To ask neighbour not to use my washing line

[Sundaycoffee]

My next door neighbours keep using my washing line. They have two of their own lines which are right next to my line but within their boundaries. My washing line starts attached on the wall at the boundary to our property's and crosses slightly over my garden where it is attached at the other end to a concrete post on my property a metre or so inside my boundary.

Being a family of 4 with a lot of washing, they often hang any extra washing that they can't fit on their line on mine.

Disclaimer: I live alone and don't tend to use the line much except for when I wash towels or sheets. My clothes I usually just stick on a clothes horse and put outside the door.
I'm sick of looking outside and seeing their washing hanging across my garden but equally AIBU if I rarely use the line myself and they need that extra bit of space for theirs? 😬

If you don't use it take it down.

Perhaps a daft question… can you just take it down?

Take it down.

YANBU, have you told them
not To use it?

Buy a retractable one.

So why is it an issue? If you needed it ... fine. But you don't so why be awkward

I do use it, but probably only a couple of times a month. Its handy for sheets and towels that wont fit on a clothes horse.So far there hasn't been any clashes where I have needed to use it and their stuff is on it but I would say every other day they are hanging stuff across it.

They should ask you and the longer you take to tell them no the more they will do it

Get a retractable one, have it out only when you want to use it, and it’ll be all rolled up the rest of the time. Not impossible for neighbour to still use, but maybe a bit less likely (or more cheeky!)

I actually think it's a nice gesture to let them use your line if you don't. I might say something to acknowledge and assert that this is a tolerance and not any kind of right though.

This, or just set it up so that you can unhook one end when not in use and easily pop it back in place when you need it.

No. They can set up a third line in their own garden, if needed. Do not feed the cheeky feckers.

Yeah definitely retractable. And then when it’s not in use you should unclip or loosen the lock so all their washing falls on the door mwah haha

Floor *

I don't think it would bother me tbh. But it bothers you and that's okay. Would you have been happier if they'd asked?

Is there a way to put it elsewhere?

I don't think it helps that they didn't ask. It probably also doesn't help that I never get a moments peace from theirs kids constantly running, screaming and jumping so they already annoy me and this is just another thing to add to the list! 🤣

As so often, I disagree with everyone who wants to keep everything private and suburban. I get so cross with all the new landowners in our area who want to freeze out everyone who has used drover's paths and miner's paths as rights of way. They stick up PRIVATE land notices to close out walkers, who are only there to walk the dogs across forestry trails. But those paths and ways were left so that the people who did the mining or the farming could walk in to work. Nobody who hacked rock for a living in the 1870s drove to work.

This would annoy me, too. You obviously don't want to see their clothes in your garden, and they haven't even bothered to ask. I'd see about getting one that I could take indoors when not in use. If they need more room, they can stick up another line in their own space. It's not that difficult.

Take it down and move it. Do you have a fence or anything? Are they aware of the boundary?

I don't understand the set up sorry I'm not going to ask you to draw a diagram haha. But I personally would either take the line down or hang a really old sheet out their permanently for a bit but I'm petty like that

No there's no fence currently but there is a pathway in the middle between our grass.
A fence is on the list for when I can afford

Put anti-climb paint on it.

Only joking, just ignore it, it's really not an issue.

This. Very easy fix.

Take it down and buy a detractable one that you only use when needed

Just take it down and only put it up if you are using it. If the neighbour takes the opportunity to hang her stuff on it, take it off, fold it neatly and remove your line.