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AIBU?

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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
disconnected101 · 12/04/2022 22:25

Those poor birds! Is there anyone you can complain to about her upsetting the birds? (only half joking)

Surreyhillsmamatobe · 12/04/2022 22:26

@sjxoxo

I knew I’d get flamed but I just think they look ugly 😂 I’m too much a prude to hang out my washing & I’d not enjoy seeing my neighbours undies is all I meant. They just remind me of my grandmas house sorry op 😂 I deffo wouldn’t complain about it to my neighbours or the council though! Your neighbour is mad I’m not in disagreement with that but equally I do still hate washing lines! If you do put out some fetishised gear pls post a pic update 😂X
How do you dry your washing?

There is nothing like the fresh scent of line dried sheets! And the outside drying keeps them white, the sun bleaches them. We only use our tumbly for towels for the fluffiness. You just can’t beat freshly outdoor dried washing 😊

Organictangerine · 12/04/2022 22:34

@Cockenspiel

She’s clearly batshit🦇💩
Yep. Ignore or just enjoy the comedy value.
WonderfulYou · 12/04/2022 22:39

I knew I’d get flamed but I just think they look ugly 😂 I’m too much a prude to hang out my washing

Why would you care what your neighbours think about you.

If you’re worried about your underwear then just don’t hang them out.
Hang out the clothes which your neighbours will see you in anyway.

TrashyPanda · 12/04/2022 22:41

It must be a cultural thing because I grew up in Australia where everyone dries their clothes outside. Tumble dryers are terrible for clothes and the environment. And too expensive to use frequently

I don’t think it is a cultural thing.

It’s just daft not to take advantage of a good drying day. I wouldn’t be without my heated airer, but if I can hang out a washing, I do. Never had a tumble dryer as I can’t stand wasting power and money.

Terfydactyl · 12/04/2022 22:43

@Qwill

Take some arty black and white shots of your washing, maybe hang a ballgown or two on the line. Send them to her and say, ‘here you go, I’ve taken some nicer photos you can send to the council’.
Fantastic idea, then channel your inner Tracey emin for some wild "art installations " a la the washing line.
cazba26 · 12/04/2022 22:43

Fortunately the problem isn't your washing, she will have an issue with just about anything.

Tell her to get lost and don't stand and entertain her complaints.

An old neighbour of ours was reported to the council for cooking cabbage, their neighbour upstairs complained that the smell of cabbage was wafting into their house Smile that was in the 90s, these neighbours are still known for making complaints. They complained cause children were playing in the street.

Organictangerine · 12/04/2022 22:44

It could be titled ‘Every panties I have ever worn’

Wavygravy1 · 12/04/2022 22:45

My next door neighbour used to shout at my Guinea pigs when they were wheeking 🙄 some people are just odd

mommydragonn · 12/04/2022 22:51

I would just ignore her. The council will very soon aswell.... Once she starts to complain about people breathing.

TravelDreamLife · 12/04/2022 23:00

New neighbours moved up the street a few weeks ago. DH saw them looking at our bins on the kerb. Got a letter from council last week that someone had complained about our bins being out longer than necessary on collection day. Didn't complain about the constantly barking dogs in the neighborhood - just bloody bins.

It's laughable in that our bins were out only because council told me to put them on the kerb immediately as I requested them be replaced due to damage. Told me it could take 3 business days. So firstly stupid complaint as our bins are otherwise never left out longer than necessary & second that council couldn't see they requested it!

Just ignore it. People complain about the most ridiculous things. If you fix it, she'll be back with another complaint tomorrow. Some people want the convenience of living in shoebox suburbia without other people close by!

BrightOrangeOrange · 12/04/2022 23:02

@sjxoxo

I knew I’d get flamed but I just think they look ugly 😂 I’m too much a prude to hang out my washing & I’d not enjoy seeing my neighbours undies is all I meant. They just remind me of my grandmas house sorry op 😂 I deffo wouldn’t complain about it to my neighbours or the council though! Your neighbour is mad I’m not in disagreement with that but equally I do still hate washing lines! If you do put out some fetishised gear pls post a pic update 😂X
Most people put their washing out on a normal day but put it away when they have visitors.

You are a prude but obviously find it funny. I'm interested if you are a prude in your other beliefs? Ha ha

BrightOrangeOrange · 12/04/2022 23:05

We have a whirligig but have a massive garden so could have more drying area if needed.

BrightOrangeOrange · 12/04/2022 23:08

Neighbours undies are clean too so all is OK.

IheartJKRowling · 12/04/2022 23:22

My neighbour told me (not asked me) to stop feeding birds in my garden because they were flying over her house and "going to the toilet on her lawn and dog" 😳

I just started laughing at her and she got more and more annoyed and literally starting stamped her feet and swearing. When I finally managed to stop laughing I just said "don't be so ridiculous". I still feed the birds and whenever I see her I say "birds" and start laughing again. You can't let crazy win.

Nanny0gg · 12/04/2022 23:33

@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.
When I was a child, one end of our washing line was attached to the house, the other to a flagpole, on a pulley. That line went up pretty high
whynotwhatknot · 12/04/2022 23:48

Like a pp said can you contact the owner or agent and say youre being harrassed and it wouldnt look good as an official complaint that you have to declare when you sell

TigerLilyTail · 13/04/2022 05:09

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.

My washing line annoying neighbour
Ikeptgoing · 13/04/2022 05:37

The prop for the line is 7 foot which means most of the line won't be 7 foot if you can visualise how it works as washing pills it down so there's a pin cake in the middle. They wouldn't be able to sell them if they were an "illegal" height 😂 for washing lines!

Ikeptgoing · 13/04/2022 05:38

Pinnacle not 'pin cake' ! Lol

TigerLilyTail · 13/04/2022 05:41

Do you know I read pin cake and it didn't even strike me as odd 🤯

It's so strange how the mind works.

GiantHaystacks2021 · 13/04/2022 05:45

Batshit.

Ignore the madwoman.

Penners99 · 13/04/2022 06:21

Next time she speaks to you just reply with ODFOD. Repeat as necessary.

sjxoxo · 13/04/2022 06:25

@BrightOrangeOrange yes I think I am a prude in other ways aswell! 🤣
@WonderfulYou 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! We live in very old houses and any visual changes to the properties have to be agreed by council and neighbours so I do my best to be ok good terms with them xo

Original poster
Afrodizzyak · 13/04/2022 06:53

@Kate0902900908

I have the same neighbour. Ignore her completely. Let her report your washing 😂 there’s no law against it and next time she says anything ask her how the complaint is going because you are really looking forward to getting a dryer. Piss her right off. My neighbour complained my garage being an at home gym is frightening her. Smoke from another neighbours BBQ ended up in her kitchen cupboard a week later. The meowing of a local cat near her garden caused her to have a panic attack and a car who turned in the street had to be reported to police as it was turning suspiciously. 😂 I’ll take a wild guess and say she lives alone or with husband who doesn’t speak. Has no visitors and doesn’t go out much. Spinster syndrome. It’s a really thing.
You have guessed right! She has a partner but no job and apparently spends her day gaming.
OP posts:
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