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? 😬

I agree with the posters that say to take it down op, and perhaps have a handy replacement you can take out as needed! I would try make it a bit harder for them to get onto your bit of property too? Maybe some nice rose bushes😂 I wouldn’t like it either and I think it’s really cheeky to do, it’s not like it was a once off and they asked!

If they tend to use one part of the line, such as the part nearest them, you should get some anti-climbing paint and apply a liberal coating to that part of the line. This type of paint stays wet and will leave a mark on their washing, they'll soon get the message not to use your line. Just make sure you remember which part you painted!

Take it down and get a rotary line which you only bring out when you are using. This will solve all issues as the CF could still use a detractable line.

The fact you don’t have a fence separating changes my mind a little as I can see that probably don’t think they are doing anything too cheeky, I was picturing their washing hanging over your fence, I used to have a garden the same-divided down the middle by a path and as soon as I could I put up a chain link fence which is what I could afford at the time, but then my new upstairs neighbours started using my washing line because they didn’t have one! I was annoyed because she wouldn’t speak to me before that!

It wouldn’t bother me but if I needed to hang my washing out I would take their washing off and double peg to their line and hey presto hang your own out, would be nice if they asked but not a big deal imo ( for me)

Take it down and get a retractable line (ideally one you can fully remove when not in use) for those rare occasions when you need it?

What do you think your neighbours would do if you used their washing line?

Does the washing line cross your garden or does it run down the dividing path?

Having someone else use your things isn’t a big deal?

I would remove their washing and return it to them, or drape over their line. Do this as soon as you see it, every time, they’ll soon get the message.

Then tell them. Tell them to stop using it. How is this difficult?

This for sure

Is there a partition between your properties? Like a fence ... how are they getting on to your property to hang their washing?

Personally this isn't something I'd be bothered by in the slightest, I had a back garden without a partition when I was renting and the neighbours often used my line, it was a non issue, it wasn't costing me anything and they were just trying to dry their laundry.... it bothers you though so maybe take the line down 🤷🏼‍♀️ I find MN to be one of the least friendliest of places, so I'm not surprised by some of these comments, I grew up in a very neighbourly environment, you know the "borrow cup of sugar" kind of streets, my dad always told me it's important to treat your neighbours well, remember these are the people that you may need to rely if something happens at your property when your out.... I live now in an equally neighbourly area, and about 4 months ago I had the police at my door at around 3:30 am banging, when i opened it they ran through my house and out the back door where there were two young men trying to hop over my back fence and arrested them. My neighbour came out to check on me, she told me she had called the police after hearing an odd noise & seen these two lads outside the front of my property acting shifty and trying to open my car door, she wasnt sure if it was anything but called them on my behalf just to be safe.... by the time the police had arrived they had hopped over a fence/gate into my back yard. Anyway police came back a few days later to tell me these guys were attempting to break into my home and were responsible for a number of local break ins, including one were an older gentleman home owner was brutally beaten.... I was home alone with my 3 young daughters (one only an infant) as DP was away on a work trip for a few nights in a different city ... pretty scary to think if my neighbour had not of called police 😬 I'd have no problem sharing a washing line or a cup of sugar with a neighbour to be nice, these are the people that will most likely be raising the alarm if they see/smell smoke or gas from your property or maybe spot a couple of dodgy lads outside it at night....

id take the line down. Also have a look at some cheaper fence options, there’s some cool stuff done with painted pallets and the like on Pinterest

Yes they should have asked

If you don't need the space /use it - is it the end of the world if they use it ?

If yes get a retractable one

Can we have a picture 😂

Remove it then if you rarely use it and it bugs you this much. Personally wouldn’t be arsed about a neighbour using something I never use.

1.Good fences make good neighbours.

2.There is nothing 'passive aggressive' about removing or retracting your own washing line. Lighting a fire pit every time next door's laundry appeared: that's PA.

This is trespass in law. They don’t have a right to enter your garden irrespective of there being a fence.

They are making assumptions and that is not okay.

There are two choices: 1. Start using it. Do a lot of "airing" if you aren't using it for wet washing, air your entire linen closet. Make it unusable for them, ie. And/or 2. Tell them to stop using it.

I would go insane if I looked out my window and my yard was filled with someone else's washing; the fact they never asked permission is an indicator of their attitudes, and so they may not respond well to a polite and normal request to not use your line, and your garden.

Did they use words to ask if you would mind if they use it?No? Then you've no reason to use words to tell them not to. I would put it in a bag on the doorstep if they did it again,maybe even the second time I had to return their pants or whatever I'd put it in a bag. After that I'd simply pile it up on the step. I still remember the thread a while ago about a neighbour using the OP's fence to hang and drape her washing over to dry. Talk about self entertainment.

I think it’s extremely rude they didn’t ask, I would never dream of using my neighbours washing line. I just can’t picture the set up, do they walk into your garden to hang their washing up? I’m really shocked people think it’s okay to just use someone else washing line without asking, regardless if you need it, it’s your property.

Is there a window looking out on it? Does it spoil your view? is it a garden you would sit out in?

Yes, be kind. Invite a homeless family to move a tent into it.

spiky plants :)

Why not give them your spare room too? If your not using it 😆