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Original poster

My washing line annoying neighbour

407 replies

Afrodizzyak · 12/04/2022 16:21

We have a new neighbour who has complained to me about my laundry hanging on the line ruining her view. It's just run of the mill laundry, no crutchless knickers or bondage gear, so not offensive. At first I ignored her, but she later told me she had photographed it and would complain to council.
I'm not the only neighbour she has complained to, another about his whistling, which is piercing her ears, having sensitive hearing and she asked another neighbour to keep his windows and doors closed whilst cooking as it made her nauseous.
It's not just humans she intolerant of, if a bird is singing, she will start growling to scare it away.
Before she moved here, we all just dodged along fine.
Is there any law against hanging washing? I'm not tumble drying our family's wash when not necessary.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
MinnieGirl · 13/04/2022 06:58

@OfstedOffred

Tbf 7 feet is a bit higher up than is standard which probably makes it stand out. Is the whole line 7ft high? Is there a reason it needs to be 7ft high? Most people I know use a rotary max 6ft or so.

If the fence is 6ft or so can you simply drop the prop so it's at 6ft?

I have an old fashioned high line with a pulley. The whole street can see my washing! I also have a second low line thwt can be raised using a pole or clothes prop, which I suspect is what OP has.
MinnieGirl · 13/04/2022 07:04

@RosiePosieDozy

I do think you need to lower the line though as pps have said. It's strange to have it over 6ft high. I don't know anyone who does this.
Everyone around here has a high washing line with pulleys. Why should OP lower her line? The neighbour is crazy… I’d rather have washing in the line than loud music and drug dealing
Original poster
Afrodizzyak · 13/04/2022 07:05

@TigerLilyTail

To those who are confused.

Basically, you hang your washing on the line and then you have a long pole with a slit or fork in the top which you catch the line on and then stick it in the ground. This lifts your washing line up higher to help it catch the breeze and dry quicker. This is what the OP is using. It's called a prop. You then remove the pole to lower the line when you take your washing in.

This could be my garden.
OP posts:
Original poster
Afrodizzyak · 13/04/2022 07:15

There was a whirlygig planted when I moved in but in stormy weather it blew across garden.
I find a line dries washing far quicker and on my day off I can get 3 loads dry on windy spring day.

OP posts:
mumsiedarlingrevolta · 13/04/2022 07:29

I suggest wind chimes.

I think they will completely take her mind off of the washing line...

eurochick · 13/04/2022 07:29

@Ponderingwindow

You would know if you have a restricted covenant. You have to sign agreeing to abide by the rules and pay any fines before being allowed to buy the property.
This isn't the case. They are mentioned on the deeds. If you have them your solicitor should draw your attention to them when you purchase the property but (in England at least) you are not required to sign anything. We have about four pages of them on the property register for our house!
Emus · 13/04/2022 07:36

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

I suggest wind chimes.

I think they will completely take her mind off of the washing line...

Grin😆 this!! ^^
practicallyperfectwithprosecco · 13/04/2022 07:46

Does anyone remember a post a while ago where the Op's next door neighbour asked her to stop hanging her underwear on her line as it got the (neighbours) husband excited. She was most put out when the Op said no.

That was my neighbour- who also complained about my teenage daughters walking near my open doors and windows in vests and shorts, going in the pool in swimwear the complaints were ridiculous.

She is still my neighbour and still complaining but she now has a different husband

However my girls are now 17 and 18 and the underwear on the washing line is definitely skimpier as are the clothes they go out in - poor woman must need to bleach her and her husband's eyes every time my family go out

imamumgetmeoutofhere · 13/04/2022 09:08

This really made me chuckle OP. Just hang your washing out and crack on with your day. She's just bat shit crazy Hmm

imamumgetmeoutofhere · 13/04/2022 09:09

@Georgeskitchen

You should add this one to the Cheeky f**ker thread. It's absolute gold 🤣🤣
Wait, there's a cheeky fucker thread? Where will I find that please Grin
WonderfulYou · 13/04/2022 09:17

I care very much what my neighbours think! We have to live next door so they’re arguably the people to absolutely try and avoid conflict with!

I promise you you’re not going to cause a conflict by hanging out your washing!

Unless of course they’re oddballs like OPs neighbour but then they’d find anything to moan about.

It makes me actually quite sad that you feel you can’t even dry your washing outside incase your neighbours don’t like it. That’s no way to live.

MinnieGirl · 13/04/2022 09:30

@practicallyperfectwithprosecco

Does anyone remember a post a while ago where the Op's next door neighbour asked her to stop hanging her underwear on her line as it got the (neighbours) husband excited. She was most put out when the Op said no.

That was my neighbour- who also complained about my teenage daughters walking near my open doors and windows in vests and shorts, going in the pool in swimwear the complaints were ridiculous.

She is still my neighbour and still complaining but she now has a different husband

However my girls are now 17 and 18 and the underwear on the washing line is definitely skimpier as are the clothes they go out in - poor woman must need to bleach her and her husband's eyes every time my family go out

Love it 😂
Ihaveamagicwand · 13/04/2022 09:52

mumsiedarlingrevolta

I suggest wind chimes.
I think they will completely take her mind off of the washing line...

Another one for this! Absolutely brilliant, although I think a brightly multicoloured wind spinner would be a good accompaniment.

JustLyra · 13/04/2022 10:11

@practicallyperfectwithprosecco

Does anyone remember a post a while ago where the Op's next door neighbour asked her to stop hanging her underwear on her line as it got the (neighbours) husband excited. She was most put out when the Op said no.

That was my neighbour- who also complained about my teenage daughters walking near my open doors and windows in vests and shorts, going in the pool in swimwear the complaints were ridiculous.

She is still my neighbour and still complaining but she now has a different husband

However my girls are now 17 and 18 and the underwear on the washing line is definitely skimpier as are the clothes they go out in - poor woman must need to bleach her and her husband's eyes every time my family go out

That’s amazing.

She should marry my old neighbour - he phoned the council noise complaints people to report my cat for making his dogs bark loudly constantly.

12yearsinazkaban · 13/04/2022 10:20

I'd start cooking with my door open and whistling every day but that's just me

BrightOrangeOrange · 13/04/2022 11:40

@ZoyaTheDestroyer

I can’t visualise how you hang washing on seven foot line. Do you stand on something?!
Is everyone else ignoring this question?

Does someone really have to explain?

Terfydactyl · 13/04/2022 11:43

Is everyone else ignoring this question

Does someone really have to explain

Its been explained with a picture too, a few pages ago.

starfishmummy · 13/04/2022 12:21

@Flaunch

I’d be buying bondage gear and crotchless knickers to hang out tbh.
Exactly this.

And the OP has to whistle loudly while hanging it out. And maybe have her phone playing recordings of bird song!!

user1471447863 · 13/04/2022 15:35

Unfortunately that sort of person won't take the polite 'fuck off' hint. They'll be back round every time you hang something out or do something they don't like, particularly if you've ever so much as hinted that you may modify your ways for them.

They'll likely only leave someone alone if they are scared of them - like if your response was to be "fuck off you mad bitch - knock on my door with that kind of shit again and i'll stick my boot so far up your arse people are going to think that Dr Martins has started making hats".

user1471538283 · 13/04/2022 16:04

If only the only concern was your neighbor hanging out her laundry in her own back yard! I love long lines for laundry and I love seeing people's laundry out!

I take it she doesn't hang her out?

Original poster
Afrodizzyak · 13/04/2022 16:11

An update, as was chatting to my lovely whistling neighbour and his wife on my way home today. He told me he was looking for a Roger Whittaker (famous whistler) cd on eBay.

He also informed me that neighbours living at back of us(perfectly respectable family) received a letter poked through their letter box unsigned. Author asked if they could oil their back door as it sounds like a cat screaming and interrupting her sleep. If she doesn't get enough rest it could stop her ovulating.
The letter was decorated with drawings of cat's faces, one with a speech bubble saying hello.
You can imagine our reactions.

OP posts:
VerifiedBot2351 · 13/04/2022 16:12

Oh my. She sounds frighteningly unhinged.

familyissues12345 · 13/04/2022 16:21

@Afrodizzyak

An update, as was chatting to my lovely whistling neighbour and his wife on my way home today. He told me he was looking for a Roger Whittaker (famous whistler) cd on eBay. He also informed me that neighbours living at back of us(perfectly respectable family) received a letter poked through their letter box unsigned. Author asked if they could oil their back door as it sounds like a cat screaming and interrupting her sleep. If she doesn't get enough rest it could stop her ovulating. The letter was decorated with drawings of cat's faces, one with a speech bubble saying hello. You can imagine our reactions.
ShockShockShock
StarlightLady · 13/04/2022 16:24

I had a neighbour similar to this years ago. She said she did not like my washing on view, although she would almost get a crick in her neck to see it.

I pegged out every pair of knickers l owned, including thongs, with 2 pegs. Even clean ones straight out the drawer. One friend even brought some of hers round to add to the line.

Neighbour got the huff but nothing more was said. I have lovely neighbours now.