AIBU to think UK houses and flats are badly designed when it comes to doing laundry?

[YellowBalloonsandOrangeBaboons]

Inspired by moving into an otherwise lovely flat, built in the 90s, which has no utility room (obviously), no space for a tumble dryer, no garden, and a rule for the whole development which prohibits drying washing on balconies. It's got me thinking about all the houses and flats I have lived in in the UK - at least 7, of very different sizes and types, and in different areas - and I have come to the conclusion that architects are spectacularly crap at designing properties as they never routinely seem to take account of something as basic as washing and drying clothes. The only one I have ever lived in that had a purpose-built utility room was built in an extension. Another was old and huge and had a room converted into a second kitchen-cum-utility room. Everywhere else, drying washing has been a monumental, daily pain in the arse.

I just don't get it. It's not a secret that UK weather is generally cold and wet for a good part of the year, meaning that even if you're lucky enough to have a private garden you can't really dry washing there for half the year. Hanging washing all over the house means excess clutter, looks terrible, and creates dreadful problems with damp unless it's hot enough to have the windows open. Now that increasing numbers of flats are being built with no gardens, the problem will surely only get worse. I get even more confused by new builds without gardens that have multiple en suite bathrooms but still no utility room. Why isn't designing somewhere purpose-built to dry your clothes considered a basic in architecture, in much the same way as designing places to eat, sleep and shower? It's rare to design a new flat without at least a second loo now, for example, so it's not like it's just a space consideration. AIBU?

I'd be fascinated to know whether other countries (especially ones without acres of space per property) share this problem, or whether there are any more modern solutions out there.

@AlecTrevelyan006

The number one selling point for houses (especially new ones) is the number of rooms. In particular, the number of bedrooms, followed by the number of bathrooms. So, if for example, you can create an extra bedroom by not having to extra laundry/storage space you will always increase the value of the property.

And therein lies the madness. 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom houses measuring less than 1500 sq.ft. Paying for stud walls rather than actually floor space.

Totally agree, OP. YANBU

Drying outside even when there is a garden is practical only for a small fraction of the year. And if it were to rain during the day when we are at work, who is going to bring it all in. We all can't be wfh all the time!

We found our own solution by having the washing machine and dryer stacked up in a small nook (it can't surely be called a utility room: think more like 1m x 1.5m space;
We have drying lines running above the stacked machines, a bit like the clothes pulley system from Victorian(?) times.
There is a half-opening window behind the machines, that we keep open always for the humidity to escape.
And this is upstairs.
Works very well for us. It was the best thing that we did in our entire house refurbishment project, according to me

That's possibly because so many architects are men and they still take their washing home to their mothers. I worked in a new building (many years ago!) and, after taking a tour of the new premises, we realised that they had only built a men's room and there were no loos for the women.

My friends in the Netherlands have their washing machine and dryer in their bathroom on first floor, with space to hang things on a rack from the ceiling. Makes so much sense. Why carry clothes downstairs to wash them and carry them back up again to put them away? I suppose you could have a ceiling rack anywhere. My brother has one in the kitchen over the Aga. They just have to put all the pants away when they have guests!

@AlecTrevelyan006 that is so true but also so poorly thought out. Lots of friends have bought new builds and they are gorgeous and sparkly but so impractical. They often have a downstairs ‘playroom’ or office which is a tiny box room when a decent utility would be so much better for a family. And then at least one en suite but no room for wardrobes/tiny room. It’s supply and demand and people must want that but I’d personally far rather a good size family bathroom and downstairs loo and bigger bedrooms.

We are moving to another rental and you would be suprised at the amount of design I’ve seen that makes no sense. These aren’t new builds. Massive kitchen extensions with bi folds, but next to no separate lounge at all — but kitchen not really big enough either or separated in a logical way to have a fully open plan downstairs. 4 beds where 3 of them are so small there’s no way you can have wardrobes , in order to squeeze in an en-suite and a bathroom- would make far more sense to have 3 good bedrooms and 1 good bathroom plus a separate loo downstairs . Huge kitchen space/- but not enough cupboards, or a pull out pantry or a utility — clearly as someone said above people judge on how many bedrooms and never mind the quality of the kitchen— look at the size!!

@Crikeyalmighty we found similar when looking at houses. Loads has a kitchen/diner/family room but just enormous islands which took up so much space. The space left didn’t quite fit a large dining table and sitting area/sofas comfortably so was either one or the either and seemed a bit bare or all crammed in with a giant island. Some trends just need to calm down!

Yip! Everywhere we lived until this house has been a nightmare for drying laundry.. we’re in an old Victorian house now and joy of joys there is a small and very tatty utility room... with a pulley!!!

I remember showing off my house when we moved in to our friends. And they all spent ages oohing and aahhing about the pulley. Even though the utility room had a concrete floor and was probably last decorated in the 1960s

I personally would not want a utility room taking up all that space of my flat/house. I have always used a dehumidifier ( I hate dryers coz they do actually shrink nice clothes & the smell). We now have a utility room in our basement where I dry our clothes in the winter (still with dehumidifier) but I would much rather just dry them in the living room if my 2 year old can resist pulling everything down.