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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours washing..

162 replies

washingfiasco · 17/09/2021 14:01

A weird one but i need some light shed please wise people of mumsnet.
I live in a row of houses/flats on a roundabout, right neighbour is a house, left neighbour is a block of flats. Recently i've come home and there is a washing maiden that you'd sort of hang up on a radiator hanging off my fence. This fence is the one that is next to the flats, the flats have no gardens so i'm assuming its one of theirs.
I ignored it the first, second and third time but today i've come back with an ill child and had to get through 2 hanging off my fence and one right in front of my gate with a sleeping 2 year old who's ill and it's just annoyed me.
Would i be unreasonable to tell them to not hang stuff of the fence? I understand they want it to dry but it's frustrated me today!!!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
IntermittentParps · 17/09/2021 15:56

I may be misunderstanding the diagram, but is it actually visible from your house, or just when you walk past it up the public walkway?
If you can see the neighbours' unmentionables when you're trying to sit and have ac cup of tea at home then YANBU, but if it's just out on the walkway I think YABU.

TeachesOfPeaches · 17/09/2021 15:59

Just take it off or put the washing in the car park

RickJames · 17/09/2021 16:04

How about you lift the racks off your fence and put them on the carpark fence. This will stop them damaging your fence.

What kind of clothes were they? Kids, ladies, gents? Might be a clue to who your guerilla washing hanger is.

LittleMysSister · 17/09/2021 16:04

@washingfiasco

Yes definitely 1000% my fence. On the diagram i have put the flats meeting the actualy back of my house, in reality my house goes out about 2 more metres and then fence off the back of my house. Appreciate everyones insight, i will politely ask them to not hang it off the fence!
Tbh OP they are lucky you are being so nice about it because looking at your diagram their flats don't even share that fence, so I don't know what made them think it's OK to hang their washing there?

I live in a flat with no outdoor space too and it is annoying to dry washing but I don't go downstairs and hang it off my neighbour's fence.

I'd probably leave a note saying the fence is private property and please don't hang washing here again.

WeAreTheHeroes · 17/09/2021 16:05

Imho it's got bog all to do with being able to see the washing, it's the fact it's hanging off the OP's fence without her permission. It may very well damage it apart from anything else.

LittleMysSister · 17/09/2021 16:05

@IntermittentParps

I may be misunderstanding the diagram, but is it actually visible from your house, or just when you walk past it up the public walkway? If you can see the neighbours' unmentionables when you're trying to sit and have ac cup of tea at home then YANBU, but if it's just out on the walkway I think YABU.
But even if it is on the walkway, it's not a shared fence?

It's like someone coming and hanging washing on your front garden fence?? Even if it's facing the street, it's still not acceptable.

Lweji · 17/09/2021 16:07

I've just seen the diagram (finally).

They are not even hanging it from their garden. Shock

Definitely remove anything hanging from your fence and keep it until they ask for it.

Darkstar4855 · 17/09/2021 16:09

I’d be annoyed but I think I’d let it go, it must be pretty tough getting washing dry when you have no outside space.

IntermittentParps · 17/09/2021 16:10

But even if it is on the walkway, it's not a shared fence?
It's like someone coming and hanging washing on your front garden fence?? Even if it's facing the street, it's still not acceptable.
Why? (is it just the damage argument?

Therealjudgejudy · 17/09/2021 16:12

That's really bizarre. They could fall victim to a knicker thief...

LittleMysSister · 17/09/2021 16:14

@IntermittentParps

But even if it is on the walkway, it's not a shared fence? It's like someone coming and hanging washing on your front garden fence?? Even if it's facing the street, it's still not acceptable. Why? (is it just the damage argument?
Because it's OP's fence and not theirs? It's not even about the damage, it's her property.

It's not like it's a fence that is between their 2 gardens, it's on a street, the flats don't even border it. It's honestly like going and hanging washing on the house over the road's front fence.

I don't understand why anyone would think it's OK.

Spiindoctor · 17/09/2021 16:30

Will they continue to do it in the colder weather?

chesirecat99 · 17/09/2021 16:31

@IntermittentParps

But even if it is on the walkway, it's not a shared fence? It's like someone coming and hanging washing on your front garden fence?? Even if it's facing the street, it's still not acceptable. Why? (is it just the damage argument?
Apart from damaging the OP's fence, it's causing an obstruction on the walkway for everyone and to OP's gate.

I would give them the benefit of doubt this time and just leave a polite note asking them not to hang washing on your fence as the weight will damage the fence and it is causing an obstruction. If they do it again, put up a sign saying that any items attached to the fence will be removed and contact the management company for the flats. If they do it again, tip it all in a cardboard box.

Ourlady · 17/09/2021 16:33

It's bloody weird hanging your washing on somebody's fence and anyone could just pinch it. I wouldn't be happy about them using my fence.

HerRoyalNotness · 17/09/2021 16:41

I wouldn’t get upset about this, if it makes a neighbours day a little bit easier I’d let them do it. But I live somewhere I’m not allowed to hang washing in my own garden or park my car in front of my own house overnight.

Andylion · 17/09/2021 16:43

I'm most frustrated now that not only can I not see the diagram, but it seems that most others can.

I can see it but I don't understand it

MayLeaveADentInYourSofa · 17/09/2021 16:44

It would annoy me. I think it is cheeky. I'd worry that more residents from the flat think it is a good idea and they all start hanging their laundry there.

Is there a stretch of grass outside your fence on the car park side that you could plant a hedge or rose bushes? Something to make this difficult for this person and any future residents of the flat.

FleasInMyKnees · 17/09/2021 16:45

Is it definitely from the flats, what sort of washing is it. It seems such a strange thing to do, what's the area in front of the flats, is it a garden or their parking spaces. It's not some weird type of burglar message is it that happens when you go out.

Willow19C · 17/09/2021 16:50

@Darkstar4855

I’d be annoyed but I think I’d let it go, it must be pretty tough getting washing dry when you have no outside space.
You're a bit nicer than me! I think I'd just take it off & put it on the floor in front of the fence. Every time it happens, until I can see which neighbour it is. Then I'd politely ask to not hang things on my fence...
LimitIsUp · 17/09/2021 16:51

This wouldn't bother me in principle, my only concern would be the strain on the fence and the potential for longer term damage. For that reason I would speak to the management committee for the flats

Redlocks28 · 17/09/2021 16:54

You're a bit nicer than me!I think I'd just take it off & put it on the floor in front of the fence. Every time it happens

Yes, me too.

PrtScn · 17/09/2021 17:03

@FleasInMyKnees

Is it definitely from the flats, what sort of washing is it. It seems such a strange thing to do, what's the area in front of the flats, is it a garden or their parking spaces. It's not some weird type of burglar message is it that happens when you go out.
Is there someone living in their van/car in the car park maybe?
DoncasterHombre · 17/09/2021 17:05

The levels of passive agressiveness here are eye opening!

Don't dump their washing on the floor or cut holes in it, OP. I get it's annoyed you and it probably would me a bit too. More so because they didn't have the manners to knock the door and ask if I minded them doing it but, then again, that'll be how selfish modern society is, unfortunately.

Can you wait until they come to collect it, go and have a word and tell them you don't want them hanging it on your fence? Suggest that if they are comfortable hanging it where they do now without worrying about their knickers/pants being stolen then presumably a free-standing airer (the collapsable ones) nearer the flat will also do and that they can get one in Wilko's/Tesco/Asda for about a tenner.

IlonaRN · 17/09/2021 17:09

I would drop it on the floor - every time I saw it.
I would keep looking out of the window to see when there was new washing up too!

BlackberryMuncher · 17/09/2021 17:09

It would bother me.

I'd leave a nice note asking them politely to desist. The first time...next time I'd put it in a plastic bag with the racks on the top.

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