'My neighbour hangs their washing on our shared fence - I'm plotting revenge'

14 August 2023 , 10:27

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The woman can't stand having her neighbour's washing draped over her fence

It's not uncommon for people to get into disputes with their neighbours from time to time, especially if you live next to someone who loves nothing more than starting a new DIY project in the middle of the night, or who keeps parking in such a way that it blocks your driveway.

But one woman was left baffled after she discovered that her new neighbours have a strange habit that drives her up the wall. They keep hanging their washing along their shared fence, meaning it hangs over into the woman's property. The neighbours do have a washing line where they hang most of their clothes, but anything that doesn't fit on the line gets draped over the boundary that separates the two gardens.

The woman said the washing is "bothering" her and has come up with a revenge plan to stop her neighbours from doing it again - but she's concerned her methods might be "harsh". She also shared a picture of her neighbour's washing, where some clothes could be seen hanging on a line, while bulkier items were draped over the nearby wall.

In a post on Mumsnet, she said: "Newish neighbours I've never spoken to except for a quick hello have started hanging their washing over our shared fence. It's bothering me - Do I say anything? My habitual pettiness is telling me to chuck the lot back over their side though I recognise that would be harsh."

And in follow-up comments, the woman confessed she had been over to her neighbour's house and had asked them to remove the clothes, but claimed that although they had "nodded and smiled" in response, the clothes were still there. She added: "Bit the bullet and knocked on the door 10 minutes ago. The lady's English wasn't great but she nodded and smiled. Washing is still there..."

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Commenters on the post were actually in favour of the woman pushing her neighbour's laundry back over the fence if the behaviour continues, but many said she should at least talk to them first before escalating matters. One person wrote: "I would ask them to stop. Then if they don't, push it back over. Every single time. They'll eventually stop when their clean washing ends up getting dirty on the ground again."

A second said: "The fact it's there wouldn't bother me but who the duck hangs their clean stuff over a dirty fence to dry? That's just madness," and a third posted: "That would annoy me too but for the sake of neighbourly relations I wouldn't say anything."

Zahna Eklund