To not expect neighbour to use washing machine overnight

[BornInTheWrongCentury]

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?

That's a normal household noise and the poor sound proofing is not their fault. They probably have cheaper electricity at night so unless you're willing to pay a portion of their bill yabu.

A lot of companies are now offering incentives to use appliances outside of peak hours, maybe that’s what they are doing and good for them every little helps

This this this!

People say you must expect noise living in adjoined; I say you must expect to be more considerate of your neighbours and you should have the right to expect the same of them!

I would probably start by trying earplugs - they are probably desperate to save money using electricity over night when cheaper. If the machine takes 3 hours, then they are probably also trying to ensure its got all day on the line to dry, its so much harder getting washing dry when the weather turns.

Omg I can't believe people are saying YABU. Washing machine noise at night against a party wall is unbearable !!!

Can you recommend a make?

You do realise that even with earplugs, you'd most likely still feel vibrations from the spinner, right? We had a neighbour who used to do their washing very late at night and it was horrendous. People who say the same as you clearly have never had to put up with this kind of selfish behaviour.

YANBU OP. I think it's the height of selfishness to do your washing at the time of night you've mentioned. We live in a middle floor flat and we've experienced this behaviour from the upstairs and downstairs neighbours at different times -it's horrendous.
Anybody suggesting earplugs has clearly not had to put up with this kind of thing, because you'll still feel the vibrations when the washing machine spins.
I'm pretty sure most councils have a rule that you can't do washing this late at night anyway! This is from our local council's website "Most Conditions of Tenancy require that tenants do not cause nuisance to neighbours and landlords should take action if a nuisance is being caused", meaning the council would have to talk to the tenants about this.