Forget fame or fortune. If there’s one thing New Yorkers want more than anything else, it’s an apartment washer and dryer. And the pandemic certainly made in-unit laundry one of the most coveted amenities in NYC. It’s coupled with the fact that many building policies have changed to allow washer and dryer installation. So, demand is strong. “Technology has changed, allowing more buildings to approve apartment washers and dryers,” says Stacey Froelich, a top New York City broker with Compass. “And there is more condo inventory with apartment washers and dryers now. Therefore buyers are more likely to expect them in the current market.” No matter the reason for the apartment washer and dyer wish, many people are interested in having this luxury. So, here are your burning in-unit laundry questions answered.
Table of Contents
Manhattan Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Stackable and one-piece apartment washers and dryers make in-unit laundry even more feasible, especially in new-construction buildings. Traditional side-by-side units can be 56 inches wide, taking up a big chunk of valuable floor space. Stackable units are small enough to fit in a closet, occupying a much smaller footprint and making them easier to tuck away out of view.
There’s a good reason why demand is increasing. “If you can add a washer and dryer to an apartment, a seven to ten percent increase in rent or sale is not out of the question,” said Bill Kowalczuk, a broker at Warburg Realty. Not to mention, it’s life-changing. “It gives the owner flexibility, privacy, and most importantly, saves time,” said Froelich.
Are Apartment Washer and Dryers Better?
Brooklyn Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Weeksville
1170 Saint Mark’s Avenue
$2,695No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
148 Wilson Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
115 Stanwix Street
$2,998No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
912 Gates Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
113 Macdonough Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Windsor Terrace
31 Ocean Parkway
$2,990No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
855 De Kalb Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Weeksville
1690 Bergen Street
$2,480No Fee
1 |
1
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
375 Lefferts Avenue
$2,999No Fee
1 |
1
Sunset Park
880 47th Street
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
333 Vernon Avenue
$2,495No Fee
3 |
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
316 Throop Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Brooklyn resident Susanne Eleazer told StreetEasy why she thinks the answer is yes. “My first apartment in New York was a walk-up railroad in Greenpoint, Brooklyn,” she said. “I loved it, but in terms of laundry, I had to walk about 12 blocks to the nearest laundromat. Dropping off could be a good thing because someone does it for you, but you have to work around their hours, and things often come back in a questionable state. There were pick-up and delivery options, too, but they were expensive.”
These days, her 3-bedroom Prospect Heights pad has an apartment washer and dryer, which she describes as “heavenly.” “It was something I’d always wanted — especially once I had a kid,” Eleazer said. “Things happen that need immediate attention. I can’t imagine asking someone else to clean some of the baby situations or waiting to deal with them at a laundromat.”
Even if your building has a laundry room, it’s still a luxury to have an apartment washer and dryer. “It just provides the ultimate flexibility,” Greenwich Village resident Juliet Izon told StreetEasy. “I’ve experienced in-building and in-unit laundry, and while both certainly beat having to lug my clothes to the laundromat, there’s nothing better than being able to toss in a load whenever you want. And laundry never seems to build up when you have an apartment washer and dryer.”
But obviously, New Yorkers of old all used to buck up and walk to the laundromat. Are we just less tough now? “We are all moving so much quicker now,” said Froelich. “Everything that saves time adds value today. New Yorkers are still tough — but we are busy!”
Can I Install a Washer and Dryer Myself?
Queens Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Ditmars-Steinway
22-19 Crescent Street
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Astoria
32-63 33rd Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
22-19 Crescent Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
18-11 21 Road
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
18-11 21 Road
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Maspeth
70-05 57 Drive
$2,695No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
34-46 Vernon Boulevard
$2,727No Fee
1 |
1
Jackson Heights
37-50 83rd Street
$1,550No Fee
Studio |
1
Jamaica Estates
177-18 Wexford Terrace
$2,045No Fee
Studio |
1
Forest Hills
67-27 Booth Street
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Forest Hills
111-45 76 Drive
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Oakland Gardens
215-04A 69th Avenue
$2,850No Fee
2 |
1
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. Each building has its own policy on apartment washers and dryers.
“If your building does not permit them in-unit, then no, you cannot install them yourself,” said Froelich. “If your building does permit them, then you have to hire a licensed plumber and ensure they are installed with proper waterproofing, and according to the guidelines set forth by the building.”
Even if you feasibly have the space and hook for an apartment washer and dryer, some landlords forbid it. This might have to do with the age of the building: “Landlords prohibit in-unit machines because they have concerns about the building’s plumbing and electric capacity,” said Froelich. “The age and size of the pipes must be evaluated, as does the electric load to the individual units, because ventless dryers, which are common in-unit, run on electricity and not gas.”
Can I Install a Portable Washer?
Bronx Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Concourse
1565 Grand Concourse
$1,951No Fee
1 |
1
Concourse
1565 Grand Concourse
$2,827No Fee
2 |
1
Kingsbridge
3633 Kingsbridge Avenue
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
2455 Third Avenue
$2,222No Fee
Studio |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
2610 Henry Hudson Parkway East
$2,250No Fee
2 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
3210 Johnson Avenue
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Melrose
368 East 152nd Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
644 West 227th Street
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
644 West 227th Street
$1,675No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,325No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,236No Fee
1 |
1
Portable washers and dryers can seem like godsends to city dwellers, as some only need an outlet, faucet, and access to a sink or tub (for draining) to operate. But the same rules apply: If building policy does not permit apartment washers and dryers, according to Froelich, then no unit will be allowed, portable or not. Some leases specifically ban portable washing machines. “Approval by the board or managing agent is always required,” she said.
What if you bend the rules and install a laundry machine even though it’s not allowed? Well, if there’s a flood or fire, you could be on the hook for paying thousands of dollars to your neighbors and landlord for damage.
Why Are Some NYC-Apartment Washers in the Kitchen?
Staten Island Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Tompkinsville
28 Kingsley Place
$2,850No Fee
3 |
1
Saint George
30 Daniel Low Terrace
$1,650No Fee
1 |
1
Meiers Corners
1000 Willow Brook Road
$1,837No Fee
2 |
1
Port Richmond
28 Floyd Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Saint George
5 Stuyvesant Place
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
Graniteville
158 Roman Avenue
$1,900No Fee
2 |
1
Shore Acres
1207 Bay Street
$2,599No Fee
3 |
1
South Beach
84 Mclaughlin Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
South Beach
31 Jackson Avenue
$2,199No Fee
2 |
1
Dongan Hills
192 Raritan Avenue
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Westerleigh
212 Manor Road
$2,300No Fee
3 |
1.5
Stapleton
8 Navy Pier Court
$2,255No Fee
Studio |
1
There’s one main reason you’ll find many NYC washers in the kitchen or bathroom rather than tucked away in its own space. It’s simple mechanics: Washing machines need a plumbing system, so they need to go in an area that’s already hooked up to one. Most city apartment buildings have strict “wet over dry” policies, which means any appliance that uses water must be in the kitchen or the bathroom.