New neighbours complaining about our toilet

[Amanda98]

We’ve got a new build where one side of our house completely backs on to a neighbours garden - that’s the back wall/boundary of their garden essentially.

Downstairs, we have a toilet with a window which is on the side of the house where that wall is, and has a small window which opens at the top. Their garden is slightly lowered so it isn’t within reaching distance. It’s a fairly odd design but we’ve lived here for years with no issues.

The neighbours have recently changed. In one of the early weeks in April when it was warm, they put a note through the door which asked we keep the window closed when it’s sunny because of the smell. We don’t really open it much anyway so thought nothing of it.

We’ve since had a further note through this week asking it stays closed on Saturday because they are hosting a BBQ for a family members birthday. We also have family over on Saturday and the downstairs loo is the one they’d naturally use.

Are the neighbours being CF? They surely can’t expect us to introduce a rule where we only crap upstairs whenever they say so!

I agree, but there are no men here. Some seem to live on meat and cheap bread, washed down with fizzy drink and no, going to the gym does not undo the damage.
As for Vegans, my daughter lives a very strict vegan lifestyle and she never smells. (Her dog honks a bit .)

Their fault for buying/renting a house with a garden that has someone elses toilet window open onto it!
Saying that, Our downstairs toilet window opens onto our back garden (as millions must do) and I have never smelt a thing and the window is open most of the time!
They are being ridiculous.

Thankyou for seconding that !

We also tend to be nice and regular too.

The nursery actually used to fight over who changed our kids because of their non smelly delightfully superior poos. It’s on their CVs

That was my thought, I was surprised that so many seemed to think it was normal for a toilet to smell that bad.

Felonious flatulence, criminal crapping and terrorism by turd.

I mean maybe double check the planning on your house incase the wrong window was put in as well… it is odd for a new build to have a window opening into someone else’s garden.

My downstairs loo window opens onto our patio where we sit and never noticed any problem.

And what about wanking?
you better ask them on the WhatsApp group if they'd like notice of this too !? 😂

CFery aside, isn’t your house going to stink of smoke if you leave the window open while they barbecue?

Precisely.

Did you and @HelpMeGetThrough work on that joke together 🤣

Thinking about it I have 3 plants, quite big ones, on the window sill, maybe plants reduce the smell? Might be worth trying, you could even get something with a nice smell.

I’m intrigued by the idea that it’s good etiquette to only use the downstairs loos for wees. Given I only have a downstairs loo, should I be shitting in my wardrobe?

Well you've got what you've got.

Probably best to make sure you give it extra flushes and take care not to stuff too much down it.

I will admit I’m slightly paranoid about it blocking. But luckily my loo window opens onto my own garden, so it’s only us that have to contend with any smells

I have three friends that use my downstairs loo each week for a poo, one doesn't check the flush properly and it's the size of something a Great Dane would leave. I have an extractor fan but the most successful pong purger has been an Aldi nectarine diffuser. The husband is not allowed the ensuite as he has an arse like a drain, it is for wees only. Do I get a MN badge?

Seems amazing they'd be able to smell anything. Is it possible there's something going on outside your house, like a leak in the sewer or something?

Actually, when DH goes the stink is unreal so it could be possible it's stinking out the garden. I have told him to use the VI Poo spray beforehand to calm it down but he forgets.

I'd be doing this.

In that case, I’d be looking at the drains.

I couldn't poo knowing my neighbours could smell it and I would think anyone who didn't care was disgusting.

This response has me crying with laughter 🤣

I think it’s a strange layout but I have seen it on new build estates, I would just ignore as long as you have rights to open the window - but I can’t imagine you wouldn’t!

Does Mumsnet still have a Classics thread?

Use this stuff. Poo-Pourri You spray it onto the toilet water before going and it traps the smell. It really works.:

Re drain blocking in downstairs toilets, what does that mean for bungalows?