Putting a dishwasher in a rented flat.

twirlie

Hi, sorry if this is in the wrong place! I figured with all the landlords here, someone must be able to answer my question.

I rent my flat and have recently asked the lanlord about installing a dishwasher. He has agreed to me doing this, even if it involves removing a cupboard.

Being useless, I have no idea how to do this. I don't have a huge budget, and as I intend to leave it here when I move out, I don't particularly want to buy new. I've seen a few good second hand dishwashers going for pennies on ebay because people have upgraded their kitchens etc so I'm hoping to get one on there.

The thing is, my kitchen is pretty modern, so I don't know whether I'd need an integrated one instead of just your bog standard one. The other thing is the strip that goes along the bottom underneath my cupboards. Its all one strip, so I don't see how this could be removed / cut without destroying the whole kitchen. Can you see what I mean from the pictures? Is this a problem, or am I over reacting and it can be taken off and then put back on again without affecting the fuctioning of the dishwasher?

I was thinking I'd get a plumber to install it, and a man and van type person to deliver it from whoever I buy it from. My budget for this is around £150. (£30-50ish for the dishwasher, and the rest for getting it here and installing it).

Is this unfeasable? I have been told that there is adequate pipes and connections etc, and there is definately room - its just a case of getting it in. Any tips or hints anyone has would be gratefully received.

Thank you!

Pics:

Mrs_pbradley936

I would say to your land lord that you want him to sort in out and that you will make a contribution. After all if you do not intend to take it with you it will add value to the flat. I would refrain from cutting the cupboards about unless you get it in writing from the Landlord that he finds that acceptable or else you can wave goodbye to your deposit.

Failing that I would get a dishwasher that sits on the worktop and you can take it with you. They do about 4 to 6 place settings. Details here: http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=178373

PasturesNew

How long are you staying there? Can you really not do your own washing up?
It seems an awful lot of bother to me.

There are things called "table top dishwashers" that are small and sit on a draining board. You might consider one of those.

e.g. http://www.google.co.uk/products?hl=en&q=%22table+top+dishwasher%22&scoring=p

At £150 brand new, no man/van needed... I don't know what the plumbing in would be, but it probably just fits on the taps. No worries, no mess, no need to get other people involved. And you could flog it again when you leave.

RHemmings

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

I would say to your land lord that you want him to sort in out and that you will make a contribution. After all if you do not intend to take it with you it will add value to the flat. I would refrain from cutting the cupboards about unless you get it in writing from the Landlord that he finds that acceptable or else you can wave goodbye to your deposit.

Failing that I would get a dishwasher that sits on the worktop and you can take it with you. They do about 4 to 6 place settings. Details here: http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=178373

C rated energy efficiency for that product. Wouldn' buying a more efficient dishwasher be cheaper over the lifetime of the dishwasher? Cleaning performance is C rated too. Might you not end up with repeat washing of some dishes wasting more energy?

http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=373486

IveSeenTheLight

We once had a dishwaser that would fit into the cupboard and you could pull out on a trolley system.
Was quite cheap too, from B&Q.
That way you dont have to modify any cupboards AND you could take it with you when you move (if you wanted to).

lynzpower

I jus thad a quote on mates rates for the plumbing of a WM and DW in my place and it was 100 quid. The figure I got quoted on the "is it fair board" was somewhere on 300-350. We spent 40 quid on the DW as it was off gumtree and bloody good it looks too , a hotpoint aquarius.

the thing is in order for the cheapest plumbing job the DW needs to be right next to the sink, to benefit from the waste pipes and not having to extend them etc. Personally I wouldnt ever put a DW in what looks like a fairly modern newly fitted kitchen as im certain the LL would take my deposit.

MAny LLs can be quite handy, have you asked if the LL themselves can fit it?? they might be able to, and thus, if they did the work trhemselves, protect your deposit.

I would really get a table top one. I know they are relitavely expensive for what they are, but at least involves zero work and totally portable to the next place. Have a look on ebay there were quite a few going on there not so long ago foir cheap ish.

twirlie

Hi, I've looked at the tabletop ones, but the sewage pipes are in the cupboard under the sink and there doesn't seem to be a way to get them through and up onto the work surface. The cupboard itself isn't big enough to keep one in either, I've measured.

I intend to stay for a good few years and don't mind paying out £150 or so. My landlord wouldn't put one in, (I'm still fighting him to get him to clear his junk out of my little boys room - after a year!) but he's said its fine for me to. I would get it in writing though, because I quite need my deposit back at the end!

I have been doing the washing up by hand for a year now, and with a baby its quite a lot of hassle. I have crohns disease and have to be careful with what I eat etc - I'm also more susceptible to germs / bacteria than your average person because I take immuno- supresants. I figured that a dishwasher would be a good investment for the both of us because it can wash at hotter temperatures than I can by hand. Its not essential though

I guess I'll keep looking - like you said - I have no probs adding £150 or so to the value of the flat, but any more than that and its a no go really.

lynzpower

the table top sewage pipe just pours straight into the sink

twirlie

lynzpower wrote: »

the table top sewage pipe just pours straight into the sink

Doesn't it spray everywhere? I thought dishwasher water pressure was quite high?

Ew... I'm a bit of a perfectionist and the thought of that makes me feel a little gross lol.

chocolatechipcookies

Mrs_pbradley936 wrote: »

I would say to your land lord that you want him to sort in out and that you will make a contribution. After all if you do not intend to take it with you it will add value to the flat. I would refrain from cutting the cupboards about unless you get it in writing from the Landlord that he finds that acceptable or else you can wave goodbye to your deposit.

Failing that I would get a dishwasher that sits on the worktop and you can take it with you. They do about 4 to 6 place settings. Details here: http://www.comet.co.uk/cometbrowse/product.do?sku=178373

The landlord doesn't have to pay for anything that doesn't come with the property. If you want to add anything to the property, you can pay for it. Unless you have a really nice LL who doesn't mind.

asharon

twirlie wrote: »

Doesn't it spray everywhere? I thought dishwasher water pressure was quite high?

Ew... I'm a bit of a perfectionist and the thought of that makes me feel a little gross lol.

worst case scenario is you fix the waste pipe to the tap on the sink so it doesn't move about and that should sort it.