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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not expect neighbour to use washing machine overnight

583 replies

BornInTheWrongCentury · 17/01/2021 09:39

Just that really. Over the last couple of months our neighbours started using their washing machine/tumble dryer overnight, it was going on on at about midnight and stays on till around 3am.

My husband asked a them politely a few weeks ago when he saw them outside if they’d mind changing the time they have it on as it really disturbs us. We’re in a mid terraced house and they are the end of the terrace. Their kitchen is below our bedroom. The previous occupants took out a wall in their kitchen that separated the kitchen from their hallway so it’s open planned now so all sound from their house is amplified now anyway and noise seems to travel up the wall into our bedroom.

After my husband mentioned it to them they stopped for a couple of weeks but now the noise has started again as they are putting a wash on at about 10pm and it finishes at 1am.

It’s really upsetting me that I can’t go to bed and read/fall asleep in peace until at least 1am now.

If it’s relevant we own our house and their house is social housing. They are the end of the terrace so if I complain to the council or their housing association they will know it’s me. They are the kind of couple who seem ok as long as you’re on the right side of them but they are rather loud and look very intimidating and to be honest I don’t want to make things worse or get into an argument with them.

They are pretty good neighbours apart from this issue as in the only other noise we hear is their children (they have very screechy, door slamming children but I can cope with that during the day!) They don’t have parties or play thumping music - it’s just the issue with not being able to go to sleep when I want to. I don’t know if I’m just being over sensitive where I so tired.

What would you do?

YABU - just be grateful it’s nothing worse than a washing machine and try to ignore it/go to bed later when you know you’ll fall straight to sleep

YANBU - be brave and speak to them again asking them to not use after 11pm and complain to the council if they refuse?

OP posts:
Roselilly36 · 17/01/2021 10:20

Whilst electric may be cheaper at night, it’s not recommended to use machines at night due to fire risk, a friend of mine used to run her dishwasher at night, one night an electrical fault caused a fire, thank goodness her & her family was evacuated safely. I have never forgotten it.

Caspianberg · 17/01/2021 10:20

I think yabu. It’s the risk of living in a terrace house or flat.

We often used to run ours at night when both worked out of the house. I would load machine before bed, and have on timer to start at 5am, so it finished at 6.45am and I could quickly hang up before leaving for work.

PregnantGotCovid · 17/01/2021 10:21

I'd ask them again, politely. If I was your neighbour, I'd be happy to comply.

RizzleDrizzle · 17/01/2021 10:21

I’m on the fence here because I think it’s obvious why it’s being run at night, however what time do the lower night tariffs kick in or Is that supplier dependant?!

Does it have to be run at midnight, couldn’t it be run earlier.

I live in flats and I have my own personal rule that I don’t run washing machines, hairdryers showers or baths after 11 or before 6, just because of course sure those are the times people are likely to be sleeping. Tbqh their the times is like to sleep too.

However yeah op I think you are being unreasonable in the sense that it’s not clearly occurred to you that it’s realitively normal to run washing over night or why.

And your dig about owning your own home and them being socially housed is fairly unnecessary

But also thinking a little more, they might not be able to run the washing machine earlier if their say a shift worker. So in which case yes your being unreasonable

RubyGoat · 17/01/2021 10:21

Have you tried earplugs? I sleep with them in every night due to my DH snoring. You’ll get used to it.

partyatthepalace · 17/01/2021 10:21

I understand how you feel, but as PPs have said, it’ll be cheaper for them. The council may reiterate you request, but they can’t force them, it’s not anti-social behaviour.

It sounds like this one could escalate, so I think you have to buy ear plugs (I have to wear them because traffic, you get used to it)

HitchFlix · 17/01/2021 10:22

You can't tell people when to use appliances in their own home! I'm amazed your husband asked already I'd be Shock if I were them. Granted I live in a detached house in the sticks so neighbours aren't an issue but I have lived in terraced houses in my younger days and it's just part and parcel unfortunately- and reason why I'd never do it again!

Put a fan in your room as white noise and it will block it out. That's what I did when my noisy neighbours would start shouting at each other. Worked very well.

Plussizejumpsuit · 17/01/2021 10:23

I know houses have different sound insulation. But I find it hard to believe that it's so loud you can't sleep. Are you perhaps hyper aware of it so tune into it?

BettyAndVeronica · 17/01/2021 10:24

HA / council wouldn't even look in to a complaint about a noisy washing machine. So you would be U to go to them about this. That would cause you trouble with neighbour.

Best thing to do if it really bugs you is try and ask again, say it's noisy on your side and please could they not run it late at night. That's reasonable.

If that doesn't work, ear plugs. Life in terraces if far from tranquil. I've just moved out of one.

Throwaway99 · 17/01/2021 10:24

How come the council allowed the previous tenants to take a wall out?

Rooroobear · 17/01/2021 10:24

Go to the council??? Because they put the washing machine on at night? Really? That’s ridiculous. Yabu for sure.

Lexilooo · 17/01/2021 10:24

Running washing machines at night is common, many people are on electricity tariffs that give cheaper rates between midnight and 7am or midnight and 5am. If you are on these tariffs your peak rate is higher so you really need to do things like run your washing machine at night as much as possible. They probably can't change either as they are in rented (it often involves a meter change and sometimes a wiring change).

You need to come up with some strategies, like ear plugs, background noise in your room or just accepting it.

I run my machine at night, we're detached so it doesn't disturb any neighbours but we both sleep fine with it on. It isn't a particularly intrusive or unpleasant noise.

YourWurstNightmare · 17/01/2021 10:25

Put yours on at 5 AM. Sometimes tit for tat is the only way to deal with assholes.

MojoMoon · 17/01/2021 10:26

The council isn't going to do anything about washing machine noise so I don't think it is worth pursuing that route

Look at options for sound insulation in your home.

It is cheaper to run a washing machine overnight if you are on economy 7

FunnyInjury · 17/01/2021 10:26

GoldieHelen really? All councils? Or have you just made that up Wink

ParlezVousWronglais · 17/01/2021 10:30

Legally it depends on the level between 11pm and 7am and the sound would have to be measured in your house - which the council could do if you complained.

The permitted noise level using A-weighted decibels (the unit environmental noise is usually measured in) is:

34 dBA (decibels adjusted) if the underlying level of noise is no more than 24 dBA
10 dBA above the underlying level of noise if this is more than 24 dBA

www.gov.uk/guidance/noise-nuisances-how-councils-deal-with-complaints

HighHambross · 17/01/2021 10:30

Yabu

unbotheredbutbewildered · 17/01/2021 10:30

If it’s relevant we own our house and their house is social housing.

Would it be okay if they weren’t social housing then? Hmm

Unfortunately, that’s the peril of living in a semi or terraced. You should just suck it up and buy earplugs - they aren’t expensive

vodkaredbullgirl · 17/01/2021 10:30

It's irrelevant that you own you property and they don't.

daisypond · 17/01/2021 10:30

How is their kitchen below your bedroom when you both live in separate terraced houses? I can’t picture it at all.

Cactuslove · 17/01/2021 10:31

I think YABU. No idea why them being in social housing is relevant... you can hardly approach the Local Authority and complain that your neighbours are doing their washing. I can see why it would be annoying though but don't think you can really do much else other than the ear plug suggestions by PP.

PeggyHill · 17/01/2021 10:33

Maybe that's the only time they can do their washing?

It sounds very annoying but if you've already told them about it then I'm not sure what else you can do.

Notcontent · 17/01/2021 10:34

You are not being unreasonable!

Living close to other people, like in a terrace house, involves consideration by everyone. Otherwise no one would ever get any rest of peace.

I have lived in several terrace houses (in London so no choice) and neighbours’ washing machines can always be heard and ear plugs are no solution because there is plastic vibration from the spin cycle.

GoldieHelen · 17/01/2021 10:35

FunnyInjury

GoldieHelen really? All councils? Or have you just made that up wink

Nope. Check it up on your council website. They all differ but the general consensus is that it is not acceptable to use washing machines or other loud appliances between certain hours.