at my neighbours, for using my fence post?

[NewTeacher]

Neighbours moved in recently and I noticed that they had put up a washing line by wrapping the wire/cord around our fence post.

Now AIBU as I've asked DH to have a word and ask them to remove it as he always bumps into neighbour at station of a morning. DH says he will but never does. I think he thinks I'm BU...So am I?

My worry is that over the years the post will come loose by having had heavy soggy wet clothes hanging on the washing line.

We paid over £3K to have the fences put in (We own fences on both sides of our garden and its 100ft long). Which means we will have to pay for repairs.

Am I justified in telling neighbours to get their own pole for their washing line?

OMG! I've done this, in fact I have no idea which fence is mine
No one's said a word.
It seems everyone wraps washing line on fences along our road......

Are the fence posts made out of cardboard?

My post which my washing line hangs onto and has been there for a few years - is sagging.

i would just ask them when they are going to get there washing line post sorted as you are ok for a few weeks for them to use your fence post but will be excepting them to sort it out before it tilts and comes down in the winds and then you have a job putting it back up.

NewTeacher

I suppose I think it's trivial because I live fairly close to the centre of London, and so many of my rights are abused on a daily basis that I'd be in a permanent state of despair if I got het up about fence posts. Perhaps your new neighbours have moved from London?

YANBU. Our neighbours did this and it did loosen the fence post... a whole section blew down in a gale and it cost over £150 to fix. Bl**dy annoying.

it depends on the fence post.

• if the post is a spike-in-the-soil type, then it's not strong enough, and a washing line will it pull it down quite quickly. YANBU

• if the post is set into six feet of concrete and not about to fall over in a month of sundays, and it's just the principle of the thing, then YABU.

It does sound a pretty trivial thing to get upset by to me. But you'd probably be within your legal rights, so if you don't care what your neighbours think of you go ahead and have a word.

I would just be grateful that you have the luxury of worries like this!

Seeker - Luxury of worries????

As I said before I own BOTH sides of my garden fences so end up having to pay twice should things go wrong.

Thanks for your YABU and YANBU replies. I dont think I'm BU but wanted to see if anyone else had the same thoughts as me!

Plenty clearly do so I will have a word with lovely neighbours and they will think I'm a witch going forward.

But at least I wont be mighty peed off when the fence comes down!

Well if to some people £150 is trivial then fine but to others £150 bill for repairing a fence wouldn't be trivial and would be a copuple of days wages.

Perhaps let oyur neighbours know in writing that it is fine but if repairs are needed then they will have to fork out.

My dad has just repalced his fence as the neighbours wife didn't liek the fence and wanted a new one - it is my dads boundary and he replaced the fence and the husband helped int he erection of the fence (snigger) but the neighbours are blomming fantastic and you really couldn't ask for better - so dad is happy to oblige

"But at least I wont be mighty peed off when the fence comes down!"

Assuming they don't erect goalposts in front of it, of course.

Which I would do some people might do as a response to being told to take their washing line down.

YANBU. Have a gentle word.
Our fence was wrecked by the neighbours attaching their plants to it. Funny how they didn't want to contribute to the replacement...

Newteacher...really not worth getting upset about.....I can't see that it would damage your post...maybe in 10-20 years time if it does wear out, you could ask them for a contribution.

THANKYOU werewolf! YOu know people are not going to cough up when damage is caused!

Tether - We have goalposts in our garden which my son whacks the ball into everyday! But thats OK he's my son and they are my fences! If they were my neighbours I wouldnt dream of him kicking a ball against the fence!

Whether £150 is alot or a little its money that didnt need to be spent. IYSWIM.

Thanks all!

YANBU

We had our fence replaced. The neighbours immediately attached a washing line to our fence which started to bow. I popped round and explained that the post was fine, but not the middle of the fence, and they apologised and moved it straight away. It may not have even occurred to them.

On reflection, perhaps a brick wall would have been a better idea?

The left/right thing isn't always the case - you would need to check the house deeds. We own the right hand fence. And from researching the whole fence thing, legally you are not supposed to attach anything to a fence that is not yours (climbers, washing lines etc). I would ask your neighbour to move the line.

Is it possible for you to construct a washing line across your garden? Then hang exact same type of washing out, exact same time, that is equally as wet as your neighbours, (take care to check out weight/amount of pegs) then counter balance your 'other' fence by hanging a bag of adjustable weights over that fence, thusly ensuring that neither fence leans nor is affected in any way?

This will mean staying in all the time and maybe buying same washing machine as them so as to wring out same amount of water from clothes.

I can't see any other solution

I've had my washing line attached to my fence post for about a decade now and it's not showing any sign of distress

well, i've used a very rickety fencepost to tie my washing line to for the past 3 years and it's survived so i am sure your £3k one will!

I like the way you are thinking Toxteth

Granted there a few wrinkles to be ironed out, but you know, I'm pretty proud of that idea.

Can I patent it?