Neighbour bbq smoke

[Heathershimmerwinner]

Hi. My neighbour round the back has a raised bbq area. He has bbqs twice a day, not kidding. It’s getting a bit too much. The smell of the smoke is making me feel sick. We don’t get on with him as it is. So speaking to him is out the question. My washing constantly smells of smoke. I wouldn’t bother if he barbecued now and again. But it’s twice a day.

Yes the nuisance vs annoying.

It’s a bit like a dog barking for 5 minutes every hour is annoying but ok technically. A dog barking for an hour solid at 2am that’s an issue.

It's not necessary to dry washing outside at all. It might be useful and free, but given that people manage when we have non-stop rain for weeks, it's clearly not a necessity.

Yes, exactly. Too many people on this thread think "annoying = legal nuisance". That's not the case at all.

A friends son had asthma attacks so bad he was hospitalised multiple times. The doctors eventually narrowed it down and advised not to dry washing inside.

You haven’t said otherwise but that’s exactly what you have repeatedly implied - that it’s for those who are being imposed on to suck it up or change their ways because that’s what they should expect living near others. Not that those whose anti-social behaviours impact others should change their ways.

If she complains and gets a result she’ll have done something to make her community a bit more pleasant for the majority. Your way wouldn’t make anyone’s life any better.

Twice a day every day does seem rather a lot. Generally if we see our neighbours have washing out, we wait to barbecue until the evening when they have taken it in. On the rare occasion we can’t (if we have friends round for lunch) then I give them prior warning that we have plans and there may be some smoke in case they want to take their washing in. It’s having consideration for people around you ans some give and take. It’s not always a case of do what you please and fuck everyone else.

Because hanging washing outside doesn't release clouds of smoke stinking the place out

Absolutely, there is a threshold to what constitutes nuisance and it is not that someone is irked

It may well be annoying and anti-social to live next to someone like OP's neighbour - but that doesn't mean it qualifies as a nuisance that the council can take action on.

The reason I suck it up when my neighbours are irritating is because I know I probably do things that piss them off as well. Unless they're going massively OTT and causing a real long-term issue, I just live with it. Just like they live with our dog barking sometimes, or us using a fire-pit, or DH using powertools to do DIY.

> He’s not doing anything wrong.

ConfidentallyIncorrect
There are plenty of laws preventing inconsiderate arsehole spoiling other peoples' 'quiet enjoyment' of their property

Yes there are laws and there is a threshold to be met as to what is nuisance
Annoyance is subjective. There need to be a demonstrable frequency,duration and level of nuisance before one can pursue legal route

Well I love a bbq and would happily use it more than my OH wants me to. And I use it year round. We did use it for making breakfasts when our kitchen was being done. But twice a day is a bit OTT. Twice, three times a week is fine by me. Our neighbours have built their own outdoor heater to burn wood. They said once that they hoped it didn't bother us too much be frankly I think it's a great smell so don't even mind when I've got laundry on the line.

But that's me. If it was someone next door smoking cigars regularly I'd likely be ticked off.

Of course, house could get damp if washing dried indoors in cold/wet weather. But we're talking about unusually warm weather when most people would have windows open.

It’s not just the washing is it, I can’t open the windows as the smoke gets in. It’s a lovely day. We all like our windows open when the weathers nice .plus sitting outside is a nightmare as the smoke is annoying. Just had thoracic surgery so the last thing I want is to breath in his mingling bbq fumes. That’s been 8 hours today it’s been burning. 🥵

I can totally see why you're annoyed - honestly, I can - but finding something annoying doesn't make it a legal nuisance that can be dealt with by the council.

You can ask, by all means.

And twice a day polluting the air with BBQ smoke is demonstrably unreasonable

I'm fortunate enough to live in an old smokeless zone (almost none were ever revoked)
OP should check if they are, too

That you can’t open because the twat neighbours sausages are trumping multiple people’s need to dry washing or air their house

BBQ cooking is a very unhealthy choice.

Carcinogenic chemicals called Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are generated when organic substances are burned. On a barbecue this includes the fats dripping down onto the wood or charcoal, as well as flames reaching the surface of the meat. The smoke from the burning heat source also covers the surface with PAHs, and build-up can occur in smoked foods at any temperature.

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are chemicals created when any meat — or poultry or fish — is cooked at a high temperature. Cooking food close to the coals, in a smoky environment or for prolonged periods, can create high levels of HCAs and PAHs in your food. In lab experiments, these chemicals have been found to be mutagenic — that is, they cause changes in DNA that may increase the risk of cancer.

Can you purchase a large fan that would blow the smoke away from your washing?

Lots of things are unreasonable but that doesn't mean they're a legal nuisance -there's a big difference.

Don’t worry, OP, it’ll be winter soon enough and you won’t have to deal with it anymore 🙃

Sadly, not soon enough.

Bet your neighbours love you

Smoke signals lol😁.

Not sure environmental health are going to do much about your neighbour barbecuing in his back garden on sunny days.