What is a utility room?

strawb_shortcake

Some of the houses we've looked at have had the washing machine in the garage. 
We don't have a tumble drier or dishwasher and no intentions to get either. 

I like the fridge freezer in the kitchen, if I had a utility room, I'd like the washing machine in there, and then assuming it had a door to the garden it would likely be used as a bit of a boot room.

Brie

Personally I agree that I would want a fridge (but not necessarily one with a freezer) and a dishwasher in the kitchen.  Happy to have a freezer in the utility room as the only thing that one might want it in the kitchen is for ice cubes which I almost never use.  

Having a dishwasher in a different room to the kitchen only makes sense if that's also the place where the dishes are stored.  I wouldn't want to be trekking between 2 rooms to unload it.  It's bad enough for us that we have several sets of dishes and cutlery and glassware so while most of the unloading goes into kitchen shelves some of it by necessity is stored elsewhere.  

Jemma01

My parents have a utility room just like your description, I don't have one, I only have a washing machine in the kitchen. I don't have dirty clothes sitting in the kitchen, I take them downstairs straight to the washing machine, and straight out to dry. It all depends on how you flow around your laundry tasks; dirty clothes have a basket in the shower room where I change, and the bathroom. 

Silvertabby

A utility room was at the top of my 'must have' list when we were house hunting.  Washing machine, dryer, recess under the work surface for a kitty litter tray, stainless steel sink for washing things that have no business being anywhere near a kitchen sink, and two double cupboards for storeage.  Then we have an integral fridge/freezer in the kitchen, but no dishwasher (by choice).  

Martico

kimwp said:

Mark_d said:

JuzaMum said:

user1977 said:

Does it matter? Presumably you could move things around if you wanted to? (assuming the appliances are even included)

The problem from my point of view was the kitchen was not big enough to fit everything in. It seems quite a few places have such small or badly designed kitchens, that they need another room to put the rest in.

A utility room is typically intended for things such as washing machine, tumble drier but there isn't a specific definition of a utility room.  If your kitchen is on the small side, then maybe your fridge and freezer might sit in the utility room.  There's nothing stopping you from putting a microwave in the utility room to give you more space in the actual kitchen.

 a smaller room [with things] that you wouldn't hang out in.

(Selectively edited)
Bingo!

Section62

BridgetTheCat said:

Back in ye olden days before utility rooms were popular people would often put a tumble dryer and/or freezer in their garage. In that vein I think it’s basically a place to put appliances that won’t fit in the kitchen.

Going back a bit further, if your home was upmarket enough you might have a "Scullery"... the room to do the dirtier kitchen-type tasks and the laundry.  Apparently some people still have them, so I expect in a few years time the expensive posh EA's will substitute 'scullery' where they might currently use 'utility room'.

Personally, I'd have a small fridge in the kitchen for everyday stuff like milk, but keep a second larger fridge in the utility (or garage) for drinks and 'store' items.  On that note, the OP mentions having a chest freezer in the utility as an option... which is kind of the same thing.

Bottom line, a 'utility room' is what you want to use it for.

theartfullodger

There is no legal definition.  Only thing defined afaik is bedrooms, how many occupants can live in what sizes.  But people ignore that, although very rarely landlords or occupants have been taken to court.

silvercar

In America, washing machines and dryers are usually placed upstairs, either in a bathroom, closet (cupboard) or the landing, so that clothes never need to be moved up and down stairs. It’s only because UK electric rules don’t allow for sockets in bathrooms that we don’t do the same. So American utility rooms would be for a second fridge or freezer.

Skiddaw1

BridgetTheCat said:

Back in ye olden days before utility rooms were popular people would often put a tumble dryer and/or freezer in their garage. In that vein I think it’s basically a place to put appliances that won’t fit in the kitchen.

One of the reasons we bought current house was that the garage had been converted into a utility/storage room. It's where we keep our tumble dryer along with a second (booze  ) fridge and an additional free-standing freezer not to mention all sorts of bits & pieces in some rather fab IKEA storage cupboards and units. 

Lookslikeadeal

I was viewing houses earlier this year and there was one terraced house which had a small room between the kitchen  and the garage (built onto the back of the house, accessible from back alley. On the estate agent's plans it was labelled 'utility room.' It had neither plumbing nor power points nor even a light.  NOT a utility room: a cubboard
The minimum has to be plumbing and power for a washing machine, a sink, and a door you can shut so you can't hear the washing machine. Space for a tumble dryer is also good, and extra cupboards are always useful.