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starfish11040

Tenant wants to install a washing machine. Will it give me....

starfish11040
12 years ago

a plumbing problem?

This is an email I got from a tenant:

I was wondering if you'd have any objections to me purchasing a small, portable washing machine for the apartment. The closest laundromats are drop-off only and the nearest self-service laundromats are several blocks away, so I'd really like to put a small washer/dryer in my apartment. The model I'm looking at is small, portable and hooks up to the kitchen sink. It doesn't use a lot of water, is not noisy and has an easy drainage system, so there really wouldn't be any issues with it as far as the apartment is concerned.

What issues, if any, should I be concerned with here?

Comments (3)

  • homebound
    12 years ago

    I don't know about them, but a couple thoughts:

    Pro: Does it get you a stable (long-term) tenant?

    Con: Who will pay for the marginally extra utilities? How do they filter lint, or does the tenant have to attach a lint trap onto the end of the hose (and change it periodically)? Can the drain hose end up on the floor if left unattended? I have no idea, but that's what I'd be thinking about.

  • bus_driver
    12 years ago

    Portable washer- that I know. Portable washer/dryer is a new one on me. Try to work with the tenant on the washer. I think their request is reasonable. Most would not have even asked you, they would just have gone ahead.

  • lazypup
    12 years ago

    Granting their request could prove a lot more convenient and economical than the alternative.

    Under the Plumbing Code all residential structures are required to have the following minimum of plumbing fixtures:

    1.watercloset
    2.Lavatory
    3.Bath Tub (some local codes will permit a shower only)
    4.Kitchen sink.

    A "Residential Multi-family Dwelling" is defined as a residential dwelling with not more than 4 dwelling units and not exceeding 3 stories in height.
    In a residential multi-family dwelling the laundry may or may not be shared and it may be at a remote location within the structure, I.E. In a basement or utility room, but if must be accessible to all tenants.

    A "Commercial Multi Family Dwelling" is defined as a dwelling unit that has more than 4 individual dwelling units and may exceed 3 stories in height.
    Commercial Multi-family dwellings may have the laundry facility in a separate structure but it may not be greater than 500' from the laundry to the furthest dwelling unit.

    If you are renting an apartment in your house and it currently has no laundry facility you could be compelled to either install laundry hookups in the apartment or in the basement or a utility room.

    The portable washing machines generally have a water hookup similar to those used on portable dishwashers. The aereator is removed from the kithen faucett and a quick connect adapter is screwed on in its place. Both the water supply and drain lines are attached to the adapter so when the unit is discharging water into the sink it is held firmly in place over the sink. Many of them also have a check valve feature that closes the lines unless they are connected to the adapter so they cannot leak on the floor.

    The portable dryers are 120v 15A and may be plugged into an outlet in the kitchen. (My wife has one in our kitchen that she uses for small loads of kitchen towels and such).

    Permitting the tenant to use those portable devices may cause a slight increase in your water consumption, and you would be justified to charge a small additional fee for water, but even with that, when you consider the cost of setting up a laundry area in the basement or a utility room and providing the tenant a separate access without going through your house, it should prove to be a bargain.