A woman was left flabbergasted after her new neighbour complained that laundry hanging on her washing line was ruining her view and threatened to call the council
Most people expect their garden to offer peace and privacy, but some find themselves at war with those living next door over the most bizarre grievances.
One woman was left gobsmacked after her neighbour moaned her laundry hanging outside was spoiling her view. Posting on Mumsnet, the baffled homeowner revealed her ‘new neighbour’ had even threatened to involve the council if she didn’t stop drying her clothes outdoors.
She said: “We have a new neighbour who has complained to me about my laundry hanging on the line ruining her view. It’s just run-of-the-mill laundry, no crutchless knickers or bondage gear, so not offensive.”
The woman continued: “At first I ignored her, but she later told me she had photographed it and would complain to council.
“I’m not the only neighbour she has complained to, another about his whistling, which is piercing her ears, having sensitive hearing and she asked another neighbour to keep his windows and doors closed while cooking as it made her nauseous.
“It’s not just humans she is intolerant of, if a bird is singing, she will start growling to scare it away. Before she moved here, we all just dodged along fine.”
Asking for guidance, the woman queried: “Is there any law against hanging washing? I’m not tumble drying our family’s wash when not necessary.”
Her post has attracted more than 400 responses, with fellow users rallying to reassure her she’s absolutely not in the wrong.
One individual reassured: “No, there’s no law against hanging washing and the council won’t have any interest in following up a complaint about it.” Another added: “The council will laugh. Her email will be the subject of much humour, for weeks.”
A third commenter wrote: “Just let her send her complain in. If there are any rules that you’re breaking you’ll find out but I can’t imagine there would be.”
While a fourth added: “No, there’s no law against hanging washing and the council won’t have any interest in following up a complaint about it.”
What’s the law on drying your clothes outside?
In the UK, it is not illegal to hang clothes in your back garden to drey. However, there might be some legal restrictions, for example many housing developments don’t allow you to dry clothes in front gardens.
Also freeholders or landlords may have specific clauses in contracts prohibiting washing in front gardens or communal areas.
While you can use your garden, you must not cause a “statutory nuisance” to neighbours, though washing rarely hits this threshold. Meanwhile, there is no government law or fine for drying washing outdoors.
Some experts warn that drying clothes outside between March and September can cause issues with pollen (hay fever)
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