Landlord communal washing facility

Strider590

Im posting this on behalf of a friend, so im not entirely sure of all the facts right now... Sorry!

My friend lives in a flat down south, the flats have a communal utilities area for washing and drying clothes.
Just a normal cheap/consumer grade washing machine.

The room has a usage based pay as you go electric meter fitted to the machines. The cost for 1 wash/dry cycle which takes around 2 hours comes to around £6 and that doesn't include any powders/fluids/fabric softners!!

Knowing as I do that washing/drying machines are normally 2000w devices, the actually electricity cost for 2 hours is at most 40p (with the average unit cost being 10p on most tarifs).

Can her landlord do this? it's extortionate!

My friend is unable to visit a laundrette as she's disabled and can't walk all that far and the last time she went to the nearest one, she was threatened by a drunk with a knife (which kinda out her off)

McKneff

I dont think you can do anything about it really.,
The landlord is offering a service, you dont have to use it.
He also has had the outlay of putting the machines in, upkeep of the same,
his labour costs in cleaning, etc, etc, etc, so its not just the cost of the electricity.
Theres also the convenience of it for the tenants - which you have to also pay for.

The same as going into a pub, buying a bottle of wine for say £15. The owner will probably have paid less than a fiver for it.

Your choice.

And while i sympathise, being disabled or fear of being attacked is irrelevant.

anniecave

Could your friend install her own washing machine in her flat? Might be cheaper?

Or does she have a carer or any other people who do things for her (eg shopping?) if so one of them may be able to take her washing to a cheaper laundrette?

McKneff

I have seen a table top washing machine, not sure where but it might come up if you google it.

Ivory_Tinkler

I agree with McKneff on this, your friend could be threatened by a drunk going out anywhere, not just to the laundrette. Could she find a local laundrette that maybe does a service wash so that she just drops it all off and then collects it when it is done (if it works out cheaper that is)?

I also think that the £6 charge is for providing the service and facilities not just the electricity. If your friend does washing say 3 times a week then that is an £18 cost so maybe she should look into getting a cheap washer on interest free credit which would be hers to use when convenient for her. It may work out much cheaper in the long run?

4743hudsonj

McKneff wrote: »

I have seen a table top washing machine, not sure where but it might come up if you google it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000VPG64I/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=471057153&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0002HDM5Q&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=15QYFZY1RVK8YM2KB4F6

Mankysteve

While that price is a rip off. There is nothing you can do about it he can charge £30 a wash if he wanted. If your mate doesnt want to pay that price them I'am afraid its a case of get her own or go else where.

Liz3yy

I think your friend will have to shut up and put up. I know our nearest launderette charges a fiver for a wash and spin so the £6 being charged by the landlord doesn't seem terrible at all really

hollydays

Liz3yy wrote: »

I think your friend will have to shut up and put up. I know our nearest launderette charges a fiver for a wash and spin so the £6 being charged by the landlord doesn't seem terrible at all really

A fiver,I am out of touch!!

Mankysteve

My local one only charges £3.50 and they've only just put up their prices. Plus 30p for 3min in the dryer

olly300

Mankysteve wrote: »

My local one only charges £3.50 and they've only just put up their prices. Plus 30p for 3min in the dryer

Depends where you are in the country.

I last used a laundrette years ago for washing and drying in London and the price was nearly £4, so yes £6 would seem reasonable.