Only bathroom downstairs

[Emboo19]

Ok, I wasn't really sure where to put this.
My boyfriend is looking to buy a house, and we've been to view three so far, all with the only bathrooms downstairs. Looking online it's seeming normal for the area and price he's looking at, lots of terraced cottage style houses, his other option will probably be a flat/apartment but then no garden.

I think the only bathroom downstairs is a bit impractical and will be difficult when dd is older and toilet training. Also don't like the idea of no garden though.
So does anyone have their only bathroom downstairs? And if so how do you find it? Would you choose that over no garden or not?

It's not actually my choice. I'm not buying with him he's just asking my opinion and I might move in. I'm just curious really and I've never thought about it before, but just presumed most bathrooms would be upstairs!

[Boulshired]

My first ever house I bought did, it was the usual in the area for first time buyers, I got used to it and it got me on the ladder.

[deste]

Ours is downstairs, not a problem at all. Would rather have a garden.

[c3pu]

It's quite common for turn of the century houses. You'll likely find that similar houses with an upstairs bathroom are out of budget, so I'd say it's a compromise worth making.

[Cherrysoup]

Would drive me nuts, I always need the loo in the middle of the night! If it's normal for the area, I think you're going to have to suck it up.

[Moanyoldcow]

Had this setup as a student and it was fine. It's very common in lots of areas. It it's typical for the area I'd rather have bigger bedrooms and a garden than an upstairs bathroom. I'd only be worried if it was unusual.

It's also very nice not to have guests going upstairs and as for potty training, better having a loo downstairs where you will be 80% of the time.

[bulletjournal]

I don't like it at all, but I can't see the issue with toilet training. We didn't have a loo downstairs when my first one was toilet training, so we had to take him upstairs all the time. Downstairs bathroom would probably have made things easier.
If I had to chose between upstairs and garden, I'd go for garden any day!

[MiddleClassProblem]

Place marking x

[PageStillNotFound404]

Our last house had the only bathroom downstairs. It was fine. Bit of a pain if you woke up needing the loo in the middle of the night, but no dealbreaker.

If I had a small child I'd far rather have a garden and perhaps have to think a bit more carefully about how I'd manage the comparatively short period (on average) of time that is toilet training, than have a bathroom on the same level as the bedrooms but CONSTANTLY have to plan how and where to give DD outside space to play.

[Bluntness100]

A friend of mine had a house like this years ago, you had to go through the kitchen to the loo. For her I think they totally got used to it very quickly. But for over night guests it was kinda weird to have to go downstairs to shower or use the loo. However if it was this or no garden, I'd do this.

[llangennith]

A lot of Victorian two bedroomed terraced houses had the bathroom put into the box room at first. Then people wanted the third bedroom back so they moved the bathroom downstairs to where the coal-house and outside toilet had been.
I wouldn't buy a house with no garden but might consider a downstairs bathroom until you have children.

[Mottlemoth]

I lived in a house like this for the better part of a decade. It was a PITA frankly. Going all the way downstairs when you need a wee in the night is a PITA. My DD had to wake me in the middle of the night if she needed the loo as she couldn't be expected to navigate a dark house and stairs in her own. Traipsing upstairs in a towel to get dressed in your bedroom is a PITA.

But you do get used to it. I think on balance I would rather have a garden and a downstairs bathroom than an upstairs bathroom and no garden.

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

I couldn't cope with it but just because I go to the loo at least 3 or 4 times during the night

[GinIsIn]

Ours does. I thought I would hate it but even though I'm heavily pregnant and need the loo every 20 mins all night, it actually really hasn't bothered me as I thought it would!

[olderthanyouthink]

The house I grew up in had a downstairs loo only.

Most of the time your awake and downstairs.
Little kids can just pop to the loo without having to go all the way upstairs.
It was also closer to the front door when I came home busting for a wee.
At night when I was potty training my parents left a potty in my room and emptied it in the morning.

[PageStillNotFound404]

Mottlemoth in your nearly-ten years there, did you never encounter the concept of "dressing gowns"?

[Emboo19]

Toilet training, I was more thinking of when she might need to go to the toilet through the night. She's only 4 months though long way off
It does seem the norm for area and price, even a lot of the the three bed properties are the same. The bathrooms were obviously added later when indoor plumbing became the norm and I guess it was the easiest option. Doesn't effect selling the estate agents said, and it seems right as within a few days they've normally gone. So he does need to think and act quickly!

[Redglitter]

My friend has this in her house She prefers it. Shescary sahm and spends most of her time downstairs so says it saves her going upstairs every time she needs the loo. Says it's handier for the kids too who are usually downstairs or out playing. And visitors don't need to go upstairs at all

[Kiroro]

Freehold house with garden is a way better buy than a flat, even with a downstairs bathroom.

This is v common with areas of housing stock.

My DD had to wake me in the middle of the night if she needed the loo as she couldn't be expected to navigate a dark house and stairs in her own.
night lights!

Traipsing upstairs in a towel to get dressed in your bedroom is a PITA.
Dressing gown :-)

[deloresclaiborne]

maybe in the future your dp could afford to put a bathroom in one of the big bedrooms if its a 3 bed house so you wouldnt lose a bedroom just have 2 small bedrooms

[FairyDogMother11]

My DP insisted on it because he doesn't like people going upstairs and traipsing all the way around the house to go to the toilet (he's a bit strange like that!). We've got a lot more space having the bathroom downstairs, as if our bathroom was upstairs we wouldn't have a 3rd bedroom if that makes any sense. We don't have kids yet but the house he grew up in was set out just the same and his mum says it was never an issue.

[Emboo19]

The ones he's seen are only 2 bedrooms, but 2 good sized double rooms and the rest of the house, one in particular is lovely. Doesn't have a huge garden but space for a table and chairs and toys for dd.

I've been spoilt at home as I've got the loft room with en suite and we have family bathroom on 2nd floor and cloakroom downstairs.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

I grew up in a house like this. My parents eventually got a tiny cloakroom built in the master bedroom. I would definitely take a downstairs loo over o garden.

[fourquenelles]

Very, very common in the area I am moving to; 1890's 2 up, 2 down terraced houses with slightly larger than courtyard gardens. I don't like it so have compromised with an upstairs bathroom that can only be accessed through a bedroom. As it's just me and I very rarely have overnight guests I am OK with that. However I have been used to a downstairs so will need to retrain myself to allow time to leg it upstairs when the need arises I have been looking at commodes too

[fourquenelles]

^^loo

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Maybe there is space in a cupboard for a tiny loo - probably a saniflow. I stayed in a cottage recently. There were fitted wardrobes either side of the bed and they'd managed to squeeze one in. You had to be very small to be able to shut the door and the loo was side ways on with a miniscule sink above your knees. Voila the ensuite.