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.
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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
Bushwick
123 Melrose Street
$2,588No Fee
Studio |
1
Crown Heights
1901 Bergen Street
$2,000No Fee
2 |
1
Crown Heights
1901 Bergen Street
$2,500No Fee
3 |
1
Prospect Heights
778 Washington Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Flatbush
370 East 23rd Street
$2,695No Fee
3 |
1
Carroll Gardens
366 Degraw Street
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
Park Slope
263 Fifth Avenue
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Bath Beach
180 Bay 26th Street
$2,100No Fee
2 |
1
Fort Greene
280 Ashland Place
$2,894No Fee
Studio |
1
Wingate
572 Maple Street
$2,899No Fee
2 |
1
Flatbush
1407 Flatbush Avenue
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
146 Herkimer Street
$1,700No 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
22-10 80th Street
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Murray Hill (Queens)
35-07 147th Street
$2,525No Fee
2 |
2
Queens Village
93-23 218th Street
$1,875No Fee
1 |
1
Forest Hills
98-30 67th Avenue
$1,999No Fee
Studio |
1
Maspeth
54-12 Flushing Avenue
$1,850No Fee
Studio |
1
Long Island City
36-29 30th Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Rego Park
98-15 65 Road
$2,650No Fee
2 |
1
Briarwood
141-47 84 Drive
$1,650No Fee
Studio |
1
Rego Park
98-21 65th Avenue
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Elmhurst
52-07 90th Street
$2,300No Fee
3 |
1
Kew Gardens
83-43 118th Street
$1,550No Fee
Studio |
1
Kew Gardens
83-60 118th Street
$2,150No Fee
1 |
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
Kingsbridge Heights
80 Van Cortlandt Park South
$1,868No Fee
2 |
1
Morris Park
1575 Williambridge Road
$2,150No Fee
2 |
1
Williamsbridge
3639 Barnes Avenue
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Riverdale
3671 Hudson Manor Terrace
$2,375No Fee
1 |
1
Hunts Point
875 Hunt’s Point Avenue
$1,950No Fee
2 |
1
Woodstock
598 Eagle Avenue
$2,979No Fee
1 |
1
Woodstock
598 Eagle Avenue
$2,933No Fee
2 |
1.5
Woodstock
598 Eagle Avenue
$2,292No Fee
1 |
1
Kingsbridge
3120 Corlear Avenue
$2,095No Fee
1 |
1
Kingsbridge
3120 Corlear Avenue
$1,625No Fee
Studio |
1
Soundview
1770 East 172nd Street
$1,950No Fee
2 |
1
Highbridge
1030 Woodycrest Avenue
$1,825No 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
Mariners Harbor
271 Maple Parkway
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Saint George
30 Daniel Low Terrace
$1,495No Fee
1 |
1
Clifton
166 Vanderbilt Avenue
$1,650No Fee
1 |
1
Port Richmond
180 Jewett Avenue
$2,000No Fee
2 |
1
Midland Beach
15 Stacey Lane
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
2.5
Grymes Hill
476 Howard Avenue
$1,900No Fee
1 |
1
Arrochar
795 Hylan Boulevard
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Grymes Hill
4 Stratford Avenue
$2,250No Fee
2 |
1
Grymes Hill
4 Stratford Avenue
$1,700No Fee
1 |
1
West Brighton
62 Britton Street
$1,750No Fee
Studio |
1
Bulls Head
92 Rivington Avenue
$2,700No Fee
3 |
1
Bulls Head
170 Amsterdam Avenue
$2,000No 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.