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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:
Beautiful3 · 20/04/2023 06:55

I'd save up for a fence.

8misskitty8 · 20/04/2023 07:07

A few things you could do if you don’t want to talk to them about it. :-

Take down the line and only put it up when you need it or get a retractable one.

Hang a towel at the bit nearest the boundary even if it’s dry/clean every day. Might put them off using your line.

Remove their washing when you see it.

Againstmachine · 20/04/2023 07:08

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.

Can I come round and watch your TV and do my washing whilst you are out, after all you are so keen on sharing.

icelollycraving · 20/04/2023 07:28

I haven’t ever used a retractable line. Won’t they just open it?!
I think perhaps they think it is shared. Have you said anything or are you just seething silently?
Save for the fence!

daisymoonlight · 20/04/2023 07:28

Aquamarine1029 · 19/04/2023 22:40

Everyone saying "it's not an issue, "wouldn't bother me", give me a fucking break. You really want to look out into YOUR garden and see your neighbours clothes and knickers blocking the view of your property? You'd be fine with it when you want to go out, relax, and enjoy the fresh air? Come the fuck on.

Op, take the line down and put up a retractable one. Your neighbours are entitled brats.

I agree- They. Did. Not. Ask. That is the point here- you dont just use your neighbours stuff without asking- its rude. All the people saying its no big deal- do they allow their neighbours to park in their drive without asking, or let their neighbours sit in their garden to sunbathe without asking, or let their neighbours use their wifi without asking (presumably they have no password on it as they're being kind after all)? I bet they bloody dont.

Needanewnamebeingwatched · 20/04/2023 07:38

Wow CF neighbours

Just tell them to stop using the line.

However I would take it down and only put it up when you need it.

Sally090807 · 20/04/2023 07:52

They have two of their own lines and use yours too, that’s one hell of a lot of washing.

KettrickenSmiled · 20/04/2023 07:57

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.

And your solution to OP's annoying, loud & intrusive neighbour, whose washing she doesn't want to look at in her own garden, is what?

How does your knowledge of drover's roads & historic mining help OP?
What on earth has that got to do with her right to privacy, (or whether she even lives in the suburbs)? Inviting other people's laundry into her garden is hardly going to reverse an entire suburban infrastructure, is it?

PaulaYatesSmile · 20/04/2023 07:58

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.

And set up a big bbq and fire pit 🤣

IKnowItsNotMine · 20/04/2023 07:59

Just tell them to stop using your line !

daisymoonlight · 20/04/2023 08:01

KettrickenSmiled · 20/04/2023 07:57

And your solution to OP's annoying, loud & intrusive neighbour, whose washing she doesn't want to look at in her own garden, is what?

How does your knowledge of drover's roads & historic mining help OP?
What on earth has that got to do with her right to privacy, (or whether she even lives in the suburbs)? Inviting other people's laundry into her garden is hardly going to reverse an entire suburban infrastructure, is it?

Show quote history

I didnt understand the point of that post either 😂

It has literally no relevance whatsoever in this situation

JessieJoJames · 20/04/2023 08:05

I'd hate this.

It is rude to use something of someone else's without asking.

I'm sure if they broke it they wouldn't replace it.

I'd either tell them no, remove it or take it down and put it up every time I used it. (I'd the the hassle to spite the CFs)

newnamethanks · 20/04/2023 08:07

Electrify it, that'll teach her.

BMW6 · 20/04/2023 08:14

Just tell them to stop using it!

My NDN used to drape her washing (usually duvet covers) over our boundary fence (wooden, 6')

I asked her to stop. She nodded then a week later did it again, so I pushed it off into her garden. That happened 3 more times till she got the message and stopped.

Boughtitdownthemarket · 20/04/2023 08:19
  1. Take it down and buy a rotary washing line.
  2. Then save up and get a fence.

Obviously she shouldn't be using your line. She's a cheeky bitch.

Hellybelly84 · 20/04/2023 08:21

Take it down and put it up when you use it a couple of times a month. If they ask, say you dont want their washing across your garden. I wouldn’t do that to someone else with my family’s washing.

Hellybelly84 · 20/04/2023 08:21

newnamethanks · 20/04/2023 08:07

Electrify it, that'll teach her.

😂😂😂

butterpuffed · 20/04/2023 08:23

So many people suggesting OP should buy a retractable . Why should OP pay for neighbour's CFery ! OP, you need to tell them they're overstepping the boundary ~ literally !

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 20/04/2023 08:33

Just take it down when you’re not using it 🤷‍♀️

NightDreaming · 20/04/2023 08:38

Could you swap yours for a retractable one?

To ask neighbour not to use my washing line
Kvetching · 20/04/2023 08:51

Get a retractable line and then you can use it only when you need it.

LumpyandBumps · 20/04/2023 08:52

Advertise a laundry service for others, which will mean you are using the line all the time - and maybe need to borrow theirs too. Once you have made enough profit you can buy a fence.

shivawn · 20/04/2023 08:56

How freaking rude! I agree you should take it down and get a retractable one for when you need it, they have them on Amazon.

MeMyCatsAndMyBooks · 20/04/2023 09:00

I'd hang up some old towels and just leave them on it to spite them, when your finished using it hang them back up.

Catspyjamas17 · 20/04/2023 09:04

I would just ask them not to use it first before buying anything or taking it down.