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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask neighbour not to use my washing line

231 replies

Sundaycoffee · 19/04/2023 20:08

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? 😬

OP posts:
CorinaCortado · 20/04/2023 01:10

EffortlessDesmond · 19/04/2023 20:33

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.

Except it’s 2023 so this is entirely irrelevant

Acornsoup · 20/04/2023 01:22

LoveBluey · 19/04/2023 23:31

I can't believe this is Mumsnet and nobody has yet commented on the only having sheets/towels to hang out a couple of times a month. Where are all the competitive I wash my sheets 3 times a night even if it doesn't mean waking the whole household?!!

GrinDaffodil

Theoldwoman · 20/04/2023 02:02

Well if you hardly ever need to use it, why would you be unreasonable about a neighbour using it?

I never understand the not sharing thing.

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 20/04/2023 02:12

I wouldn't have a problem if they'd asked first but it's very cheeky of them to just assume you're OK sharing it AND you don't need it that day.

To get the message across without direct confrontation I'd probably just bunch all their stuff at one end and peg my own washing out.

LadyVictoriaSponge · 20/04/2023 02:14

Theoldwoman · 20/04/2023 02:02

Well if you hardly ever need to use it, why would you be unreasonable about a neighbour using it?

I never understand the not sharing thing.

So by your reasoning if the OP had a fence it would still be perfectly acceptable for the neighbours to wander into her garden and use her washing line? Maybe they could also lounge about on her garden furniture, use her wheelie bins, park in her designated space?

Phoebo · 20/04/2023 02:40

Gosh some people have no shame. I'd actually take it down as PP have suggested. It's like a carpark isn't it, people think if you're not using it why can't they. Sigh!

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 20/04/2023 02:44

Take any washing that is put on it away. If they ask where it is say your cleaner (😂) must have taken it in thinking it was yours. You'll ask them when they come back next week. (Oh, they might be on holiday)

ChiefPearlClutcher · 20/04/2023 02:45

Get a rotary drier that goes into a spike. Collapse it when you don’t use it, mine has a zip pouch that I can cover it with to look neat.

And fence asap!

Mamaneedsadrink · 20/04/2023 02:50

Theoldwoman · 20/04/2023 02:02

Well if you hardly ever need to use it, why would you be unreasonable about a neighbour using it?

I never understand the not sharing thing.

Well first it's rude not to ask, second she doesn't want to look at other people's washing. Fair enough!

QueenBitch666 · 20/04/2023 02:51

Buy a retractable one and take it down in between use. Simple 🤷‍♀️

user1492757084 · 20/04/2023 02:56

Can you adjust the line so that it hangs in their yard?
Explain thet you will put your line in their yard as they use is so much and that will be more convenient for them.
Then ask whether you could use the line, just once or twice per month, for dry your sheets.
That shuld work out.

Mummyoflittledragon · 20/04/2023 03:09

I’d also take it down and replace with a retractable or rotary one then offer the line to the neighbour.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 20/04/2023 03:13

I bet if you were a man living alone, they wouldn't take advantage like this.

FFSFF · 20/04/2023 03:59

You could also have a bbq on a nice sunny day, preferably when the wind is blowing the smoke in the direction of your washing line, but then I can be a bit petty when pissed off lol.

Mouse82 · 20/04/2023 04:06

user1492757084 · 20/04/2023 02:56

Can you adjust the line so that it hangs in their yard?
Explain thet you will put your line in their yard as they use is so much and that will be more convenient for them.
Then ask whether you could use the line, just once or twice per month, for dry your sheets.
That shuld work out.

So in other words forfeit her line just to appease the neighbours?

Maybe the neighbours can go and buy another clothes line. That should work out, instead of the neighbour forfeiting her own property.

FrumptyMumpty · 20/04/2023 04:09

I think you’re being unreasonable of the lines are all together, barely over the boundary. Plus three rows of washing vs two rows of washing in sight isn’t a huge deal…

BUT I’d personally take the line down. If you don’t want a scene, release it and leave out on the ground as if I’d come loose before finally removing it completely.

EveryWitchWaybutLoose · 20/04/2023 04:46

Of course you're not being unreasonable @Sundaycoffee It's perfectly normal and fine for you not to want to see your neighbour's washing across your garden. As them not to, or take the line down.

Or have a BBQ right where the line is ...

The fact that you live alone & don't use it much is totally irrelevant. As a general observation, I'm always amazed at the way considerate & polite people are often put on the back foot by rude & entitled people, as in this case.

These neighbours have got you questioning whether YOU are in the wrong about this, when it's absolutely the reverse!

7yo7yo · 20/04/2023 05:19

I’d wait until it was full of towels and clothes and cut it

LemonTreeSkies · 20/04/2023 05:24

Sorry to ask, but can we have a diagram please? I’m struggling to picture it in my mind
Thank you 😊😊

Tlolljs · 20/04/2023 05:30

This thread made me smile. I’m often tempted to put my washing on my neighbours line. Their garden is in full sun all day, mine only in the afternoon.
But wouldn’t actually dare do it.
Just tell them not to do it.

DappledThings · 20/04/2023 05:41

Do they definitely know it's yours and on your land? It sounds like it could easily be misinterpreted as shared space if there's no fence and it's never be explained to them.

romdowa · 20/04/2023 06:05

Surely you'd just say it to them. Same with their kids in your garden.

TerfIngOnTheBeach · 20/04/2023 06:18

Mossstitch · 19/04/2023 21:53

I put mine up and take it down when I'm not using it as I'd rather look at my flowers and seeing the washing line spoils it, so would definitely annoy me having to look at somebody else's washing! Just make a loop each end and hook it up when you need it👌

This is exactly what I do too. It’s wound up and hooked over the pole furthest from next door then I put it up and hook it to the other point when I need it.

My garden is small, I hate looking at my own washing unless I can help it.

You want to enjoy your garden in the nice weather not look at next doors underwear. Take it down OP, get a new line and then wind it in and out as you need it.

nomoredriving · 20/04/2023 06:30

Starhead69 · 19/04/2023 20:18

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

Or alternatively act like an adult and ask them not to use it?

Casilero · 20/04/2023 06:43

I'm a smoker, so I'd just turn that area of my garden into my new smoking area, then I wouldn't have to say anything at all. Could you take up smoking?

Or alternatively, I really liked a previous posters suggestion of cutting it with a pair of scissors whilst maintaining eye contact.