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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drying washing on our balcony

493 replies

Emmabryant123 · 03/08/2019 11:37

We private rent in a block of 16 flats
The flats vary from rented to owned .
We put our washing on two airers today on our balcony
No offensive clothing etc on show
We came down to this message on the main front door
Are we being unreasonable!? Or is this person who wrote this note being unreasonable?

Drying washing on our balcony
OP posts:
Thread gallery
13
PancakeAndKeith · 04/08/2019 12:41

Oh that is just perfect Emma.

jay55 · 04/08/2019 12:42

We're not allowed to have washing in sight of the windows let alone on the balconies where I live.
Wasn't in the tenancy agreement but is in the head lease.

I'm high up so don't worry about having an airer in the doorway but people do get told off all the time for stupid infractions.

longwayoff · 04/08/2019 12:45

Les Dawson (old comedian) and wife bought a swish new house in a naice place and Mrs D, naturally, hung out her washing in the garden. She received a note similar to yours from a local Mrs Bucket, telling her that people didn't do that round here. She strung more lines and hung as many items as she could find from old knickers to curtains. She may even (gasp) have left them out overnight. Quite right too.

Original poster
Emmabryant123 · 04/08/2019 12:55

We're not allowed to have washing in sight of the windows what a ridiculous rule
And they're be the first to blame any mould etc on condensation issues to

OP posts:
Original poster
Emmabryant123 · 04/08/2019 12:55

They will

OP posts:
soapona · 04/08/2019 13:15

It's unlikely to be in the lease agreement more likely the titles deeds. Do you have a management/factor for the flats?

FarTooMuchWashing · 04/08/2019 13:35

I’d be tempted to leave a reply saying:
‘Since when did council house tenants have a monopoly on environmentally responsible behaviour?’.

CatteStreet · 04/08/2019 13:57

The country I referenced above with the large communal washing lines is Germany Grin

I've lived here years and years in a range of different areas and never had any problems with an airer on a balcony. In one region people used to hang their duvets out of their windows daily to air. Now that would get your neighbours going, OP!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 04/08/2019 14:01

my neighbour has a beer belly and likes to cut the grass with his top off, should he be allowed?

At least your beer-bellied neighbour cuts his fucking grass - my beer-bellied neighbour doesn't!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 04/08/2019 14:05

Not the properly posh. They buy things to last. They send their Barbour coats off to be repaired.

They often (literally) inherit clothes, too.

I worked with a proper posh bloke and he inherited some tweed suits from an uncle who died.

He just had them tailored to fit -they were far too good to toss out. (I have to admit it was wonderful tweed, but the patterns were very "bookie's check").

MotherofDinosaurs · 04/08/2019 16:37

Who on earth is offended by the sight of laundry? Sheer lunacy, what so E people are bothered by. OP I would buy some really naughty underwear and hang it out in response to the note. Plus a t shirt with FUCK OFF printed on it.

icanbewhatiwant · 04/08/2019 17:34

Is not being allowed to hang your laundry outside a thing? I don’t own a tumble dryer. I dry outside as much as I can. If it looks like rain I hang under our veranda roof.
It isn’t good for asthma and chest problems to dry clothes indoors. I can’t believe you can be told not to do it.

Original poster
Emmabryant123 · 04/08/2019 17:37

Is not being allowed to hang your laundry outside a thing

Apparently it is
:)

OP posts:
adviceseeker1975 · 04/08/2019 17:43

It wasn’t even draped over the balcony?! Tell them to get a grip - it’s an airer ffs!

maddiemookins16mum · 04/08/2019 17:44

I’d have washing out day and night following that note.

SlinkyDogDash · 04/08/2019 17:46

I live in a flat, I dont think it looks great to have laundry on balconies tbh. I put my clothes horse on the balcony with laundry on it, I have some plants and flower baskets that screen it so it isn't visible from the outside. Maybe you could do something like this? I've never had any complaints.

maureen17 · 04/08/2019 17:47

it's a rude note ... and as already said previously the reference to council house tenants is disgraceful.... if it's not in your tenancy carry on ... you could always leave a polite notice where this one was in reply ... don't lower the note to their standards of insults though!

cherrybath · 04/08/2019 17:49

Its not unusual to forbid drying washing on balconies, both my daughters own flats and are not allowed to dry washing there. This was clear from documents provided during conveyancing. Its usually written into leases for flats. However it should his have been made clear in your rental lease.
If your balcony has a solid wall you can always dry below the level of the wall, out of sight.
Otherwise you can get racks that sit in the bath, or dry inside by open windows.

WorriedMamabear2000 · 04/08/2019 17:50

I'd definitely be putting the airer back out on the balcony! I'd put out more than usual to make a bloody point. Stuck up cow that wrote it. So long as you're not breaking any rules then don't let someone else tell you what you can and cannot do in your own home.

TBU156 · 04/08/2019 17:53

Absolutely incredulous. Not only is a washing line a lovely sight but it’s environmentally friendly. And the council estate comment is just dreadful. Snobbish and judgemental. I notice the person who left the note hadn’t left their name.
Carry on regardless. Look at Naples/ Rome/ Sicily. Gorgeous.

Mammajay · 04/08/2019 17:53

Lease might have a clause saying you can't dry washing on the balcony but tenancy agreement might not. It seems very petty to me. You might want to check with your landlord.

FelicisNox · 04/08/2019 17:55

Write underneath the note: stop acting like a council estate thug then and mind your own business.

My flat, my rules!

Clearly they've been watching too much daytime drivel. There was a whole discussion on whether on not it is "common" to hang your own underwear out on your washing line and how offensive some middle class twats found it whilst peering into your garden instead of minding their own business.

That's the level we've sunk to now.

ThistleTits · 04/08/2019 18:00

Reply how it's more environmentally friendly than any other way to dry washing.
It's not an official letter and they don't know the circumstances of your lease.

rockingchaircandle · 04/08/2019 18:01

Good news, OP!

And anyone who is in a position to challenge these pointless clauses definitely should. Stupid laws/ social norms should be flouted- that's why we can do things, like wear trousers etc!

KeepFuckingOff · 04/08/2019 18:04

Write one back stating “No acting like a twat towards your neighbours, this isn’t a dickhead convention.”