Erm so...I have recently moved into a new apartment and the washing machines are on a timer system or something. Is this normal?

On a timer? no... Are you sure it's not the payment box?

Most washing machines have a timer. Depending on the programme, the time varies. Our machine in the apartment ranges from 31 mins for a short sports programme to a couple of hours for a hot wash with prewash.

The downstairs washing machine has a short programme of 28 mins up to 2.5 hours for the hot wash / pre-wash thing.

*Note to self - must get out more...

When Oh lived in a flat with shared laundry there was a timer which switched off the electricity to the machines between 11.30 and 1.30. Is this the kind of thing you mean?

Apparently it's because everybody is cooking then so the demand for electricity is high.

In the building that I lived in it would not work between 12:00 and 14:00 and then after 22:00. This was for noise.

I know someone who bought a new apartment for 7 million +, the washing machine was on a time switch like that!

Or maybe the OP means that the washer/dryer is the type where the user is charged according to the amount of time that he/she uses the machine?

If so, that's not uncommon in apartments here. Some are nice enough to allow you to do laundry for free, but it does seem that the majority of them will require you to insert some kind of "key" into the machine, which will deduct any funds in accordance to the amount of time the machine is used.

(Sorry if that's not what you meant...)

Maybe Schaffhausen has the same regulation as Fribourg, you could ask your neighbours.

In canton Fribourg all the houses are equipped with timers that stop the power to the laundry room between 11:30 and I think it was 13:00. As mentioned this is designed to avoid heavy power loading of the electricity grid at lunchtime when Swiss families cook their main meal of the day. I think it is in the building regulations.