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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

Svalberg · 17/01/2021 11:16

@mumwon

all of us will have to get more use to this as gov wants all houses to be electric by 2030 ish - which presumably means more people will do laundry at night ie cheaper rates.

No, actually when we don't have coal fired power stations the need for cheaper night-time electricity will be less so economy 7 will probably be phased out.

TheBeesKnee · 17/01/2021 11:17

I am aghast that so many people think it's fine to be inconsiderate and run noisy appliances at night! Something like 50% of UK housing stock is terraced or semi-detached, so it's not like you can just get away from people easily. I live in a terraced house and believe me, I wish I could afford a detached house but as I can't, I do my best to be neighbourly and not disturb people at night!

OP, are they also awake when the machine is on, or are they tucked up asleep?

If they're sleeping I would be tempted to knock on the door at 1am and ask how much longer the machine will be going for as you'd like to go to sleep. Disturb their sleep as they disturb yours.

Alternatively, have another word. Explain that you go to sleep at X o'clock and their washing machine wakes you up because it's vibrating the party wall.

minipie · 17/01/2021 11:18

YANBU OP

I’d ask them again, nicely, if they could please try to make sure all wash or dry cycles are done by 11pm. And check your council guidance to see if it provides any back up.

curiouscat1987 · 17/01/2021 11:18

If its super noisy i wonder if theres a way you can get them to check that they did definitely remove the screws holding the drum in place(?) before starting to use it, without sounding patronising to them? I only mention it as when i got a new one i had no idea you had to do that first, the manual didnt even bloody mention it, and the first time i ran it it was insanely loud!

Brefugee · 17/01/2021 11:19

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.

This is true, in Germany there are very strict rules. (but we are also not sneery about people who rent. Neighbours talk to neighbours and don't immediately go to the landlord)

Biscoffaddict · 17/01/2021 11:21

Wouldn’t bother me. I find the sound of a washing machine really relaxing. Think it’s the white noise. I agree with other posters this is just terrace living.

IthinkIm · 17/01/2021 11:22

3 hour washing cycle? Tell them the 30 minute one is sufficient. What a waste of water and electric.

BIWI · 17/01/2021 11:22

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 ...

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

@BornInTheWrongCentury they have done what your husband asked though - unless he specified a time, then they have complied.

I get that it must be irritating - and I would imagine that once you're sensitised to it, you hear it all the time! - but they have done what you asked.

The issue is that it's still disturbing you, in which case either you need to ask them again (and give a specific time you'd prefer it not to be on from) or ignore it/try to live with it.

But as PP have pointed out, there may be a specific reason why they're putting it on at that time.

Pinkcadillac · 17/01/2021 11:23

YANBU. I think it is very inconsiderate of them to use noisy appliances during the night. I am an insomniac and I wouldn't dream of doing my washing, vacuuming, etc during the night. It would be selfish and inconsiderate and I would hate it if it was done to me.

dementedpixie · 17/01/2021 11:24

@IthinkIm

3 hour washing cycle? Tell them the 30 minute one is sufficient. What a waste of water and electric.

The long cycle is likely to be the eco cycle and uses less energy and water than faster cycles

millymae · 17/01/2021 11:25

I’m a bit on the fence about this, partly because I live in a semi detached house which is all electric and I have always tried to do at least one wash during the time my electricity is at its cheapest.
My washing machine is in the kitchen on an outside wall - it’s an old machine and the spin is noisy but in all the time we’ve had it none of the neighbours have ever complained.
When we bought the machine I made sure it was one that had a delay timer and I set it so that the programme finishes just before the cheaper rate electricity ends at 7.30am . I have 2 reasons for this - the noise is at its loudest when for the majority sleep won’t be disturbed and perhaps more importantly the fire risk, as more often than not we are all up.
I spent years listening to fire lectures at work when we were told that washing machines were a danger if left unattended. Being honest it went in one ear and out the other but I I haven’t been quite so cavalier about it since I left my previous machine on whilst I nipped to the shops and came back to the loudest of noises and smoke.
We all have our limits as to what we consider unacceptable neighbour noise - for me it wouldn’t be the sound of a washing machine unless it was making the house shake but it would be a dog barking incessantly to be let in.

dany174 · 17/01/2021 11:25

OP If they can't wash earlier then ask if they could put the washing on a timer. Most Washer/Dryers that I have had have this option.

I used to do this myself. It's not the mashing part that wakes you up but the dryer. So I would time it to start at 5am and the dry cycle would wake me at 7am. Which was the time I needed to get up anyway.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 17/01/2021 11:28

to all the posters who are in a huff because of the mention of social housing

if the OP was being affected by a fault in the guttering or roof on the side of their neighbours, don't you think it would make a big difference to deal with the home owner or the local council? Or would you expect the neighbours to deal with it regardless

MadameBlobby · 17/01/2021 11:29

I’d worry less about the noise and more about the risk of fire. I’ve known of a few washing machine fires starting overnight and I understand the fire brigade advise against running washing machines overnight. I would never put mine on overnight.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 17/01/2021 11:30

YANBU.

I grew up in council flats all my life as a child. Everyone seemed to have basic respect for their fellow neighbours and there were unwritten rules ie no washing machine on after say 9pm, no hoovering after a certain time, keep the noise down in general after a certain time. All just basic things that you would and wouldn't to show respect towards one another. Everyday noise, no one complained about that, but just a few basic steps to make everyones lives easier were adhered to.

Most of the replies on this thread just show a lack of respect.

Throwaway99 · 17/01/2021 11:31

@Iknowwhatudidlastsummer

to all the posters who are in a huff because of the mention of social housing

There's quite a big difference between someone using a washing machine and an issue likely to cause damage to your property.

Biffbaff · 17/01/2021 11:32

I used to do my washing at night in a house share - it was a time I was guaranteed the machine was free (one of my housemates hogged it a bit) and I could hang my clothes up before work so they were up drying while people were all out. Was pleased with my method until my housemate asked me stop because of the noise at night. I did. Have another word OP? They aren't doing it to annoy you on purpose. It's a bit mean to consider "going over their heads" at this stage when it could still be sorted one on one. You could say you noticed they adjusted the time and are grateful but it's still keeping you up til 1. They might just be night owls and not think of that as particularly late.

Happyone8 · 17/01/2021 11:34

Sorry just reread he spoke to them - agree with @BIWI did your dh specify a time e.g please can it be finished before 11pm and not put on until after 6 am ? It would be useful to specify a time . Obviously you are relying on their neighbourliness to adapt to this , good luck x

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 17/01/2021 11:34

There's quite a big difference between someone using a washing machine and an issue likely to cause damage to your property.

not when you are talking about WHO you deal with to address the problem.

IsadoraQuagmire · 17/01/2021 11:35

You're not being remotely unreasonable, and anyone who thinks you are is probably a nightmare neighbour themselves/ has always lived in a detached or well soundproofed property and doesn't have the imagination or empathy to care how soul destroying being compelled to live with other people's noise is.
I'd love to live somewhere with extremely strict rules: they're obviously necessary in a world full of people that have no manners whatsoever.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 17/01/2021 11:37

You have to be very inconsiderate to start with, when you decide to run any machines or hoover between 11pm and 7am when you don't live in a detached house. Or listen to loud music, loud tv or have a party.

MagpieSong · 17/01/2021 11:38

My ds used to have stomach problems due to medication for kidney problems and often vomited overnight. We’d have to put a wash on then as sometimes it was more than one wash. Considering there could be any number of reasons to wash clothes in the middle of the night, I’d say it’s fine.

buckingmad · 17/01/2021 11:39

Yanbu.

diddl · 17/01/2021 11:41

@megletthesecond

They might be on an economy 7 tariff and have no choice.

They can still choose when to put their machine on!

Fieldofyellowflowers · 17/01/2021 11:41

I'm gonna say YANBU because I have a washing machine that is really loud and wouldn't dream of putting it during the day.

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