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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:
leatherchaps · 20/04/2023 16:02

Hang a sausage on it.

chocolatemademefat · 20/04/2023 16:26

Glad I’m not your neighbour. I wouldn’t give this head space.

Emotionalsupportviper · 20/04/2023 16:32

NannyGythaOgg · 19/04/2023 20:14

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

It's awkward not to want to see someone else's washing hanging in your garden?

Even my own is unsightly if I want to look out and watch the birds, look at nature etc - I certainly wouldn't want too see someone else's.

Speaking of birds - Have you tried encouraging a lot on them into your garden to poo on her washing?
Or starting a lot of garden fires (if your bye-laws allow).

Or just telling her to stop,

Emotionalsupportviper · 20/04/2023 16:36

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?!!

😂

I'll bet you leave them out to get larked on, too!

Emotionalsupportviper · 20/04/2023 16:37

*DARKED - not larked

Bugger you, autocarrot!

Emotionalsupportviper · 20/04/2023 16:39

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.

This is sarcasm, right?

🤔

SinnerBoy · 20/04/2023 16:40

Dunno....

DowntownKingston · 20/04/2023 16:45

The problem with taking it down is that they could put another up in the place of it, then you’ll be fucked. Apart from that don’t be spiteful.

WhiteBobbin · 20/04/2023 16:48

Fuck no.
Take it down, even if it puts you out for a month so they can learn not to use it. Use the line to then make a strong fence along the boundary.

Redebs · 20/04/2023 17:00

So if it's down the boundary, it's not hanging much across your garden is it? Nor are they coming into your garden to use it.

If you put up a fence along the boundary, neither of you will be able to use the washing line without clothes getting snagged on it.

Ladderback · 20/04/2023 17:11

I don't even want to look at my own underwear waving about in my back garden, never mind someone else's. Shared gardens.. shudder. I'd be making the fence a priority, or even some decent sized hedging to try to gain some privacy.

NoTouch · 20/04/2023 17:23

You are going to have to have a conversation with her sooner or later about it unless you put a physical barrier. If you take the line down she might put up another, or if you put in a retractable she might just pull it out. Just be brave and speak to her!

"hi, how's it going?.................I just wanted to ask you something that I feel a bit awkward about, but it has been bugging me....can you stop using my garden for your washing as it feels too intrusive"

shutthewindownow · 20/04/2023 17:26

Sundaycoffee · 19/04/2023 20:14

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.

Take their stuff off and put yours on

Scalottia · 20/04/2023 17:29

Bunnybeeee · 20/04/2023 14:13

I was with you until I seen the comment about the kids running around and annoying you. Now it just sounds like you're being petty for the sake of being petty. It's a washing line. If there's no clash with your washing is it even an issue? If the kids are being noisy then that's a separate issue to be dealt with in an adult fashion. Not by throwing your toys out of the pram, which honestly, it comes across like your doing 🤷‍♀️

It's not petty to not want a stranger's laundry on your own washing line! What planet are some of you living on!?

TellySavalashairbrush · 20/04/2023 17:41

Take it down until you can afford to buy a fence.

Mediocrates · 20/04/2023 21:40

NannyGythaOgg · 19/04/2023 20:14

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

Because the OP doesn’t want to be looking at other people’s washing in her garden? Or because she doesn’t want people in her garden hanging up or collecting their washing?

Personal space is important. I don’t like uninvited people in my space and that’s entirely valid.

Coolhwip · 20/04/2023 21:42

I wipe down my washing line before hanging clothes on it. Someone else’s pants on my washing line would give me palps.

Sewingdufus · 20/04/2023 23:03

Take down the washing line and use use it to make a temporary fence between you and the CFers next door!

Casilero · 20/04/2023 23:14

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.

Brilliant 😂😂😂

DdraigGoch · 20/04/2023 23:47

EffortlessDesmond · 19/04/2023 20:15

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.

It would be - if they'd actually asked.

Georgeandzippyzoo · 21/04/2023 00:57

If you are not bothered really then I'd speak to them and say you don't mind them using it but can they check with you in future first just to make sure you don't want to use it.
If they then do it without asking chuck some towels in a quick wash and go round and ask them to move their washing as you need YOUR line.

Skyelils · 21/04/2023 17:52

Why should she have to take it down and justify how often she uses it . It’s her line I think they’re cheeky buggers . And why would it be acceptable to just feel it’s their right to use it

riceuten · 21/04/2023 17:52

Have you previously offered to let the use it? Sometimes this means ‘use it in perpetuity without ever asking permission again and kicking off when you take it down’ (well, to some people, anyway).

Be glad you don’t have a next door neighbour with an ancient dryer that rumbled and scraped 18 hours a day (and they constantly moaned about the electricity bill!)

GrannyWeatherwax1976 · 21/04/2023 17:56

Did I just read that right, you called them “awkward” for not wanting a neighbour to use their washing line?

Are you of the same calibre that feels if a neighbour allows you to park on their drive, then they move, you feel you still have a right to that space? 🫣🤭

WildRose42 · 21/04/2023 18:03

Sadly, there’s too many CF out there who think they can do what the hell they like, no matter what it is. They assume it’s ‘ok’ to just please themselves and don’t ask to use something. It’s becoming far more common now. Just tell them ‘no’ if they don’t like it, tough!