, just rules that you imposed on yourself. The council is absolutely never going to care about a washing mashing that has been put on. They might care about late all night thumping music parties if you're very lucky.

Part of living in flats is accepting other people's reasonable noise. Washing clothes is reasonable

Ruffian · 20/11/2017 01:46

Washing machine on at nearly midnight is not reasonable.

I've only got a cheapo machine but it's got a delay timer on it so I can set it to come on in the morning and hang the stuff when I get up. Who wants a load of damp washing mouldering around all night anyway?

AntiHop · 20/11/2017 01:49

Yanbu. I've had washing on that late, but I know my neighbours can't hear it. I wouldn't do it if they could.

MirriVan · 20/11/2017 02:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OtterInDisgrace · 20/11/2017 03:03

As Ruffian said, reasonable noise does not include having a spin dryer on at 11.30pm in a block of flats. How on earth could anyone think that was ‘reasonable’?

mathanxiety · 20/11/2017 03:42

My upstairs neighbour does this all the time. The place shakes.

All in all though, it's not the worst noise they could be making at almost midnight. Previous upstairs neighbours used to have screaming fights, and there were noises like someone punching holes in the walls that actually turned out to be someone punching holes in the walls (the handyman showed me the damage after they had left). Plus they managed to knock the loo off its seal and loo water dripped into my kitchen.

WinchestersInATardis · 20/11/2017 04:18

I live in a terrace and always make sure my washing is done by around 9pm. I'm not sure if the neighbours can hear it but I always thought it was the polite thing to do.

hevonbu · 20/11/2017 04:28

They might not realise you can hear it.

itshappening · 20/11/2017 04:53

I don't think it is bizarre to do washing at that time, but unfortunately it is a luxury you can't really have in a flat. The terms of our lease actually prohibit using the washing machine after 10 pm. Even if theirs does not, it is basic politeness. I would not expect my neighbours to complain about a one off but regularly is not fair.

ZombieVampireHedgehog · 20/11/2017 05:16

I think the idea of putting on a night wash is the electricity is cheaper. Maybe it's a habit they've fallen in to. You could check.

Jerseysilkvelour · 20/11/2017 05:24

I live on the top floor and sometimes put my washing on in the evening, Although I usually put it in first thing in the morning. My new washer is very quiet for my perspective, but who knows what the downstairs neighbours hear? No one has ever been up to complain.

You don't mention if this is a one off or a perpetual problem ? Either way, it's best to just go and have a friendly word with them and point out the effect it's having on you.

harshbuttrue1980 · 20/11/2017 05:51

You obviously have the privilege of owning your own flat. I rent, and my flat has night storage heaters. Therefore, I have to have an economy 7 tariff to avoid my electricity being through the roof. This means I have to do things like washing between 11.30 and 7.30 am. If any of my neighbours have a problem, I would direct them to my landlord and ask them to get him to replace the stupid night storage heaters with normal ones. The fact that the washing comes on at that particular time indicates a flat with night storage heaters, as that's when the cheap tariff starts. If it bothers you so much, offer to pay the difference in electricity costs for them running their washer off peak and on peak.

melissagabrielle · 20/11/2017 05:56

Maybe you could ask them to try put a rubber mat under their machine, it might help absorb some noise and keep it from moving and making so much noise?

Bitsandbobsalot · 20/11/2017 06:17

Yanbu
I live in a upstate flat and I’d never put a wash on that late unless it was a emergency eg vomit or poop. My downstairs neighbors seem to enjoy a moan about the slightest noise so I tend to only do my washing between 10am-4pm. Which is a pain. However last night she had her washer on at 10.45pm the noise didn’t bother me but her double standards do !! Ours are kitchen above kitchen on a outside wall. I’d rather listen to her washer than her moaning constantly.

Reading the comments on here I feel like I’m being overly cautious now ? Does anyone know what the exceptable times are if there’s nothing in the tenancy/lease etc ?

Nakedavenger74 · 20/11/2017 06:29

Just mention it. We used to out a wash on late sometimes and didn't realise that the downstairs neighbour could hear every bloody revolution. Poor guys only came up to mention it when the spin cycle had rattled a ceiling light completely out of its housing.

Felt awful and made sure we did it at reasonable times. Usually we'd put on a wash as we were leaving for work as we knew they'd be out too.

They probably don't realise so just mention it. No notes. Leave the flat as they are leaving and mention it in amongst standard pleasantries. Works a treat.

Original poster
pomadas87 · 20/11/2017 07:22

I mention in my OP it's at least once a week.

However UPDATE DH has left for work about 20 mins ago and caught the guy who lives upstairs on his way down the stairs with his dog! DH just text me to say he mentioned the washer noise and the guy was mortified and said they didn't know it was so loud and it's no problem to do it earlier. Am happy!! Grin ... I think I may overthink things more than DH....

Totally sympathise with the people who have karaoke loving neighbours or worse...!!

harshbuttrue1980 they do own their own flat so could change their tariff I guess.
Also I don't think it's a 'privilege' to own our flat - well aware not everyone can afford to buy and for years we couldn't - but we worked hard for a deposit and continue to in order to pay the mortgage every month ... not really a 'privilege', just a fact.

OP posts:
SilverSpot · 20/11/2017 08:22

They probably don't know how loud it is in your bedroom - i'd pop up during the week and let the know its crazy loud on the spin cycle and ask if they could help minimize the impact e.g. times of wash / put a rubber mat underneath etc

My NDN's washing machine sounded like a bloody jump jet taking off - it was in his kitchen (we are semi detached) and I could hear it in my bedroom that isn't even on the attached side! He used to put it on everyday so it did the spin at 6am ARGH! Anyway he seems to have got a lovely quiet new WM as I haven't heard it for a few months.

SilverSpot · 20/11/2017 08:23

Argh didn't see the update - that is a good outcome! Happy days.

PiffleandWiffle · 20/11/2017 08:26

Our machine comes on at 02:00 so we're all fully asleep & won't hear it and it's all done ready for when we get up....

But we live in a house, would be totally different if it was a flat - glad to hear they've been reasonable about it though - makes a change on here!!

c3pu · 20/11/2017 08:29

I used to do it all the time when I was on economy 7, anything that heats water costs a fair whack so doing it overnight saved quite a bit.

In fact I still do the washing overnight these days depending on my schedule, it's handy to set the machine to finish the wash just when I'm getting up so i can hang it up first thing then bugger off to work and let it dry during the day.

x2boys · 20/11/2017 08:43

It's because you I've in a flat I.have loved in one with paper thin walls you can hear everything ,works both ways though i was on permanent nights for three years whilst living in a flat and was often disturbed whilst tryin to sleep during the day by people loudly going about their business that's the unfortunate thing about flatsSad

whiskyowl · 20/11/2017 08:47

I'm so glad your DH managed to have a gentle word, and the neighbour responded nicely (as they should). I think sometimes things sound louder downstairs than they do upstairs, so they probably genuinely hadn't realised this was causing such a problem.

Notreallyarsed · 20/11/2017 08:52

Glad your DH and the neighbour got it sorted. Having lived in various flats over the years I never did my washing late as I felt it was anti social. Same goes for terraces with thin walls feckin new build paper walls because I could hear my neighbours light switches so figured a washing machine would be really loud!

WhatwouldAryado · 20/11/2017 08:55

I always leave a wash to go when I go to bed. But I don't have party walls. It might be worth bringing it up, how loud it sounds downstairs.

MuseumOfCurry · 20/11/2017 08:59

Great result, OP.

In most cases, if you have a friendly word with a neighbour about such things, they're embarassed to learn they've impinged upon your peace and will try to accommodate you.