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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that neighbours could pick up the bill?

86 replies

Gravitsap · 12/10/2019 19:15

We have moved house about 5 month or so and we don’t know our neighbours very well as yet. We all live in detouched houses, but one not very far from another.
A week ago I had a professional window cleaners and the whole or house was washed.
Then Last weekend a van arrived at the neighbours drive way and started jet washing their pavement. As a result all four our ground floor windows were very dirty.. I have found this only after that cleaner has left. So I went to the neighbours and said I have recently paid for a professional window cleaner to wash our windows, and the windows are dirty again. They gave me a leaflet to contact the cleaner, which I did. I have called him and asked him to come back to clean the windows he has dirtied. He said he will come back in a couple of days. Guess what, he never materialized..
So I went to the neighbors again. Explained that their pavement cleaner is ignoring me and if they could contact him. They said they will. They never did apologize, nothing like that. All smiley, friendly. But that's it. The following day the neighbor is knocking on my door and saying that he has tried to contact the cleaner, but no luck, and would I like him to hose my windows? God, no. I would not like him to hose my windows, they don't get clean from it. I want them to be washed. Very politely I told him I will have to hire professional cleaners AGAIN. He said ok and left. I am so annoyed. WTF?
Now I have contacted my window cleaners and they came again to wash the windows and I have paid phew

OP posts:

Original poster

Gravitsap · 12/10/2019 19:42

Thank you all for your responses, somehow it does make me feel better
of course, It is not a world war problem.

I guess, when we lived in our old property I was used to a very nice courteous neighbors. I would not even dream of causing them any discomfort and vice versa. If they did dirty or ruin something of our property, they would do anything to fix it. And we were the same.
We are in the new neighborhood now, it's time to drop our expectations of a nice neighbours. They shit on our door step, I pay for the professionals to come and clean it, the problem solved

OP posts:

SunshineAngel · 12/10/2019 19:44

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland I agree with you. Ours just don't seem that dirty to be honest, and I can't remember when they were last cleaned.. but we're talking years.

Passthecherrycoke · 12/10/2019 19:45

OP, as others said it’s completely normal to have regular window cleaners, all this talk of paying professionals is a bit OTt. Don’t they come regularly anyway?
I’ve got to ask, are you Spanish? I have a friend I can totally imagine being like this and the way you write has made me wonder

Bringonspring · 12/10/2019 19:49

But your neighbours don’t seem horrid, they offered to clean them.

Our neighbours did something similar us-they just didn’t realise a jet wash would do that.

mistermagpie · 12/10/2019 19:50

Well I can see it'd be irritating after your 'professional' window cleaner has been, but I'd hardly get worked up about it. My window cleaner is £7 a month and the windows never stay clean that long, so surely your window cleaner will be back in a few weeks anyway? I wouldn't cause a drama over it.

AliceLittle · 12/10/2019 19:50

You'll be known as the crazy window lady to your new neighbours now.

TwinkleRedMoon · 12/10/2019 19:51

I don't think the neighbour should pay for your windows to be cleaned. It would be easy for you to clean them yourself.

Fundays12 · 12/10/2019 19:58

It’s a pain but windows get dirty it’s not a reason to fall out with your neighbors.

Original poster

Gravitsap · 12/10/2019 20:00

Passthecherrycoke, you are right, originally I am not from the UK. I did post here to find the answer, thinking maybe it is just a cultural difference. And I believe that rudeness is just a perception. Do it is not necessary that neighbors are being rude.
When I say " professionally" cleaned, I mean window cleaning company arrives and wash the windows. I did not know that for some people it sounds posh
I do not want to clean the windows myself not because I am so precious, but I do work hard in the week, I am tired and prefer To give this work to a cleaning company.

The windows were dirtied quite badly. It was not regular dirt you get from the weather. I would not want to live with these windows for another few weeks.

But any way, What could I do.. It's cleaned, paid now. Miss my good old neighbors

OP posts:

Jeleste · 12/10/2019 20:04

I clean my windows 3-4x a year. Should probably do it more often, bit with the kids and the rain its just not worth it. Last time i cleaned them i spent 4h on it doing the whole house (i have huge windows overlooking the garden).
Anyways next day my friend came over and her kid got them wet all over with his watergun.. should i ask her to clean them now? Life happens. You need to relax!

Atthebottomofthegarden · 12/10/2019 20:07

I would have also found that intensely irritating, but if asking politely a couple of times did no good I’d have sucked it up for the sake of neighbourly relations. Much as you have in fact.

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 12/10/2019 20:08

Now I have contacted my window cleaners and they came again to wash the windows and I have paid phew*

phew!! 😂😂😂

Wheat2Harvest · 12/10/2019 20:08

I would rather have dirty windows than an awkward relationship with the people next door, and fake smiles or trying to avoid them every time I go out.

Remember that they personally didn't dirty your windows on purpose.

Ponoka7 · 12/10/2019 20:09

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland, it depends on where you live, how much traffic, the air quality etc.

I find the same applies to how dusty inside is as well. Some houses are dust traps.

BanKittenHeels · 12/10/2019 20:10

The reaction to this is weird because I’ve seen almost an identical post a few years ago which got the exact opposite opinion and the neighbours were CFers.

FWIW I think it is on neighbours to tell others if they are to be disturbed by mess, noise or smells/fumes. They should have given you warning that it was going to happen and told their contractor to make good any mess before leaving as part of their deal.

UrsulaPandress · 12/10/2019 20:11

Hell I’d be furious. The shit that gets thrown up from a pressure washer is grim. The chap doing the work should have been more careful and thoughtful.

fikel · 12/10/2019 20:12

Your neighbours have tried to help in their own way, just because it didn’t live up to your expectations doesn’t mean they’re bad people.

daisypond · 12/10/2019 20:13

YABU. But window cleaning is expensive, so I sympathise. I’m in an ordinary terraced house and it’s about £100 to have them cleaned as a one-off, less if you sign up for a monthly service.

TrickorWheat · 12/10/2019 20:13

I would accept his offer of his hose.

BloggersBlog · 12/10/2019 20:16

What @UrsulaPandress said, he doesnt sound very professional if he is leaving such a mess!

Idontneeditatall · 12/10/2019 20:17

£100 daisy? You’re having a laugh surely

SunshineCake · 12/10/2019 20:20

Phew?

Wer2Next · 12/10/2019 20:20

I'm sure your neighbours miss their old neighbours too.

Unhinged.

AJPTaylor · 12/10/2019 20:23

We pay 15 quid for our 4 bed house in the South East. Difficult to get wound up about.

Passthecherrycoke · 12/10/2019 20:24

£100 daisy?! Are you thinking of something else? £16 here

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