Washing Machines in the Kitchen and other Rental Listing Questions!

We are moving to Borehamwood/Elstree, Herts in Autumn or Winter of this year dependent on when my husbands job starts. I've started looking at rental listings for the area to get an idea of price/availability for the housing allowance we will have. The number one things that sticks out to me are the Washing Machines in the kitchen. Can anyone explain the why of this? Where are the dryers?

I've been looking for rentals on Rightmove, is there another preferred site to use?

What are Tenants admin fees?

What is an extra room tax?

Thank you for this amazing community, I've been reading your posts all day!

The number one things that sticks out to me are the Washing Machines in the kitchen. Can anyone explain the why of this? Where are the dryers?

Many English houses were built before there were washing machines, so by the time washing machines came around there was no place to put them but the kitchen.  (The houses tend to be smaller than US houses, without utility rooms and that kind of thing.)  Over time this became the way it was done, so even in newer houses they put the washing machine in the kitchen because people are used to it.

We never had a dryer in any of the rentals we lived in around London, and in my experience they're not that widespread.  Many people either hang their clothes outside to dry, and use a folding rack inside to hang clothes on when it's raining/cold outside.

The washing machines are in the kitchen because there are no other rooms in which to put them. Most properties do not have a separate utility room, so the kitchen is the only room in the house where a washing machine can be installed.

Many people do not have a dryer because they either do not have anywhere to put one or they don't agree with having one (i.e. they use too much energy). Some have combined washer/dryers, but generally dryers are a bit of a luxury... so people will dry their clothes on radiators or free-standing airers (or outside on a washing line if they have a garden).

Be aware that UK properties, especially in or near London, are very small compared to US properties. The average 2-floor, 3-bedroom family home in the UK is about 800 to 900 square feet.

I've been looking for rentals on Rightmove, is there another preferred site to use?

I use Rightmove to start with, but when I find properties I like, I will go to the website of the actual letting agent for further details. Sometimes the properties on Rightmove may not be available anymore but haven't been removed from the search listing yet.

What are Tenants admin fees?

Usually when you apply for a property you have to pay an application fee and sometimes further admin fees to cover things like processing the tenancy application, getting references, checking in and out of the property when you move etc. - in my experience, the fees are usually £100-200. I'm assuming that's what they mean by 'tenants admin fees'.

What is an extra room tax?

I don't know all the details of it but it's to do with people who claim housing benefits from the government having to pay extra money to the government if they have a spare bedroom in their property. If you are not a UK citizen, it will be illegal for you to claim government benefits anyway, so in that case, it won't apply to you.

Washing machines are typically in the kitchen due to space - or lack thereof, particularly if you're looking at flats. Laundry rooms (AKA utility rooms) are generally only found in larger houses. You will likely struggle to find a rental with a dryer, but you may find that the 'washing machine' is a 'washer-dryer' which has a condenser dryer cycle.

Rightmove is a great place to start, but take note of the agents advertising properties and head directly to the websites of listing agents; you will find a wider choice - everything isn't on rightmove.

Very simply, the so-called 'extra room tax' or 'bedroom tax' as it's more commonly known, only affects folks on housing benefit, not private renters. it isn't a 'tax' - it's a reduction in benefit. The theory behind it is that a family of x members needs y bedrooms, and the housing benefit payment reflects this. If said family is in a rental that has y+1/2/whatever number of bedrooms, the benefit isn't sufficient to cover the "extra" rent. In theory it was supposed to encourage those that were over housed to move to a unit appropriate to their family size, thereby freeing up a larger unit for larger families. In practice, there have been a lot of problems with the implementation.

The lack of dryer was a big shock to me! Our washer allegedly had a drying cycle but it definitely did not work, so I just used our outdoor drying rack. Until my in-laws surprised me with a condenser dryer for Christmas! (Which is lovely but truth be told sometimes I miss line-drying my clothes.)

Thanks very much! I can live with a washer/dryer combined, we had a US apartment that had one of this energy efficient ones and while I hated the dang thing, I know how to operate them and iron. Im actually looking forward to being able to line dry items if I want, it isn't allowed where we live currently!

Big sigh of relief on the extra room tax, here I was thinking there would be some huge fine if we wanted a third bedroom for family who will be visiting and to use as my husbands office. I understand it will be a SMALL third room, but as long as we can close the door to keep my toddler daughter away from daddys computer it will be all good

I guess I don't get the "washing machine in the kitchen" issue. Just took my step-daughter around looking at a few houses today.....lucky if you can stick a washing machine in, period. And......I would do almost ANYTHING to have a washing machine in the house....anywhere. Drying? Whatever....

If it's something you've always had (a utility room) then it seems weird at first to not have it. When I firsy started looking at flats to rent online I kept thinking they had 2 dishwashers, it never occurred to me someone would put a washer in the kitchen. I liken it to having a random appliance somewhere else in the house, like having your fridge in your bedroom

Was weird at first but you soon get used to it .. As others have said its the norm here   My washer is indeed in the kitchen..
Condenser dryer is in the bedroom.. Love it.. couldn't live without it..

We've been back for nearly 4 years, and I elected the "no dryer" option. There's actually space/vent for one in our garage, but as we're OAPs with no kids (and less laundry), I decided to line dry/radiator dry depending on the weather. OK, so towels aren't as fluffy, but neither do clothes shrink or fade as quickly.

I'm nearly 68, so had a lifetime of using a dryer. Could afford it, have the space for it, but don't want it.

Your mileage may vary. 

We've been back for nearly 4 years, and I elected the "no dryer" option. There's actually space/vent for one in our garage, but as we're OAPs with no kids (and less laundry), I decided to line dry/radiator dry depending on the weather. OK, so towels aren't as fluffy, but neither do clothes shrink or fade as quickly.

I'm nearly 68, so had a lifetime of using a dryer. Could afford it, have the space for it, but don't want it.

Your mileage may vary. 

We could go about the same way......but I think we will put a cheap-ish vented dryer out in the garage when the house finally comes through. Not so much for clothes, but for things like dog beds/dog towels etc....a vented dryer works wonders at getting hair etc off the fabric.....and makes it fast to get the dog bed covers back on the dog beds. My wife is the dog person, but she is a cleaning fiend as well and can't stand dog hair wafting about.....as well as too much dog smell. We hardly ever dry our clothes in this dryer unless we are in a hurry for some reason.

I thought washing machines were in kitchens had less to do about space and mainly because that's where the water supply is and the drainage, especially if you are living in a flat.

I had a washer/dryer combo in my last flat and used it once. It ran for three hours and the clothes were still damp. Even in the local launderette, where I take sheets and towels, the dryers don't run hot enough to dry them in a reasonable amount of time, so I take them home and air dry on a rack (or hang sheets on doors). The expense and waste of electricity didn't seem worth it (for the amount of money or to the environment).

That's the way it is. I don't know how it is in other parts of the UK, but walk all over London and you'll see clothes drying on a rack in the window, in bedsits to posh flats.

I don't know all the details of it but it's to do with people who claim housing benefits from the government having to pay extra money to the government if they have a spare bedroom in their property. If you are not a UK citizen, it will be illegal for you to claim government benefits anyway, so in that case, it won't apply to you.

This isn't true.

Non-citizen job seekers are barred from HB, but not all non-Citizens. newcomer link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-rules-to-stop-migrants-claiming-housing-benefit [nonactive]

I know this is off-topic, but misinformation on these matters just cause confusion.

I was talking specifically about the OP because she is a US citizen - unless she also holds ILR or UK citizenship she won't be allowed to claim any housing benefit because she will not be entitled to claim ANY public funds. I probably should have clarified the ILR part as well though. My point was though that it's not relevant to her situation so she doesn't need to worry about it.

Your link is solely about EEA citizens and I wasn't talking about EEA citizens, because that's also not relevant to the people in this topic .

EEA citizens don't need visas and are entitled to claim benefits, so that's a different kettle of fish altogether.

It is a fact that non-EEA citizens are not allowed to claim public funds until they have ILR.


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