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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jess Flaherty & Laura Sharman

Mum baffled as neighbour from hell complains to council about her washing line

A mum was left scratching her head after a new neighbour threatened to report her to the council for hanging up her washing in the garden.

The neighbour even went to the effort of photographing the mum's clothes line which she said was "ruining her view."

On other occasions, she has also complained about whistling, birds singing, and neighbours who leave their windows open when cooking.

The mum detailed her experience with the angry resident on Mumsnet where she sought advice on how best to deal a possible run in with the council, reports the Liverpool Echo.

She also explained that she owns the property and could see no reason why she would not be able to hang her clothes outside to dry.

In a post titled "my washing line annoying neighbour" on the popular Am I Being Unreasonable [AIBI] thread, she explained that her washing was "just run of the mill laundry" and "not offensive."

"At first I ignored her, but she later told me she had photographed it and would complain to council," she continued.

"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 whilst cooking as it made her nauseous.

"It's not just humans she 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. Is there any law against hanging washing? I'm not tumble drying our family's wash when not necessary."

Hundreds of Mumsnet users flocked to the forum to share their thoughts on the situation.

"Assuming you're not spelling 'f*** off neighbour' with your pants or something, then it's perfectly acceptable to hang out your laundry on your washing line. She won't be taken seriously at all by anyone," one person said.

"There's no law against hanging washing and the council won't have any interest in following up a complaint about it. She sounds like a pain in the a***. Ignore. She won't get anywhere with complaining about smells or whistling either," another added.

Others gave helpful advice and suggested that the mum make sure she is not breaking any rules.

"If the line is in your garden and there are no covenants put in place by developers or conditions of occupancy imposed by whoever owns the property, if it's not you, then there is nothing she can do," another person said.

"I assume you are in the UK. If she's complaining about other people it's likely she's going to be "that neighbour". Best ignored, smile sweetly and carry on."

Some speculated that the neighbour was unwell while others thought her reaction was hilarious.

"She is bonkers. She sounds tortured. It will be interesting to hear what the council will have to say. Try not to worry, I'm sure they won't take her seriously," one person said.

Another chimed: "The council will laugh. Her email will be the subject of much humour, for weeks. Laugh at her. Ask her to send you whatever the council responds with. But mostly just laugh a big cheery 'righto' laugh."

Some of the mum's other neighbours are also having trouble with the new arrival to the area.

She added: "An update, as was chatting to my lovely whistling neighbour and his wife on my way home today. He told me he was looking for a Roger Whittaker – famous whistler – CD on eBay.

"He also informed me that neighbours living at back of us – perfectly respectable family – received a letter poked through their letter box unsigned.

"Author asked if they could oil their back door as it sounds like a cat screaming and interrupting her sleep. If she doesn't get enough rest it could stop her ovulating.

"The letter was decorated with drawings of cat's faces, one with a speech bubble saying hello. You can imagine our reactions."

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