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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think leaving a dirty mattress outside your house is rank?

40 replies

FrenchLemonade · 16/08/2022 12:21

I can’t do anything about it. It’s in their front garden. Right next to my living room window.

If I were a potential buyer I wouldn’t even buy a house on my own street.

Aibu to think this is just gross? It’s been there over 2 weeks now.

OP posts:
Dirtylittleroses · 16/08/2022 12:24

Are they waiting for the council to collect it?

NightmareSlashDelightful · 16/08/2022 12:25

Round my way, we've had a few instances of people booking collections from the council for mattresses — which they ask are left outside — and then the council don't show up because they're understaffed or someone who was meant to be driving the truck has covid or similar. Perhaps it's something like that?

Arbesque · 16/08/2022 12:25

YANBU. It gives a really bad impression of a street. If I was selling a house nearby I'd be furious.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/08/2022 12:29

Another vote for the booked and paid for the council collection (probably with a 'we don't give a fixed date, but the item must be outside within x cm of the pavement when we attend or you will have to rebook and pay again' set of terms) that has failed to show up.

Original poster
FrenchLemonade · 16/08/2022 12:34

Maybe? It’s been there over 2 weeks though. just looks gross.

They also have a skip in the road that’s so full theyve now taken to dumping rubbish around it. That cars have to be carful getting around.

OP posts:
Antarcticant · 16/08/2022 12:36

Unless they have form for dumping rubbish in their garden, I'd assume they've been let down by whoever was meant to be collecting it.

badgerstink · 16/08/2022 12:39

Can you report to local council as flytipping?

www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/woman-fined-more-1000-fly-11255241.amp

balalake · 16/08/2022 12:41

Have you actually spoken to them- something along the lines of 'when are the council going to collect it'?

RedWingBoots · 16/08/2022 12:42

Report on this site - www.fixmystreet.com/ if there is no page on your council website to report it on.

Incidentally I booked and paid for some large furniture to be taken by the council. It took them a month to remove it all.

FlyingSaucerss · 16/08/2022 12:44

With my council you have to put it outside the front for them to collect it, they say not to put it out until the night before though but maybe they have nowhere else to put it in the mean time I mean mattresses aren’t small.

PeppaPigIsAnnoying · 16/08/2022 12:47

Do they not have a car?

We used ratchet straps and took an old mattress to the tip. Surprised me how small it folded up

DillonPanthersTexas · 16/08/2022 12:48

I have noticed an increasing trend of fly tipping masquerading as generous 'freecycling'. Usually some rust bucket BBQ, manky sofa or knackered old stereo just dumped on the pavement outside the house with a pithy 'help yourself' sign attached it. As if some member of the public will be enticed by electrical goods or soft furnishings that have been left in the rain or had dogs pissing on them.

RedWingBoots · 16/08/2022 13:25

DillonPanthersTexas · 16/08/2022 12:48

I have noticed an increasing trend of fly tipping masquerading as generous 'freecycling'. Usually some rust bucket BBQ, manky sofa or knackered old stereo just dumped on the pavement outside the house with a pithy 'help yourself' sign attached it. As if some member of the public will be enticed by electrical goods or soft furnishings that have been left in the rain or had dogs pissing on them.

In my area is is mainly children's stuff including books, clothes, toys and furniture. Most in decent condition.

Some of the people are weird because they expect someone to take it all when clearly you should only take the things you need.

However I've seen kitchen knives which I should have knocked on the door and complained about - however they were removed before I remembered - and batteries which were left in the sun.

AwkwardPaws27 · 16/08/2022 13:34

NeverDropYourMooncup · 16/08/2022 12:29

Another vote for the booked and paid for the council collection (probably with a 'we don't give a fixed date, but the item must be outside within x cm of the pavement when we attend or you will have to rebook and pay again' set of terms) that has failed to show up.

Another vote for this - I recently had a fridge in my front garden for over a week as it was postponed.
Or waiting have enough items to collect (round here it's £45 for up to three items, so if you are mud-way through work it makes sense to wait until you've got everything ready to collect rather than paying 3x).

When we were looking to buy we actually looked at things like the presence of skips as a positive - it indicates people are making improvements, investing in their homes, & is often a good sign. The mattress wouldn't bother me in combination with the skip.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 16/08/2022 13:37

I have noticed an increasing trend of fly tipping masquerading as generous 'freecycling'.

Ah yes, that's my neighbour....! We live in a cul de sac at the end of a no-through road, I don't know what passers-by she thinks will be interested in her junk. I've been too incensed to speak to her about it so I've just taken it to the tip myself. (The tip is approx 1 mile away. She has a car.)

Whattodoaboutworknow · 16/08/2022 13:37

If they have a skip it sounds like they are having a clear out or work done not just dumping household furniture outside.

GimmeSleep · 16/08/2022 13:41

Another vote for reporting it on www.fixmystreet.com/

Jengnr · 16/08/2022 13:43

Round my way you pay the council and they come and collect it but don’t tell you when they’re coming so you have to leave it out and hope for the best.

Can be up to 8 weeks.

Tigerstripes1 · 16/08/2022 13:45

I've currently got a smashed up sideboard on my drive. I'm waiting for my friend to get the van and tip run it for me. Probably be a week or 2 but where else am I meant to leave it. Just mind your business.

ShahRukhKhan · 16/08/2022 14:54

This happened to me, waiting for a council collection. They didnt come and then it took another two weeks for them to turn up. I was mortified but there was nothing I could do, it was on the council.

ShahRukhKhan · 16/08/2022 14:55

To add- one of my neighbours bitched about it to the woman who gave me a lift to work. She defended me by outlining the council situation.

When they eventually collected it they dropped it on my fence and smashed the fence!

PowerPack · 16/08/2022 15:00

Yes our council collections have really long wait times since covid. I'd leave it almost anywhere but in the front garden, but it depends when they're expecting it to be collected and if they've been given a date.

Nat6999 · 16/08/2022 15:21

I live in a flat & we have an area to leave things for disposal, the council collect a few times a week, it's free. My fridge & microwave were out there last week & when I eventually move there will be lots more stuff out there.

Jellytottss · 16/08/2022 15:23

I think if the mattress is all stained it needs to be covered tbh!

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 16/08/2022 15:29

We had an old double mattress outside our basement flat for months. Our social worker had bought us a new mattress but we couldn't lift the old one up the steps, DH is retired, and also the council wanted to charge us £25 to take it away, which we couldn't afford. So I'm on the fence. If it's there because they can't be arsed getting rid of it, YANBU, if they can't afford it, YABU.