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? 😬

why should the OP make more work for themselves?

You are being a bit petty and mean. Sort of sour grapes. I'm not using it but they mustn't either. Of course the right thing would have been for your neighbour to come and ask if it's OK if they use it occasionally.

Okay so if your house is empty whilst you go to shop I'm okay to go round and use whatever facilities, after all you aren't using it.

Yes do let me know where you live @stewball01 since my 8 year old wants a party in the garden and we'll use yours rather than our own.

DH also likes to have a bonfire so it would be better to have it in your garden not our own.

Everyone around to Stewball's since she loves to share her private property!

Hanging a few things on the washing line when it isn't in use is exactly the same as having a bonfire, holding parties, entering the house and using paid for facilities after all.

It is rude not to ask but our neighbours regularly use/let us use our/their driveways or brown bins for example. I wouldn't mind in the slightest if Bob from next door used my washing line, but he would ask first, which is the material difference here.

And some of us prefer firm boundaries, and for our private property not to be invaded.

It may be that your neighbours aren't thrilled with your using their driveway, bins, etc., but are biting their tongues to keep the peace. Why do you need to use their things, out of curiosity?