In a strata building? Work involving waterproofing generally needs owners corporation approval before it starts. How approval fits in
Three kinds of Parramatta laundry
The hallway cupboard. Most apartments built since the late 1990s have a European laundry: a cupboard in the hall or off the kitchen with a washing machine, a tub and a shelf. Usually the tub is tiny, the shelf is too high, the dryer is wall-mounted on a bracket and the doors don't quite close.
The corner of the bathroom. Older walk-ups frequently put the laundry inside the bathroom — a tub and a washing machine beside the toilet. It works, but it makes a small bathroom feel crowded.
A full laundry room. Houses in Harris Park, North Parramatta and Granville have a proper laundry, often at the back of the house, often untouched since the 1970s.
Each needs a different approach.
Renovating a European laundry
A well-designed laundry cupboard holds a lot:
- A front-loading washer with a heat-pump dryer stacked above on a proper stacking kit.
- Or both side by side under a continuous benchtop, which gives a folding surface.
- A compact inset sink in the bench, rather than a free-standing tub.
- Overhead cabinets for detergent, with a hanging rail for shirts.
- Doors that actually close over everything, so the hallway looks like a hallway.
Ventilation matters. A cupboard with a vented dryer fills with humid air. A heat-pump dryer avoids that and drains its condensate to the waste. The cupboard is still designed with a gap or vent so heat can escape.
Improving a combined bathroom-laundry
In small walk-up bathrooms, hiding the laundry is often the biggest single improvement. Options include:
- A tall cabinet enclosing a stacked washer and dryer, with doors.
- A vanity-height cupboard holding a front-loader under a bench, with the basin beside it.
- Removing the laundry tub entirely where a kitchen sink can serve instead.
See small bathroom renovations for how this works alongside the rest of the room.
Full laundry rooms in houses
A house laundry is renovated like a small wet room: strip-out, rough-in, waterproofing, tiling and cabinetry. The best upgrades are a full-width benchtop for folding, tall storage for the ironing board and vacuum, a deep tub, and good light.
Waterproofing
A laundry is a wet area under the Building Code. Floors need waterproofing, with the walls protected behind the tub and at the floor junction. In an apartment this matters as much as in a bathroom: a burst washing-machine hose floods the unit below.
A floor waste is worth adding where the slab allows it, and a water-stop valve or burst-proof hoses are cheap protection.
Strata
If the work involves waterproofing, it is generally a major renovation needing owners corporation approval by special resolution. Replacing cupboard joinery without disturbing the floor may be treated more simply. Your strata manager can confirm which applies.
Costs
European laundry cupboard refit: roughly $6,000–$12,000. Full laundry room: roughly $10,000–$20,000. See the 2026 cost bands.
Call 02 4601 3371 or send the room details through.
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Questions people ask before they commit
What is a European laundry?
A laundry fitted inside a cupboard, usually behind bi-fold or hinged doors in a hallway or kitchen. It typically holds a front-loading washer, a dryer stacked above or beside it, a small tub or sink, and a benchtop. Many Parramatta apartments already have one; renovating it makes it far more usable.
Can a condensing or heat-pump dryer go in a cupboard?
Yes, and in an apartment it is usually the right choice. A vented dryer needs to exhaust outside, which in a cupboard often means damp air being pushed into the hallway. Heat-pump and condenser dryers collect water instead, which can drain to the tub or the washer waste. They do need some airflow around them, so the cupboard is designed with that in mind.
Does a laundry renovation in a unit need strata approval?
If it involves waterproofing, generally yes. A laundry is a wet area, and waterproofing work is usually a major renovation under strata law. Replacing cabinetry without disturbing the floor or waterproofing may be treated more simply — confirm with your strata manager.
What does a laundry renovation cost?
A European laundry cupboard refit runs roughly $6,000 to $12,000. A full laundry room with waterproofing, tiling and cabinetry is roughly $10,000 to $20,000. A laundry done together with a bathroom renovation costs less than doing each separately.