We want to put the washing machine in our bathroom, enclosed in a bespoke cabinet a carpenter will build for us.
I have asked two electricians for quotes and options on how to connect the appliance.
One said the washing machine can only be hard-wired, i.e. the power cable must go directly into the wall, and only an electrician can connect it or disconnect it. An ordinary plug and socket would be possible only if the socket were more than 3 metres away from the taps, which it isn't.
Another electrician said that, even if the distance is < 3 metres, I can still have ordinary sockets because the appliance would be enclosed in a cabinet.
Do you know who is right? Do you have any experience of this?
I would of course want to understand what is legal here, but am not so much worried about safety per se: sockets for appliances in the bathroom are very common in many countries, e.g. Germany, which I think have stricter construction and safety standards than England.
Thanks!
PS Note the question is NOT on the pros and cons of having a washing machine in the bathroom. That's a very subjective choice; it works for us because the bathroom is on the same floor as the bedrooms, and because it saves space in the kitchen, but of course it wouldn't work for everyone.