The large washer is missing the glass in the door!
Larry:
Unused laundry room, onsite, in basement of building.
Many landlords in rougher/poorer neighborhoods don't fight washers on premises. NYC rent-regulation laws allow a small monthly surcharge (something like $10 to $20 per month) for water use, wear-and-tear and potential floods (insurance premiums/claims).
Similarly I have seen onsite laundry rooms in such buildings that are not-in-service, or are quickly removed. The landlords fear lawsuits initated by the tenants getting hurt/robbed/raped in the basement.
The laws of NYC were blatantly stacked in the landlord's favor for DECADES. But it is finally understoond how in some cases rent-reguation laws have destroyed and blighted neighrhoods. So the pendulum has swung the other way (think of a guy in sweatpants, no underwear), and landlords have more recourse these days.
Also my understanding is that if a washing machine or a dog or cat is a "resident" (of that apartment) for 30 days WITHOUT complaints by other tenants, they are "legal" residents. The landlord may not aribtrarily remove them or force their removal. *FEH* you just keep your washer unused for 45 days after you move in and voila! YOU'RE IN!
I hate to say this, but IMHO if the landlords looks different than the majority of the tenants, methinks the lanlords STFU to avoid harassment and racial-discrimination claims.
Of course one can always grease the palm of the superintendent to play blind!
I have snuck in a washer, dryer a DW in my apt. No one complains aobut me, and I dont complain about the smell of curry and other heavy spices, fish/sea-food, peanut oil, fried food, doors slamming at all hours of the day and night, cigarettes, hash, mary-jane and God knows what else that stinks. Ditto cigarette butts tossed onto the lawn and stairs, etc.
One hand washes the other, and both together the face! [this post was last edited: 5/7/2010-12:12]
