Cheap electricity rates.

panicdaily

I received a letter from my Housing Association last October, stating that me using my washing machine and tumble dryer on the low rates was classed as anti social behaviour.
With the cost of fuel rising in April, I will have no choice but to use the cheaper rates.
I have a health problem, which means I wash my bedding often.
I'm really frightened now for the future.

Robin9

Have you anyone who could talk to the Housing Association on your behalf ?

MWT

panicdaily said:

I received a letter from my Housing Association last October, stating that me using my washing machine and tumble dryer on the low rates was classed as anti social behaviour.

I assume this is a time of day issue with the associated noise of operating these appliances over-night?

It is not uncommon to have rules about noise, can they say what the hours are where it is acceptable?

Perhaps it might be possible to have them run at 6am for example?

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

panicdaily said:

I received a letter from my Housing Association last October, stating that me using my washing machine and tumble dryer on the low rates was classed as anti social behaviour.

That makes me think there has been a noise complaint from another tenant.

Xbigman

I presume you are on economy 7 and doing your washing and drying over night. Its not that washing and drying overnight is anti social behavior its that making that amount of noise overnight can be classed as such. In flats this can be a real annoyance to other residents. There are a number of options. Buying some rubber mats or rubber castors to put the Washing machine / dryer on can reduce the amount of noise generated. You can also put insulation up against dividing walls to lessen the noise. Another option is to change the times. Don't do it at times your neighbors are trying to get to sleep but later on when they are fully asleep. You might also look at buying more modern quieter appliances. Drying wise, is there a communal washing line or similar you could use.

I have ulcerative Pan colitis so I have a lot of sympathy for you but ultimately you need to get on with your neighbors and its up to you to change, not them.
Whatever measures you take you should write to the housing association outlining what you've changed. If they come back to you with more complaints later they will at least know you are trying.

Darren

Buster_Danog

I'd agree with Darren. The only quiet washing machine I have heard was a relative's which is a modern one - probably a Samsung. Even then it would be a bit of a risk. Sounds seems to travel quite easily at night.

EssexHebridean

We’re incredibly fortunate that the flat we live in has solid concrete construction and general noise like appliances running simply doesn’t travel at all. As a result we’re able to use our washing machine routinely overnight - it doesn’t even disturb us never mind anyone else! The rubber mats are a good idea, as is working out the timings to ensure that the machine goes on at a time when folk are likely to be soundly asleep. Goes without saying that being careful not to overload the machine is important - that in itself can cause them to be noisier. 

Ultrasonic

I'd have thought the noise issue is more likely to be with the washing machine rather than the dryer? If so the compromise would be to wash during the day but dry during the cheaper hours. Not using the dryer at all would be the best way to say money of course.

For what it's worth I have a Bosch washing machine that is much quieter than all the others I've used over the years - the main wash cycles are ridiculously quiet but it does still get noisier on spin cycles. The front says it has an 'EcoSilence Drive'. I got mine for a good price but they're not generally cheap and still wouldn't be guaranteed to be quiet enough to not disturb neighbours.

To see this from both sides, if I were regularly prevented from sleeping by a neighbour's noisy washing machine I would not be happy.

GingerTim

Ultrasonic said:

I'd have thought the noise issue is more likely to be with the washing machine rather than the dryer? If so the compromise would be to wash during the day but dry during the cheaper hours. Not using the dryer at all would be the best way to say money of course.

For what it's worth I have a Bosch washing machine that is much quieter than all the others I've used over the years - the main wash cycles are ridiculously quiet but it does still get noisier on spin cycles. The front says it has an 'EcoSilence Drive'. I got mine for a good price but they're not generally cheap and still wouldn't be guaranteed to be quiet enough to not disturb neighbours.

To see this from both sides, if I were regularly prevented from sleeping by a neighbour's noisy washing machine I would not be happy.

In an old flat some years ago my upstairs neighbour used to put his washing machine on at midnight - unfortunately it was directly above my bedroom. Drove me up the wall and had to eventually get the landlord involved.

newlywed

It’s often the spin cycle that’s the most noisy, especially with towels and bedding. Can you spin on a slower spin so it’s any less noisy? 

I know when the upstairs flat’s machine spins, sometimes all our internal doors and radiators rattle! And we have concrete floors too!

ChaunceyGardiner

I know when the upstairs flat’s machine spins, sometimes all our internal doors and radiators rattle! And we have concrete floors too!

I have solid concrete floors and walls but can still hear my downstairs neighbour's washing machine when it hits the spin cycle. It's not particularly loud, but it would probably wake me if he ran it overnight. Doing so in a flat is incredibly selfish.