Does Washer & Dryer Really Make That Big of a Difference?

[Richard Villandry]

Hey Everyone,

I wanted to get some input from all the Renters and Landlords here on BP. I'm currently a renter and moved into a newly constructed apartment a couple months ago. It is a small one bedroom but the quality is excellent. New granite counter tops, nice tiled bathroom floor and showers and nice hardwood flooring. The one thing that is going to make my girlfriend and I move at the end of our lease is the fact that there is no washer and dryer in the unit. There is a common one on each floor that is shared by all tenants. It cost $3.75 to do a wash & dry (which can add up quick) and the dryer always seems to be filed with sand, lint and weird things from other tenants (kinda gross). it is also such an inconvenience since you have to make sure you're home to during the whole process so your clothes don't get tossed on the floor.

Question's are:

Do other tenants feel the same way I do?

How do landlords feel about this? 

Does it cause a higher turnover rate with tenants?

Are they really that much of a pain for landlords to take care of?

Thanks BP!

[Eddie Werner]

It depends on who is managing the property and if they are even aware of the issues you stated.  Have you informed them and they haven't done anything?  When I was renting a couple years ago I paid $2 per wash and $2 per dry.  It was kept nice but a hassle each time I needed to use it.  From an owner stand point a central laundry area is always best because possible water/maintenance issues are centralized.  If each unit had their own washer and dryer it could be a maintenance nightmare with one leaking hose soaking through to the unit below, etc.