Settle an argument- downstairs loo or not…?

I don't have a downstairs loo, but do have two upstairs. We'd have loved a downstairs loo, but unfortunately, it ended up being the thing we had to sacrifice to get a property we otherwise loved.
There is the capacity to build one in if we were absolutely desperate, but it would most likely mean losing our lovely, large garage. And it turned out, for us at least, that a garage was a bigger boon than a downstairs loo. But every family is different.

There are so many reasons to have an extra downstairs loo!
For visitors so they don't have to go upstairs
For potty training when you have little ones
For use when someone is sick - you can have a quarantine loo 😂
A few years ago I had a sudden expected stay in hospital and when I got home after a month it was so useful having a loo downstairs so I didn't have to drag myself upstairs to use it. Or stay upstairs then not have to worry about it
I will have having major surgery soon and it will again be such a help having a loo downstairs.
Plus if you are both struck down with d&v at exactly the same time ...

My mum ONLY had a downstairs loo as she lived in an old terrace that used to have an outside toilet before one was built into the house. We eventually got an upstairs toilet put in for her so that she didn’t have to go downstairs during the night. If you have the space for a toilet on each floor, definitely go for it. People like the convenience.

Get the loo. I’m lucky enough to have 3 and we keep the downstairs loo strictly for peeing.

Defo get a loo put in while you can Its a god send, better to do it now, than having the regret and having to have more disruption in getting it done futher down the line. Handy for when we were in the potty training stages and its hand now for the ILS as they are not great on the stairs one of them has dementia who now struggles to follow directions and gets confused with doors and where to go and the other has had both knees replaced. Its also handy when we get in from somewhere and both DSs need the loo at the same time or when they leave it a little bit to late on going. I tend to use it early in the morning so I don't risk waking anyone when I use it before leaving to go to work.

Team Loo!

It's essential but I would want a bathroom with walk-in shower not just a toilet and it must be a decent size. Space is everything.

@400rider my downstairs shower room was clearly the outside loo and possibly coal house! I live in a Victorian terrace house, a lot of the houses on my street had the loo /coalshed turned into a utility room, I'm so glad mine wasn't!

Add the downstairs loo without a doubt.

Definitely second loo if possible it would also have a shower/bath tbh. We’ve got 2 bathrooms 3 bedrooms and that second shower/loo is definitely a plus side. When kids are young great for potty training when kids are teens great so everyone can get ready in the morning without a wait for the shower! When we bought it wasn’t a deal breaker for us (we were more focused on being in the right catchment areas) but now we’ve got 2 bathrooms if we move in the future then it will be on the must haves list!

Needs a downstairs loo.

we moved into an Edwardian house with an outside privy, posher than others though, it was within the house but you still had go outside from the kitchen, down the path and back in through another door. The previous owner knocked the wall down to save his poor wife the embarrassment of running outside when she was heavily pregnant.

It’s now our utility room, washing machine where the original high cistern toilet was and a modern toilet brought behind said outside door.

Brilliant in the summer to have grandchildren running inside without going through the house upstairs to the installed new bathroom. The men can pop in while working in the garage. Great addition for parties, gents sign on the downstairs loo, access from indoors. Unfortunately it’s not elderly visitors friendly, unless they go to the original method of outside and back in through the privy door, due to the steps down.

Wouldn't be without it now.
(Hubby flatly refused the washing machine in the kitchen, hygiene and food prep’, he’s a chef)

A second loo is a necessity imo - I wouldn’t consider buying a property with just one loo.

Yep. We wouldn't live in a place without a second loo. If we bought a place without one then we would put one in, but a property that already has one is much more appealing.

As someone without a downstairs loo and no space for one , I would absolutely want one if I could

Yes if it's not going to render any of the other downstairs rooms too small. Ideally if you can have a shower in there it would be better than loo alone.

But two is better than one. And it's good to have it when you've got guests. Someone with mobility issues. Or someone you maybe don't know that well, they don't need to go upstairs.

Fair enough, if you have a utility area already then it’s a no- brainer.

Dogs/ wetsuits makes it sound like you have an outdoorsy lifestyle, so installing a boot room/ downstairs shower room during renovations makes perfect sense . Friends of ours fitted a warm-water shower hose outside to wash their dog.

As well as making your home more practical for you, it will make it more appealing when you eventually sell.

Or what if you both get food poisoning!

Absolutely yes to a downstairs loo. We didn’t ’need’ one when we first got our house but DH’s parents have since developed mobility issues and would be unable to visit if we didn’t have a downstairs toilet.

I love that we have a downstairs loo under our stairs. Never had it before and plenty of times have been uncomfortably waiting on someone to finish upstairs so I could go. Would never go back!

It's definitely something I'd look for in a property unless you have an en suite.

Absolutely yes to downstairs loo.

My elderly parents could not use the stairs in my house due to arthritis.They would have to go home to go toilet if they came to visit me. Also useful for washing up after the garden. If you have the space go for it

My last house didn’t have a downstairs loo and it was extremely annoying. I’d put one in.

If at all possible, I would have 2.
Right now, one of ours is broken, and I already miss it (plumber's on way)!
Seriously, the likelihood is you will one day have food poisoning/a virus/one loo broken/kids or adults visiting.
I believe all newer council housing have to have at least 2, unless they're built specifically for singles?
Yes, people used to share one outside loo between 4 families, before anyone says that.

I know it’s off topic but I’m not fussed for an en-suite (we do have a downstairs loo). I’d rather have the storage.