Why do so few apts in NYC have w/d hookups?

You'll hear a lot of untrue things about the building's plumbing, vibrations, and leaks, but in fact it's because laundry-room operators have very heavy-handed clauses in the contracts they provide to buildings, preventing w/d in apartments. Those contracts also provide a tempting revenue stream to landlords and owners' corporations alike. In addition, in many larger buildings it was assumed that in most cases, "help" would be doing the laundry.

a lot of nyc buildings have old plumbing pipes, not sized to handle water from washer dryers.

Unlike gravity-drained commercial washers, home washers pump the waste water out at a reasonable rate. Older plumbing actually has a wider diameter than modern plumbing.

w/d hook-ups seemed to be included in buildings starting in the very late 80s. Not all buildings built since have had them, but many do. So if the building is younger than 20 years, you have a better shot at a w/d hook-up. They tend to be more often in condos vs. rentals.

"a lot of nyc buildings have old plumbing pipes"

Allegedly true for pre-war buildings, but that doesn't explain new construction without w/d hookups. And even if the owners intend the "help" to do the laundry in the basement or at a laundromat, the w/d closet could be used as a storage closet, so there's no downside.

I have one now and I don't think I could go back to not having w/d in my apt anymore.
Considering there's a couple laundry places on every block, if we all had w/d in our apt, it would seriously put a dent in commerical real estate here in manhattan LOL.

NYCHA low-income housing projects from the 50s and 60s were built with room for a washing machine next to the kitchen sink ... no dryer, but an integrated drying rack above the bathtub.

Venting, not plumbing.

Look at any of the new devs that have W/Ds, they have a ventilation system that is designed to handle the lint. But those cost money, not too much upfront, but they are a pain to maintain because they get clogged and can be a fire hazard. I'm not suggesting that it's too costly, complicated or expensive, it's just more of all those than plumbing.

Venting inside causes a significant heat load, especially in a smaller apartment. You can argue that venting inside is fine, but it's curious that nobody would choose to do that if they had a choice.

It's not the basement laundry contracts. I've reviewed plenty of them, and while they used to have some pretty outrageous clauses, I haven't seen one that obliges the building to restrict in-unit laundry. The laundry contracts are also wildly in favor of the operator. The building might get $100-150/unit/year in revenue, so not too much motivation in any case.

I'm guessing it's just that most NYers like service, including not doing their own laundry, so there just wasn't much demand, especially for something that takes space.

I have a ventless dryer. It pretty much sucks and causes plenty of heat anyway. I would rather have a vented dryer and would rather vent it inside than what I currently have.

I think i also have a ventless dryer as well. The downside is that it does take a while to dry and gets very hot in the apt in the immediate vicinity and it loud when you want to watch a movie... but the convenience is worth it.

The last condo I owned had a w/d closet with plumbing and electric hookups, but no vent. Their party line is that exterior venting is not required by code, even for traditional dryers. My party line is that that arrangement is substandard.

But ventless dryers have come a long way, from what I've heard.

In any event, the dryer has zero to do with why apartments don't have/allow w/d.

Wet-over-dry doesn't explain why buildings don't allow w/d in kitchens.

My first condo had a stackable w/d with vented dryer. The long term issue with that set-up was that the vent was a flexible plastic hose to the roof of a five story building--not a good design since lint collects in the hose and can be a fire hazard. My second condo has a stackable ventless w/d in a closet in the bath, which I much prefer. The dryer does create heat and a bit of sound, but closing the bathroom door during operation solves those issues.

I moved into a small building that allows washer/dryer with board approval, but no one has installed one. Two people told me they had old Malber mono-units but then got rid of them during renovations. We have no central laundry, so it's a bit shocking to me that everyone in the building would rather send their laundry out. Then again, many seem to be home during the day, so laundromat drop-offs and pick-ups may not be as much of a deal.

We are committed to installing a W/D, period. New hookups for a stack (plumbing, 240 v electrical, vent if the board allows it/ventless otherwise) in a closet adjacent to the bathroom are preferable, but we'll do an under-counter LG mono unit if the cost for the former seems astronomical.

Any experience with companies that will install W/D hookups where none exist?

lad, can your handyman/super give you a referral?

What kills me is that when a building says w/ds are prohibited and then you find out many people have them, including those on the board with small children. This was the situation in my old building and I've heard whispered that its not unheard of in my current building either. (Not the thing about board members, I haven't heard that).
I'd suggest making friends with the super. He can tell you the real deal.