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?

My neighbour was 2/3 in the morning

YABU. I am struggling to understand how your bedroom is over their kitchen when you are in terraced houses not flats.

And no it is not relevant that you own your house and they are housing association. Are lesser people (in your mind) not supposed to wash clothes? It is perfectly normal to put washing on at 10pm.

YANBU. Earplugs won’t help—it’s about the vibrations not the sound.

YABU for feeling it necessary to mention they’re in social housing

There have actually been some quite nasty comments on this thread!

Thank you to all those who have stuck up for me! xxx

@WalkingOnStarshine

YANBU. Do people really put their washing machines on at night? It sounds very unreasonable.

We used to as we had economy7.

Washing machine in cellar-neighbours never complained.

Good luck if you decide to report it to the HA.
I've been a leaseholder to two HAs and they will do absolutely anything to avoid sorting anything out.
I don't think this is too bad and compared to the frustration of dealing with a HA, I think I'd learn to live with it!

Sorry, YABU. You can’t tell someone when to do their washing, and it may well be cheaper for them to do it overnight.

If you’re in a terraced house you have to expect some level of neighbour noise, and in the great scheme of things, a washing machine and tumble drier is hardly a big issue.

@diddl

"but it isn’t unreasonable for them to use their appliances when it suits them."

Maybe it is if it disturbs the neighbours though?

It’s a washing machine, not a jet washer. Or hoover. The OP sounds like the Princess and the Pea.

@Aprilx

YABU. I am struggling to understand how your bedroom is over their kitchen when you are in terraced houses not flats.

And no it is not relevant that you own your house and they are housing association. Are lesser people (in your mind) not supposed to wash clothes? It is perfectly normal to put washing on at 10pm.

She is saying the kitchen is at the same side as the bedroom so shares the same wall. As the room is open plan on the neighbours side the vibration is travelling up the wall to the bedroom. Its not directly over their kitchen but is on the same wall

I sympathise OP.
Noise from neighbours can cause stress levels to sky-rocket especially at night.
I am in a very similar situation but I live in a flat. The neighbor's living room is below our bedroom. They often have friends over after 22:30 and start entertaining. They are very loud. I used to be inbed by 21:00 for a quiet hour of reading before sleeping around 22:00/23:00. Now I am still awake at 01:00/02:00. Last night I got 3 hours of sleep with ear plugs. The lack of sleep combined with stress is just awful.
I think it is good your neighbour’s have moved the time they do washing forward but I would worry if you were to have another word, it could escalate and end up causing you more misery in the future.
I would agree with ea-plugs, white noise and possibly moving the location of yourbedroom. It is one major drawback from living in terraces and flats.
Good Luck.

Also, it is relevant that it is a HA property as that is where you would need to go to report it!
You wouldn't go to the butcher if you needed to buy bread

@AldiIsla

Just have the groundskeeper shoot them if they come onto your lands, your Ladyship. Bloody peasants.

I take you are ok with your own neighbours being a nuisance, or are you the nuisance yourself to grant such an over-reaction?

"It’s a washing machine, not a jet washer. Or hoover. The OP sounds like the Princess and the Pea."

Because a loud noise disturbs her?

Of course yanbu. Also amazed at the previous responses. Living in a terraced house and cheaper electricity at night aren't reasons for making a racket at night. The first is actually a reason for being more restrained than if you lived in a detached house. This is precisely why many European countries have stringent rules about things like this for flatdwellers - it's unneighbourly to disturb other people and nighttime should be peaceful.

We have had neighbour problems in the past. General noise Had the council involved and among the many things they spoke to them about were washing machines on in the middle of the night and slamming doors. Both normal noises - during the day!

This is why my my next house will be detached if at all possible. People willing to inconvenience themselves out of respect for neighbours are in a minority.

I do second the suggestions of white noise and ear plugs as a practical suggestion, however. However right you are, it sounds like getting them to stop may come at a high price. Am in a similar situation myself at present.

I don't look down on my neighbours and feel need to pass judgement on how they rent/own/squat.

Makes for very good neighbourly relations both ways.

I think its inconsiderate! I live somewhere with not great sound insulation and I won't even dry my hair past 9pm! Putting a loud machine on to last until 1am is riddiculous. I wouldn't complain as I'm not that way inclined however I think people surely know this is noisy and could put it on a quicker cycle. Also doesn't washing smell if left in sat in the machine over night

@SendHelp30

YABU for feeling it necessary to mention they’re in social housing

The OP has already explained this.

We all know "they're in social housing if it's relevant" means can I threaten their tenancy to get my way?

YANBU at all. I think 11pm should be the absolute cut off.
Is there any guidance on your council website about noise expectations in your area?

We all know "they're in social housing if it's relevant" means can I threaten their tenancy to get my way?

We don’t all know that, don’t be silly.

I'd have another chat with them. If they keep different hours to you they might think that 10-1 is OK. I'd hate it. My neighbours have a young child and I know they must be able to hear our machine - the spin cycle is quite loud. They've never said its a problem but I'm always mindful to use it between 8am (as they're up early) and 6pm.
If they were adult night workers it would be different again.
I hope they respond well to a chat.
One of my friends had a neighbour who screamed at her for any noise at all. It was ridiculous. Thank goodness neighbour moved, otherwise friend would have.
We hope ex neighbour has proper noisy neighbours now 😂

YANBU at all and I can’t believe some of the comments on this thread.

Our neighbours washing machine is on the wall adjacent to our kitchen cupboards and on a spin cycle, all the crockery and glasses rattle! No way I could sleep through that, but fortunately our neighbours are more considerate and don’t put it on at night. I would speak to them again and ask them to come round and listen to how loud it is your side! It may be cheaper for them but it’s anti social and they need to compromise to find a solution.

I live in a flat and wouldn't dream of hoovering or using the washing machine late at night. It's just being considerate.

However, I wouldn't mention it to the neighbours again. They only changed their habit for two weeks. Money might be tight. Maybe they don't really care. Either way it's going to lead to bad relations.

To those with a chip on their shoulder about OP mentioning it being rented, it's often the first thing asked because it might be possible to report to the HA or landlord. (Though I wouldn't in this case).

YANBU

The reason why OP pointed out that it was a Housing Association is that the residents will sign an agreement in the same way as if you rented the property. On these agreements there usually is a time stipulation regarding appliances such as washing machines.

In most agreements, the rules are you can't use these type of appliances past 10 pm.

If they are good neighbours you need to have another word rather than complaining to the HA they may not be aware of the clause in their agreement. Maybe find a way to show them how noisy it is.