Downstairs toilet or utility room?

[RyanStartedTheFire]

1900s terrace, quite small, not much storage. Cellar is damp, and the attic access is incredibly small and you have to hang over the stairs to access. We have our utilities in the little space after the kitchen. Sorry the floor plan is crap, but it's been 2 years since we've been here. We don't currently use the downstairs loo as it needs redoing completely and use it as storage instead. We are debating turning it into a utility instead, but we are selling relatively soon and want to know what people would think about not having a downstairs loo.
Our stairs are also very steep as we have very high ceilings, which is a reason for a downstairs loo, but at the moment it's all a bit cluttered with a tumble drier, washing machine and fridge all there.
FIL suggested knocking through and enlarging the kitchen.

Opinions, please? I can post a picture of the floor plan is not readable.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

Would help if I attached the floor plan 🙄

[SerialReJoiner]

Can you get a compact toilet to fit in with the utility? This is what we are considering.

[Kiroro]

Keep the downstairs toilet!

[Iamastonished]

I would never buy a house that had only one loo, so I would keep the loo.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

If you are selling anyway I would save your money and keep it as loo but point out it could be converted.

[ASDismynormality]

I have both and definitely value the downstairs toilet over the utility room.

[Gamtanner]

Keep the loo! I hate not having a downstairs toilet.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

That's what I was thinking serial, the boiler is in there too so it's limited space but we could definitely get the tumble drier in or potentially both stacked.

Wow, okay, everyone for toilet! We will have to redo it no matter what as it's a very old top toilet and it leaks outside when you flush it, hence the disuse but maybe we will just get a very cheap one to replace it.

[halcyondays]

Once I might have gone for the utility room but now the downstairs toilet would definitely win.

[MissDuke]

Yes I would very cheaply redo the loo. I would say you can get it looking good with very little money. I think it would be crazy to spend loads if you plan to try and sell soon, it doesn't seem like you would ever get that money back.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

Miss We are keeping our options open as we would like to sell ASAP but it still might not happen for a few years and we have to live with it. Sorry, I should have been clearer when I said about selling. We don't want to do anything to put off buyers but we're not in a position to buy a new house just yet. We have to completely redo the upstairs bathroom anyway as it currently is a disabled wet room so we won't get away without spending money unfortunately.

[Florene]

Would people really expect a downstairs toilet in a small terraced house though? I know I wouldn't, nor a utility room, and would therefore see a utility room as a massive bonus.

[spiney]

I would prefer a utility everytime!
Keeps the rest of the house so much more open and clutter free if you can keep the laundry crap in there. Especially if you put a rail/ airier in there.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

This is that little corner at the moment. I love that door as it lets in lots of light, but it's completely unusable at the moment as the tumble drier blocks it in. PIL surprised us with it and we had nowhere to put it.

So we could stack the tumble drier and washing machine, ironing board would go away into the toilet with better storage/a hook on the door and that door.

I know people will say to not spend money but honestly, we took this house to get on the market and we will really struggle to sell it as is, but then I'm also aware we could price ourselves out of the market we should be aiming at which I think are first time buyers/retired buyers.

[HandsomeDevil]

Loo every time.
We're in a little 2.5 bed terrace, and I've no desire for a more spacious house, but I'd give a kidney for a second loo.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

Also cat flap is serving as exit for tumble drier, if we put it into the toilet we would put a 'proper' vent for it.

[oldwife]

Toilet for me.

Is there room for perhaps just the washing machine in there ?

Our is a combined toilet and utility room - not huge, but I think a little bigger thanyours. We don't have a tumble dryer though - just washing machine.

I wouldn't go back to not having a downstairs toilet.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

I will definitely be keeping the loo as I don't want to shut out the majority that have said toilet. I think I'll try and work out a way to have both, or at least put the tumble drier and good storage in there.

Thanks for all your feedback.

[Iamastonished]

"Would people really expect a downstairs toilet in a small terraced house though?"

Probably not, but given a choice of utility or loo I would go for the loo, and as there is one there already it would be foolish to get rid of it.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

Maybe I don't love the toilet so much as we don't use it. Once we have it done I might become a convert to downstairs toilets

old I could probably do it with a squeeze, even if we put the tumble in there we could advertise it as room for a washing machine too.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

Don't start me on the woodchip Miaow I have shed loads of that too I feel your pain. Good point about the mobility aspect. My Nan can't make it up our stairs as they are so steep, so it makes sense.

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

Definitely a downstairs loo over a utility room. Especially if there's only one other loo in the house.

I've lived in houses with no utility room, and it's been fine having a washing machine and tumble dryer in the kitchen. However, since having kids we've always lived somewhere with a downstairs loo and I wouldn't buy a house without one now because my dad can't manage stairs, so a house with no downstairs loo would mean he could never visit.

If you are trying to sell, you need to appeal to as wide a market as possible. I think most people with kids would prioritise a downstairs loo over a utility room.

[Chasingsquirrels]

Stack the tumble drier on the washing machine where it is - will the vent still reach, you could always just connect it when in use?
Move the fridge freezer (I think) slightly away from the washer / drier stack and store the ironing board in the gap.
Quick fix on the loo, probably not expensive to stop the leak.

Almost instant improvement.

[RyanStartedTheFire]

We can shut the door on the kitchen too so the sounds of the washing machine/drier aren't a bother when we're eating or relaxing.

The venting is the only thing I'd be worried about squirrels as it only just reaches as it is now. Can you buy hose extenders? I'm all for stacking them, Dad is a builder and can do it no problem. DP says it's a silly idea but can't tell me why. Your idea sounds good though, solid fix without spending money and I can put shelves and cupboards in the toilet for next to nothing for an extra storage aspect.