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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours complaining. AIBU?

57 replies

MamaMiaReboot · 28/01/2018 13:51

I’ve recently had new neighbours move in who seemed nice enough when I met them, if a bit strident.

But, they complain a LOT.

Yesterday it was that I put bottles “noisily” in the recycling bin at 7pm. (If anyone knows how to drop glass containers silently into a deep plastic bin I’d love to know! Confused)

Today it was that my washing machine is too loud. And that I shouldn’t do my laundry on a Sunday.

I politely but firmly told them that I could hear their teenage son shouting when he watches football very loudly but that it was all part and parcel of living in a maisonette.

But, I’m wondering if I am BU about the laundry bit on a Sunday afternoon. Is there some neighbourly etiquette about that that I’m not aware of?

OP posts:
MadMags · 28/01/2018 13:51

They’re batshit. Ignore them.

WhooooAmI24601 · 28/01/2018 13:53

Ignore it all. Normal 'living' noises won't be making their lives miserable so even if they try and go down the environmental health route they'll be on a hiding to nothing.

Rockandrollwithit · 28/01/2018 13:53

Oh dear. They would love living next to me - I have a three year old and a baby that cries most of the day and night.

Just ignore them.

chickenowner · 28/01/2018 13:54

Ignore them. I do most of my laundry at the weekend, it has never occurred to me or my neighbours that I shouldn't!

Sparklesocks · 28/01/2018 13:55

They’re unreasonable, and wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if they dared complain to the council. It’s all reasonable noise at reasonable hours, they are being ridiculous and sound like they’re being difficult for the sake of it.

BessMarvin · 28/01/2018 13:55

I'd understand if you were doing these things at antisocial hours, but not doing washing at the weekend is a ridiculous request!

SparkleFizz · 28/01/2018 13:58

As long as the Sunday laundry is happening within reasonable daytime hours, YANBU to do your washing.
Such noises are part of normal everyday life.

Glumglowworm · 28/01/2018 14:00

They’re crazy and massively unreasonable

It’s normal living noise at very normal times of day.

Don’t let them stop you living your life normally. If they did go to environmental health, nothing would come of it.

Aquamarine1029 · 28/01/2018 14:01

They sound totally bonkers. No laundry on Sunday?? At ALL? Are they willing to do it for you then? I can agree that doing laundry very early or very late might be bothersome, but to ask you to refrain from doing it for the entire day is absolute madness. Keep your distance from these lunatics.

Original poster
MamaMiaReboot · 28/01/2018 14:02

That’s good to know I’m not BU! It’s funny how when people are so sure that they are right and you are wrong, it makes you doubt yourself. Well, I do anyway.

I suppose I wondered if they had a case against me because the machine does shudder a bit towards the end of the cycle but it’s only three months old so I’m not in a position to afford a new one for the sake of my neighbours!

OP posts:
ThisLittleKitty · 28/01/2018 14:03

Wow no laundry on a Sunday? Hahaha I do 2/3 loads a day. Every day. Ignore.

JustHooking · 28/01/2018 14:04

Do not make any adjustments for them
My neighbour complains about everything
When they first moved in he said he couldn't bear the sound of a door closing and asked us not to use the front door
I agreed as it seemed to bother him so much
It got worse. He didn't want us to leave our bedroom window open in case he could hear it rattle from his open window!
If the wind caught a door and it slammed he would be round within 2 minutes
We had an extension and he complained we had started using the front door. The back was a big hole and he expected us to cross it
Much more.
I told him not to bother us again and we no longer speak. It's heaven
We use the doors normally

mumonashoestring · 28/01/2018 14:05

Perfectly normal 'living' noises, they're being batty.

Maybe you should help them count their blessings. You could offer to stop drinking and take up the bagpipes for evening entertainment. Or only do your laundry during the week (using a timer switch so the machine runs overnight) Grin But seriously no, never negotiate with terrorists or people who are as mad as a soaped wildcat

HumpHumpWhale · 28/01/2018 14:06

I did ask my upstairs neighbour not to use her washing machine at 2am as since she had her kitchen redone it makes our whole flat vibrate and wakes us all up. But if that's not what's happening, I think they're being unreasonable.

FrogFairy · 28/01/2018 14:10

If you feel inclined you could fit an anti vibration mat to your washing machine, for your own convenience as much as anything, but they really can’t dictate no washing on Sunday.

Also you could put your bottles in the bin a bit later than 7am, just being considerate could ease neighbourly relations . You have no obligation to do this but neighbour disputes can get really ugly and unpleasant.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 28/01/2018 14:10

They're bonkers, but check the adjustment of your washing machine feet as it might be slightly unbalanced causing it to be noisier when it spins.

FrogFairy · 28/01/2018 14:11

My apologies, I misread 7pm as 7am. Fuck ‘em.

Eltonjohnssyrup · 28/01/2018 14:12

Tell him that is when you are not at work so when you do your laundry. But if he would offer to pay for a laundering service for you in order to avoid he's most welcome.

MichaelBendfaster · 28/01/2018 14:12

They're nuts. Smile politely and say nothing if they complain again. Let them try the council/environmental health and see how far they get.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 28/01/2018 14:13

Are they Free Church of Scotland?

MichaelBendfaster · 28/01/2018 14:13

Tell him that is when you are not at work so when you do your laundry.

The OP's work patterns are none of their business.

PerkingFaintly · 28/01/2018 14:14

You're not being unreasonable about doing laundry on a Sunday.

Shuddering might be caused/worsened by the machine not being properly levelled though. See if you can rock it slightly with your hands: if so, you can twist the feet up and down till it's firm.

EllaHen · 28/01/2018 14:14

My neighbours at both sides drag their bins out after 10pm the night before bin day. It wakes me if I'm sleeping. It wouldn't enter my head to complain.

Actually, it does enter my head but I don't do it.

Reddlion · 28/01/2018 14:15

ignore ignore ignore!
I had new neighbours move in below me, I have carpet underlay and don't wear shoes but they still complain about anything. Housing have ignored them noe because noe recorders came back as nothing but quiet normal living noise
they then tried to bang on the ceiling with a broom, I banged back and told them to fuck off
when I saw one of them I confronted her calling her a coward who hides in her flat but don't say nothing when they see me, said that I won't be bullied
now they don't do anything and they have burnt their bridges to come to my flat and talk about it.

some people have nothing better to do just ignore them you are allowed to live your life.

Original poster
MamaMiaReboot · 28/01/2018 14:15

I’ve never heard of an anti vibration mat, that sounds like a good idea.

The feet of the machine are in their right adjustment but it does judder when the spin is slowing down. My last machine did this too so possibly it is the result of an uneven flooring.

I’ll look into anti vibration mats though.

OP posts: