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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask the neighbours to stop doing this?

79 replies

Callingpale · 11/08/2023 17:22

Newish neighbours I've never spoken to except for a quick hello have started hanging their washing over our shared fence. It's bothering me - Do I say anything? My habitual pettiness is telling me to chuck the lot back over their side though I recognise that would be harsh.

To ask the neighbours to stop doing this?
OP posts:
PurpleSteak · 11/08/2023 18:14

Who are these neighbours? Very young or maybe from a country where washing isn't dried outdoors?

Maybe try to offer some helpful advice about what to do with the washing...? It sounds like they (may) not be aware of the cultural norms that mean this is not OK.

Oldermum84 · 11/08/2023 18:16

I would make sure the top of the fence was dirty in future.

Flimflambutterbeer · 11/08/2023 18:16

This is totally going to get Daily Mailed.

Custardslices · 11/08/2023 18:16

Nice to see a modest house. I thought MN all lived in 10 bed mansions with DH earning 500k

Moveoverdarlin · 11/08/2023 18:17

God, this would send me raging. It’s not even hung on there straight, or evenly.

Wintercomesoon · 11/08/2023 18:23

Just accidentally wet the washing while watering your plants with a hosepipe. They’ll soon get the hint. You could try to ask them to stop but the type of people who would think this acceptable neighbourly behaviour may not react well to you talking to them about it. Wetting their washing ‘accidentally’ may be a non confrontational passive aggressive way to stop it with no repercussions.

blisstwins · 11/08/2023 18:23

ANiceSliceOfCake · 11/08/2023 17:23

I’d offer to help them put up a washing line.

That is what I would do. I would not want to look at their laundry, but I would not toss it over.

miniegg3 · 11/08/2023 18:26

No that would really annoy me, looks scruffy.. you shouldn't have to look at their washing

TinkerbellefromYorkshire · 11/08/2023 18:38

The items on the fence are big items duvets etc not clothes. I don't think they have washed them but " airing" them.. l have been to many countries where they " air" their bedding when the weather is nice.. their clothes are drying on the line.
Still l wouldn't want it.. speak to the husband..show them a photo of an outside " airer" / clothes horse

missadvertised · 11/08/2023 18:44

OhYetAnotherBrickInTheWall · 11/08/2023 17:49

I would be sent demented by this. My garden is designed (by this I mean, by me… I’ve planted so it’s pretty or dramatic of whatever from various angles). Someone’s washing interrupting my view would send me bat shit.

Well done for saying something. Good luck with next visit and hope you get it sorted. I’d be pushing it over the side (so I couldn’t see it, rather than chucking it on the ground) every single time.

This!

I don't want their washing spoiling the outlook in my garden.

It makes me annoyed just to see the photo.

I'd end up pushing it back over!

girlfriend44 · 11/08/2023 19:02

Leave it this is how tit for tat neighbour disputes happen. Its not worth it and its not hurting you.

HauntedPencil · 11/08/2023 20:32

This would really grate upon my last nerve

HeartandSeoul · 13/08/2023 09:21

Just seen this when scrolling through Facebook…..

To ask the neighbours to stop doing this?
Toobusyto · 14/08/2023 16:19

You really need to get a job. And if you already have one, take a second job. Or even a third one! Cause you really seem bored out of your mind, if not downright racist.

Is this your problem in life? A foreign neighbour hanging stuff on the fence? The fence is common between the 2 properties.

Also, you noticed your neighbour doesn't speak English, and you still think at doing passive aggressive stuff. Take a picture of your side of the fence, draw a big, diagonal, red line over it, add a smiley emoji underneath for politeness and hang it so they can see it on their side.

Or, buy them an additional drying rack, to improve the relationship between you and them. 100% they'll take it out and use it, as a polite gesture towards you.

Or even better, don't do anything. They'll soon realise in UK it rains so much, it's not really worth hanging stuff out.

Always remember that when you sell the property, you have to disclose any conflict you have with the neighbours. And existing conflicts can lower the value of the property. So think 1000 times before being petty with your neighbours, foreigners or not.

miniegg3 · 14/08/2023 19:44

Toobusyto · 14/08/2023 16:19

You really need to get a job. And if you already have one, take a second job. Or even a third one! Cause you really seem bored out of your mind, if not downright racist.

Is this your problem in life? A foreign neighbour hanging stuff on the fence? The fence is common between the 2 properties.

Also, you noticed your neighbour doesn't speak English, and you still think at doing passive aggressive stuff. Take a picture of your side of the fence, draw a big, diagonal, red line over it, add a smiley emoji underneath for politeness and hang it so they can see it on their side.

Or, buy them an additional drying rack, to improve the relationship between you and them. 100% they'll take it out and use it, as a polite gesture towards you.

Or even better, don't do anything. They'll soon realise in UK it rains so much, it's not really worth hanging stuff out.

Always remember that when you sell the property, you have to disclose any conflict you have with the neighbours. And existing conflicts can lower the value of the property. So think 1000 times before being petty with your neighbours, foreigners or not.

How is it racist to not want other people's crap hanging over your fence?? Some people take pride in their gardens and don't want it made an eyesore by neighbours (whatever their race 🙄)

BrightGreenMoonBuggy · 14/08/2023 20:15

It’s rude. My neighbours would never do this! Can’t believe a few people on here think this is perfectly fine. You shouldn’t have to deal with their laundry inside the boundary of your garden! Ask them again and then if they don’t remove it, tell them a third and final time that they need to put a line up or you’ll be removing laundry hanging in your garden. Their choice to get their clothes pushed off your fence if they can’t respect your requests.

BrightGreenMoonBuggy · 14/08/2023 20:17

Also, @Toobusyto your racism claim is really pathetic, makes a mockery of genuine racism (I’m Asian) and not remotely the same as a language barrier.

Hellsbellsandspidersankles · 14/08/2023 20:24

What’s the racist angle, @Toobusyto ?
Genuinely flummoxed Confused

JMSA · 14/08/2023 20:26

Aargh, it looks so untidy! YANBU.

Toobusyto · 14/08/2023 21:03

Just cause you're Asian, doesn't mean you can't be racist.

The racist part is your attitude towards those clothes hanging on the fence. It's something unusual, clearly not British to hang the clothes like that. But instead of trying to sort it out with your neighbours polite and peacefully, you go online to complain like it's the end of the world. You didn't even look for a solution, only wanted other people's validation that it's ok to be mean in this situation.

To not mention that, when you saw she can't speak English, instead of using Google translate, or hand gestures to explain your problem, you just came back here to complain again.

Hellsbellsandspidersankles · 14/08/2023 21:07

There is clearly a washing line in use in the photo, @Toobusyto.
They’ve just chosen to hang the overspill on op’s fence.
Your insistence that op objecting to this signifies racism is really quite peculiar.

Twatfinder · 15/08/2023 00:13

Toobusyto · 14/08/2023 16:19

You really need to get a job. And if you already have one, take a second job. Or even a third one! Cause you really seem bored out of your mind, if not downright racist.

Is this your problem in life? A foreign neighbour hanging stuff on the fence? The fence is common between the 2 properties.

Also, you noticed your neighbour doesn't speak English, and you still think at doing passive aggressive stuff. Take a picture of your side of the fence, draw a big, diagonal, red line over it, add a smiley emoji underneath for politeness and hang it so they can see it on their side.

Or, buy them an additional drying rack, to improve the relationship between you and them. 100% they'll take it out and use it, as a polite gesture towards you.

Or even better, don't do anything. They'll soon realise in UK it rains so much, it's not really worth hanging stuff out.

Always remember that when you sell the property, you have to disclose any conflict you have with the neighbours. And existing conflicts can lower the value of the property. So think 1000 times before being petty with your neighbours, foreigners or not.

Found you!

MaryLivingOnDreamsAndCustardCreams · 15/08/2023 16:30

@Twatfinder 😂😂

BMW6 · 15/08/2023 21:28

👏👏twatfinder vair clever!! 😂

Takethatandparty30 · 15/08/2023 21:59

That would drive me insane! Absolutely say something, nip it in the bud.