Law regarding use of Communal washing lines?

[Linnaues35]

Hi all

I live in a housing association block of flats in Timperley which is lovely however one busybody nothing better to do neighbour has for some strange reason stated to my face that in the communal gardens to the rear that a certain washing line is his when I used it couple of times unaware was his which is utterly ridiculous as aren't neighbours supposed to share the areas outside his flat must smell of the drying clothes inside as I've rarely in the weeks since seen him use what he stated was his washing line in other words I've got bad neighbours unfortunately with no life it seems. I've used another one for my laundry and I won't do anything to help them definitely in a crisis.

That's the longest first sentence ever.

There no law! The HA will have their own rules regarding their shared areas.

Check with them.

We have 2 lines in a shared garden for use of 4 flats.

This has nothing to do with law.

There won’t be a law, but in your contract it probably states garden is shared and that will include the washing lines. I’d just whichever one I wanted and if he said it again I’d say oh I checked with the HA, they are all shared. End of conversation

When I grew up we lived in a little block of flats (6) - all had our own little square of garden fenced off to do as we pleased with and 6 long washing lines on the central yard. Each was assigned to a flat and we all used our own to start - but as we all got on- if there was a couple of overspill items no one minded if someone used theirs . Just neighbourly.

If it matters enough to you - check with housing association via email so you have a written response if they are shared or assigned.

but personally - I’d go for the quiet life. As long as I had somewhere to dry my washing I wouldn’t get too excited about it. If the other lines are free it’s not worth my energy getting in a row with mr grumpy.

We are not allowed to dry washing in the communal gardens for our block.

I lived in a block of four flats with 3 lines. We all unofficially claimed one as one of the flats must have tumble dried everything as they never hung washing. The 3 of us all used the same lines but if the fourth had wanted to hang washing, that would have been okay too. Neighbour needs to get a life

Communal washing lines can be like the car parking spot outside your house. No one owns it, but you get a bit (irrationally) miffed if someone else uses it. He probably doesn't own it, but has always used it. You could take it further, but if there is plenty of other washing lines, I probably wouldn't bother

Hi all on 29th and overnight into 30th August I used another communal washing line rotary pole outside in the gardens to the rear the outcome was someone bringing my laundry in leaving at back door with this note on it. Regenda Homes own these flats and simply my neighbours seem to be mean but I'll let them resolve.

Speak to HA officer find out if what they are telling u is right and take it from there

If you feel comfortable, it would be better to ask the people who've told you off what the system is for whose line is whose. There may be one you're not understanding or they may be being unreasonable but either way you have to live next to them so best to understand their point of view.

If you have no luck I'd buy a free standing Continental style airer and use that.

@Linnaues35 is it the fact that they actually own the rope? in that case, buy your own rope and remove their when you want to hang your washing. a pic might be useful so we understand how they are laid out. I know of some block where the back of the flats is so large that every has a full set of line and only share the greenie pole on which to hang their rope!

Totally off the point; but I know a block in Battersea that has a communal drying room on each floor.
And some have pram sheds.

Just speak to the HA.

I can't read the note, even zoomed in. Would you mind transcribing as it's quite short?

Thanks

Hi No 20

I have tried to ring your buzzer to tell you 3 times last night and previous times when you do it but I get no response and I need my line every time it is sunny you are using it, you have one outside yours ask your neighbour can you use it
Please stop using mine. Thanks anon

Thanks.

I agree with PP that you need to speak to HA/neighbours. I actually think that is a fairly polite note so maybe you could ask them to point out which one they think is yours.

When I used to live in a council flat with communal "whirlies" and I wasn't sure which one was "ours" I used to only hang washing on half of it so there was always another half free. Do you think that could work?