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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask neighbours not to use washing machine late at night?

149 replies

ILoveMyMonkey · 12/04/2021 06:35

So new neighbours moved in a few weeks ago and have started putting on a late wash that spins at about 10:30 at night. The problem is that the walls between our houses are ridiculously thin and the spin cycle sounds like a chinook helicopter is inside our house. Last night it woke my son up, it really is horrendously loud.

We didn’t get on well with the previous neighbours and 2 separate attempts at asking them to keep the noise down (they really were noisy and had no consideration at all) was met with utter contempt and made them worse so DH thinks we shouldn’t say anything to these new neighbours as he feels it won’t actually achieve anything, whereas I feel it might be worth a try.

So...
AIBU - don’t say anything they won’t give a crap and can do washing regardless of how it affects you.

YANBU - say something they might not realise how shit the walls are and most people are considerate of how their behaviour affects others.

OP posts:
EmeraldShamrock · 12/04/2021 08:47

Yes speak to them or put your own on after one night. They've probably no idea it's so noisy.
It was a common agreement when I lived in an apartment block no spin at 9pm.

Oly4 · 12/04/2021 08:48

Some people are out at work all day. I do two loads a night sometimes and wouldn’t be done by 9pm.
Save up for soundproofing? I don’t think you can dictate to your neighbours what they do in their own home?

Cactus1982 · 12/04/2021 08:49

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Why is that so Mumsnetters are so intolerant normal neighbourly noise?

It's not a mumsnet issue. It's a wuality of build issue. Other countries managed to build semis where you don't hear a neigbour fart... I know. I lived in some and you just would not hear them let alone be able to hear a conversation

But that’s not the neighbours problem is it? You can’t just expect people to stop living their lives. The neighbours probably don’t even realise it’s an issue, because for most people it isn’t. I’d think someone who asked me not to put a washing machine on at a certain time was bonkers.
HotelCaliforniaOnRepeat · 12/04/2021 08:51

@underneaththeash cheap rate electric is later than that. Ours is 2am onwards in summer and 1am onwards in winter.
I think the agreement phrasing up thread is best.
I had a neighbour, total witch, that used to Hoover 7am on a Saturday in the bedroom adjoined to party wall. Slamming the hoover in to the skirting boards.
I spoke to her and asked nicely, I worked hospitality and was considerate about noise late at night so hoped she could return the favour. Despite being home all day every day, so plenty of options she kept doing it. In the end I got up at 6 and hoovered my bedroom; she never did it again. It took her hearing for herself to understand how much noise came through.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/04/2021 08:53

But that’s not the neighbours problem is it? You can’t just expect people to stop living their lives. The neighbours probably don’t even realise it’s an issue, because for most people it isn’t. I’d think someone who asked me not to put a washing machine on at a certain time was bonkers.

It's not bonkers. It's a part and parcel of living close to other to people to be mindful of extra noise like spin on a washing machine.

notagainmummy · 12/04/2021 08:57

I would try to get a nice relationship with them first and it will give you an idea on how they would react. If they are reasonable people, I would then ask about the machine. Don't make your first contact a moan

Upamountain43 · 12/04/2021 08:57

They probably have no idea - i would speak to them as suggested above and find out if there is a reason they need to.

If they work certain jobs etc they may have to do this and you will have to tolerate it but if they can do it at a different time they may be happy to. At least you will know.

Its certainly worth a pleasant chat - take a bottle of wine or something round with you and be prepared to listen.

vodkaredbullgirl · 12/04/2021 08:58

I can hear most things from next door, most annoying is their music. My washing machine doesn't go on after 10 pm.

Is it every night???

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 12/04/2021 09:03

10.30 is quite late. I go to bed at 10.00.

Plenty of people have to get up early.

Barbie222 · 12/04/2021 09:03

I think this is something you have to live with in a house with thin walls, really. I'm not sure that starting the machine at 5 would help you any more either. And as this is the second set of neighbours you've been like this with I think the problems with you, not them. Not everyone arranged their life according to how comfortable it is for you. Washing machine noise is part of life. I'm not sure you can choose not to use one, and likely they can't choose when they put it on either.

Cactus1982 · 12/04/2021 09:04

@SchrodingersImmigrant

But that’s not the neighbours problem is it? You can’t just expect people to stop living their lives. The neighbours probably don’t even realise it’s an issue, because for most people it isn’t. I’d think someone who asked me not to put a washing machine on at a certain time was bonkers.

It's not bonkers. It's a part and parcel of living close to other to people to be mindful of extra noise like spin on a washing machine.

Well when do you suggest they do their washing then? It might be the only time they can do it safely, as It’s not wise to leave a washing machine on when you’re out because it’s a fire hazard. If the OP were to ring the council they’d only tell her the same thing. Normal everyday noise.
Fieldsofstars · 12/04/2021 09:04

It’s daily living noise. Your child will get used to it.

DoingItMyself · 12/04/2021 09:08

No. Their house, their washing, overnight is a good time for it. Get earplugs if it bothers you. You are not the boss of them.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 12/04/2021 09:11

Well when do you suggest they do their washing then? It might be the only time they can do it safely, as It’s not wise to leave a washing machine on when you’re out because it’s a fire hazard. If the OP were to ring the council they’d only tell her the same thing. Normal everyday noise.

As someone who worked hospitality shifts 6 days a week, ranging from 6 am starts to 1am finishes, I can assure you there are other times to wash. No one has time ONLY late like that. Or at least don't put the spin on. Which is why I mentioned spin in previous post. Washing itself is rarely that loud, but everyone knows how loud spins are...

Either way. People have to deal with some restrictions on their noise. It's a part and parcel of livong close to other people😁

mrsm43s · 12/04/2021 09:18

If you cannot tolerate normal household noise, then you will need to arrange to have your side of the wall soundproofed, or move to a detached property. This also applies to other normal household noises such as TV sounds, conversations, doors closing, children crying/playing, hoovering etc. If you live in a house with a shared wall, you will hear the people next door, and it would be unreasonable to expect them to curtail normal living to accommodate you. One wash, finished by 10.30 pm is normal living. That's basically putting a wash on when you get home from work.

Rosewood017 · 12/04/2021 09:19

I personally wouldn't say anything just yet. Try to get off on the right foot. Most people don't need to run the washing machine daily and the crazy spin cycle doesn't normally exceed 5-10 mins so hopefully it won't impact your quality of life all day every day.

If it gets really bad you could offer to rebalance the base as you couldn't help notice it sounds noisier than it should?

4PawsGood · 12/04/2021 09:23

I’d also wait a while and then mention that the walls are quite thin and maybe it would be good to agree so try and stick to some times. Make sure you mention early mornings too as they probably won’t want to be woken early by yours.

RedMarauder · 12/04/2021 09:26

It's before 11pm and is normal household noise.

If you were in my council area and confronted me I would tell you to go away.

If you continued to complain to me I would send you a solicitor's letter threatening to take action against you for harassment.

One of my sister's had to do this with one of her neighbour's. The neighbour backed down especially when they realised that the noise went both ways but my sister never complained.

Norwaydidnthappen · 12/04/2021 09:28

I wouldn’t say anything, it’s normal household noise. You really don’t want to piss the new neighbours off as well and have years of another rubbish relationship with the people you live next door to. Maybe you’re noise sensitive since two next door neighbours have now bugged you so much. I don’t consider 10:30 late really and I have young DC.

PattyPan · 12/04/2021 09:34

Yanbu clearly it is louder than ‘normal household noise’ given it woke your son up. My NDN has her washing machine against our shared wall and it makes the whole wall and radiator on our side vibrate so I understand how loud it can be.
How old is your son? I think it’s worth talking to the neighbours but it’s more unreasonable if he’s little than if he’s a teen.

Shelddd · 12/04/2021 09:37

I think it's reasonable to ask but it's also reasonable for them to refuse. It's a normal hour. If it was 1 am it would be different. If you aren't able to complain to council then they are under no obligation to confirm to your schedule.

But if they're reasonable people and their schedule permits they may respect your wishes.

If a neighbor came to me and asked me not to use Washing machine after 10:30, I'd probably try not too, if i needed to i would still do it but i imagine that's pretty rare.

However if i had a neighbor who came over first week and complained about that then a week later had a separate complaint and so on i would just stop listening to them. Then I'd probably purposely do things to annoy them.

Rukaya · 12/04/2021 09:38

I love that approach. Polite and reasonable

Barefaced lying is polite and reasonable?

Or at least don't put the spin on. Which is why I mentioned spin in previous post. Washing itself is rarely that loud, but everyone knows how loud spins are..

You can't just not spin, you'd have a sopping wet pile of clothes with no prospect of drying them within a week!

BigPaperBag · 12/04/2021 09:40

Your walls must be so thin to hear this. Sorry to hear this is happening but unfortunately this is what’s happening when you live in close proximity to others. I don’t think you can stop them really. If they were to agree to before 9pm only then you’d still get the same noise level but it would interfere with your TV watching wouldn’t it? There’s no real way around it sadly.

CarrieCat · 12/04/2021 09:55

I'd want to know if i was waking up a child with a loud noise every night. We don't know that it's the only possible time of doing it and that they don't have a timer and they have to do lengthy cycles.

ginghamstarfish · 12/04/2021 10:03

Sorry but I can't get over a 2.5-3 hour wash! Surely no need for that length of time, don't modern machines all do a proper wash in an hour or so?