On-site laundry or in unit laundry hookups?

[Gary Abner]

I have a fourplex in Michigan that has a common room that is set up to serve as a laundry for the 16 total adjacent units.  Very small rural town.

I had never looked up the numbers for laundry. I was set on transforming this common room into a small efficiency apartment or fifth unit.  Adding in unit laundry to each unit.

42x4x16=2688.  Half that seems worth it.

All thoughts are appreciated.

[Frank Chin]

@Gary Abner

You have to watch out for zoning codes. Where I am, getting up zoning approval from 4 to 5 not easy, and requires a public hearing.

The other problem is financing. Up to 4 units, you can obtain a conventional 30 year residential mortgage. Five and up you're in commercial territory with higher rates, shorter terms.

Also, I owned condo rentals, and the HOA provide several laundry rooms in the complex, and they forbid washers in individual units. People tend to be careless, and tenant had leaks from the unit above surreptitiously using a washer.

I would stay with a laundry room.