I have a problem and need some input please!

Canada
July 7, 2007 7:56pm CST
Hey all! So here it is~I live in a small apt type place that is attached to a main house, and I am in the back and the front house is rented by a woman and her kids.Anyways the basement is open and shared (its for storage..) and she has a washer/dryer down there, that she is not willing to share which is fine. So she also has a front yard and I only have the back which is completly taken up with her kids toys and swingset...Now I am getting to one of the main problems in a moment. We are to SHARE the clothes line in our yard, and I now have a small apt size washer that hooks up to my sink but no dryer, so I really rely on the nice days to hang my laundry out on the line and I really only need 2 days a week to use the line (with good weather ofcourse) I do not drive and I am on disability becuz of back problems...) so its very hard for me to get to a laundry mat (which there isn't a close one) so spring, summer and fall I rely on the line to dry my clothes and other things...and when it rains I don't have a dryer to throw them in if the weather gets bad.But anyways my neighbor will put her laundry on the line at 6am and the same load will be there until about 5-6pm that nite when she gets home.And times where I put my things on the line minutes later they are gone bunched up in a corner all wet and her laundry is all of a suden up on the line.So time and time again I have tried to discuss this matter nicely to make things fair with her in using the clothes line (becuz this is such a un needed stress for both of us to have to deal with) but each conversation with her she says I have no right to use the line becuz she has kids and I don't.I try to explain my health, the fact that my laundry piles up in the winter sometimes until spring...but she doesn't care~I have asked her why she leaves the same load on there for hours when she could be getting more hung up there or I could be using it and she says she is not coming home when shes out just to take her load off the line.I even say I only need 2 days use of the line lets make a schedule...and she still says I have no right to use it bcuz of the amount of laundry she has to do.(reminder she has a washer/dryer even on bad weather days she can do her laundry and I can't) WHAT DO I DO???? start taking her laundry off the line like she does to mine? I am so sick of this unnessecary stress but she is impossible to deal with LOL! Does anyone have ANY comments/suggestions ANYTHING???? am I wrong to be upset about this?
1 person likes this
4 responses
• United States
8 Jul 07
As for the clothes line I would as she suggested take the clothing off the line when you wanted to use the line for your clothing even if it meant taking then down right after she went to work and putting them back up before she came home (sneaky but effective) and also but you landlord to get the other clothes line up for you and make sure to designate which line is yours and which is hers. As far as the heat goes then contact the city or town health department to take care of that problem. The landlord will more likely take care of that problem if the government takes part in it.
1 person likes this
• Canada
8 Jul 07
Thanx guys for your ideas and kindness! I have spoken to my landlord over this till I have been blue in the face~that is why I have been waiting for 2months for a second clothesline. But this winter I am not gonna get sick again I refuse to put up with any more bull**** from either of them LOL! Shes just nuts I swear:)
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@stealthy (8181)
• United States
8 Jul 07
It sounds to me like a problem the landlord should deal with at this point, but I guess there is a problem with that too since she rents the larger space and, therefore must pay higher rent which means the landlord might take her side as unfair as that would be. I hesitate to suggest this but if she is gone all day, use her dryer occasionaly(not enough so she would notice) and leave it neat so she doesn't know, it is what she deserves for being so nasty to you.
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• Canada
8 Jul 07
The landlord more times takes my side but he is so lazy and lives acouple hours away and she always hides from him when he comes. He did promise me a second line to be put up but I DON"T SEE IT LOL!!!!! and its funny the clothesline problem with her is only one out of many its crazy! I would use her dryer when shes not here but I am too I guess respectful of others property than she is but however next time her stuff is on the line longer than should be and shes not home I am gonna take it off fold it and put it at her door (I so would rather bunch it up in a pile and throw it on the ground like she does mine but again I am too nice to go that far LOL! tempting tho very tempting)
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@youdontsay (3497)
• United States
8 Jul 07
It sounds as if there is no mention in the lease agreement about what is shared and what isn't. That would be one thing to get changed. Ask your landlord to put up a second clothes line specifically for your use or add the sharing arrangement to the lease and enforce it for you. Having kids or not is not relevant. Everyone needs to do laundry. She can have four days and your two and there is still Sunday to be laundry free. She'd have twice as much access to the lines as you. When she has laundry on the line you could use the dryer in the basement.You might also put up lines in the basement for days that the weather is bad. I've even had lines up inside the house during the winter months. Not pleasant, but it works. You really don't need the stress, nor should you have to deal with it yourself. Get your landlord involved. If that doesn't work, check out mediation services.
• United States
8 Jul 07
Check your city or province Housing Authority.
• Canada
9 Jul 07
I have written him a letter (the landlord) that way its documented and I can (by law) with hold my rent until all the things is suspose to have done in my apt fixed (windows,smoke detectors.. that are not there or ruined when I got here) so I am telling him I want his help asap in this or I will go to the rentals tenant board, I think that is the only thing I can do now~still doesn't help me with the weirdo in front LOL! I am sorry that was mean of me thanx guys you have helped me alot~atleast letting me know I am not crazy for being stressed over this ;)
• United States
8 Jul 07
Wow, I would be ticked off too! It looks like you will not get anywhere trying to deal with her yourself as you tried numerous times. I would call the landlord and tell them everything and ask them how to handle it. Maybe he/she can enforce days of the week which are yours and hers. Then, let the landlord know that if she is still making trouble you will let them know. If I lived closer I would help you :) Tina
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