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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
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 04/08/2019 19:35

happycamper should OP cancel the cheque while she's at it...?

Like your response OP Grin

Purplealienpuke · 04/08/2019 19:38

We really are living in big brother ffs. Who the fuck decided washing was unsightly?? And why? Its not a dilapidated car on bricks or an old fridge freezer abandoned in the street!!
Whoever your note writer is would absolutely hate living round here!! We have a drying green at the rear of our block. But the flats at the end of my street all have balconies and a majority dry their clothes on them. It makes sense to me!!
Bloody snobs....

TurnAroundWhenPossible · 04/08/2019 19:43

If there is no stipulation in the deeds, as your landlady says, then crack on. Your neighbours can object all they like, but have no authority in the matter. We bought our apartment 18 months ago; it's a garden apartment with lots of outdoor space and I assumed I could put the washing out. After exchanging contracts I discovered that 'no laundry is to be displayed from the building', so I use an indoor airer, which is really frustrating, especially after washing sheets and duvet covers. Our apartments have a garage block and I discovered a passageway ran along the back (totally overgrown, no reason for anyone to be there), so I put a clothes airer out there (totally non-visible from any angle). A few days later my airer disappeared! So weird! (I have my suspicions however - probably the same bloke who reprimanded me for filling a tiny toddler paddling pool last summer, when there was no hose-pipe ban. I wish I'd had the forethought to suggest he discuss with his golf club their sprinkler usage).

avamiah · 04/08/2019 19:49

So My Question is “What is the Purpose of a balcony ??

  1. sit on a chair and enjoy the view ?
  2. smoke ??
  3. put all your rubbish out there ?? 4)have a BBQ
  4. play loud music ?
  5. smoke w—d out there ?
  6. have your breakfast / dinner out there
  7. have a party out there?
  8. have S— out there ? So what is wrong with putting your washing out there to dry ???
Auntpetunia2015 · 04/08/2019 19:49

Another who lives in a block of flats. Our rules say no washing on view. We have a solid wall in front of the balcony so I have a low level airer which can’t be seen from the street.

thesnapandfartisinfallible · 04/08/2019 19:50

Put one back saying
This is not just washing. This is M&S washing.

Passthecherrycoke · 04/08/2019 19:54

Fire escape usually @avamiah

chocolateworshipper · 04/08/2019 19:54

You can buy personalised towels - I'd be tempted to buy one personalised with "fuck off you snob" and hang it out to dry every day.

which1 · 04/08/2019 19:55

I know a block where they sent a first warning around (the management company) about no washing on balconies, it persisted, they sent a second letter round say £1k fine if you continue.

Really wish my flat had a balcony and I'd certainly stick the airer on it if I did.

BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 04/08/2019 20:05

Dear fellow building dweller,

I take issue with what you said in your note, and thought about discussing this further with you but don't like to air my dirty laundry in public.

Mine is clean, as you have observed.

Regards

Seriously. You have to love small minded people sometimes- its so tragic its funny.

Honeyroar · 04/08/2019 20:05

Love the reply.

BruceAndNosh · 04/08/2019 20:08

Put one back saying
This is not just washing. This is M&S washing
Grin

OhMyGodTheyKilledKenny · 04/08/2019 20:09

Blimey the writer of that note would have hyperventilated in shock if they were in Spain.

Not only do flats have peoples washing (including underwear Shock ) hanging from airiers over the edge of the balcony so that they are fully visible to passers-by, but we've also seen clothes airers on the pavement out side peoples homes. WITH PANTS ON!

(currently on holiday there)

JaneEB · 04/08/2019 20:15

We own our own house. OK, I know it is different in flats, but seriously, there is nothing like line dried washing, it just feels so nice.

We have a proper rotary line, everything goes on it, never had any complaints from neighbours as we all do it. Why would we even think about drying the washing inside when we can dry it outside, I don't even own a tumble dryer.

daisyboocantoo · 04/08/2019 20:16

I'm in Switzerland and not only do we all dry on our balconies, there is also a communal whirly-gig dryer in the garden.

In my building we have 2 Swiss families, 2 Portugese, 1 Italian, 2 French and us (British).

HelenaDove · 04/08/2019 20:18

The utter knob who wrote that note has demonstrated that

a. they are a snob of the highest order
b and havent read the memo about the tumble dryers and the fire risk. Probably too busy watching Love Island

Halo1234 · 04/08/2019 20:18

I am shocked to learn there is rules to say you cant hang your washing out. I did not know such rules existed. I think the worlds gone mad. Of course you should hang your washing on your balcony. 1. It's your balcony. 2. It's the most energy efficient way to dry it. Plus it smells 10 times better if it dries outside. 3. It is not offensive in the slightest. I think clean washing drying on the line looks quite nice. A sign of summer. Nothing council estate or unsightly.
That note is a disgrace op. Dont dignify it with an answer. Take it off the wall. Put it in the bin. And dry your washing on your balcony. (You pay for it and aren't hurting anyone).

oabiti · 04/08/2019 20:18

Even if there are rules, the writer was still being unreasonable. It doesn't take a lot to be polite.

Jeeperscreepers69 · 04/08/2019 20:19

Write Fuck off you snobs underneath it and put it back where youfound it.i was brought up on a council estate and im proud of it. How very dare they.

Jeeperscreepers69 · 04/08/2019 20:20

Luv it 😁😁😁. Thats the best idea. Do it!!!!!

HelenaDove · 04/08/2019 20:21

"I know a block where they sent a first warning around (the management company) about no washing on balconies, it persisted, they sent a second letter round say £1k fine if you continue"

My advice if you get a note like this.

A. screenshot it.

b. put it on Twitter saying you will have to buy a tumble dryer.
c. make sure name of management company is visible
d hashtag it #ExtinctionRebellion.

BlackeyedGruesome · 04/08/2019 20:23

Climate emergency and encouraging tumble dryer use...

We have drying rooms indoors and communal lines outside. I use the living room as it is easier and it is a reasonably dry flat.

Really really think people should think about wider issues when coming up with no laundry rules.

Fuma · 04/08/2019 20:26

To my mind these insane American rules about washing on balconies are yet another example of how we as a country just don't do apartment living very well. It's all about what looks nice rather than practical use of space. New builds with no storage, open plan everything, no rubbish chutes and not being able to utilise the little outdoor space you have in a sensible way are all part of the same problem.

pollymere · 04/08/2019 20:35

My parents first house had stipulations that you couldn't hang washing out on a Sunday. I've lived in a flat where you had to be married to live there 😂 and my current house can't have a business running from it. I also used to live in a village where fish and chip shops are banned due to various apocryphal stories.

butteryellow · 04/08/2019 20:38

I've lived in flats where you're not supposed to do it. I always got a low airer so they couldn't be seen over the wall :) Or did it just inside the doors like you do. I even lived in one place where they specified the kind of window treatment you could use - colour and style of blinds (no curtains allowed) so the building looked uniform. Ridiculous levels of control.

I hate this idea that you can't show any sign that actual humans live in a flat, I couldn't care less about washing hanging out - it makes a place look friendly and lived in to my mind.