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Original poster

Would you swap a 2nd toilet for a small utility?

136 replies

Opos · 14/01/2023 20:28

Moving soon and the kitchen is about the same size as mine now but we have under counter space for dishwasher, fridge, freezer, washer, dryer.

New place only has undercounter space for one plumbed in appliance, so it's going to be my beloved dishwasher.
Going to have to get a tall fridge freezer for next to cupboards.

Theres no other room in the kitchen for any other large appliances.

There's a downstairs loo that could fit a stacked washer/dryer and some utility shelves of we remove the toilet.

The only other combo is to have washer dryer in the kitchen and the fridge and freezer in the dining room but I really don't want to do that.

We have a downstairs loo in this house now and I never use it. DH mostly uses it at night when he can't be bothered to go upstairs and the kids use it occasionally when someone is in the bathroom upstairs. The kids are all Highschool age so not toddlers.

I feel like it would be a much better use of space to have a little utility rather than just a toilet but I'm thinking about those moments of emergency when someone's in the bath, 😂

But they are rare and I really don't want appliances in my dining room.

Plus there's already a water supply into the room so should be an easy job.

OP posts:
Original poster
Opos · 14/01/2023 22:35

titchy · 14/01/2023 22:31

Well someone might have a suggestion that you haven't thought of. Up to you - sounds like you've made up your mind.

I'm open to that but I don't have a floor plan. Just photos and I can't do anything structural as I just don't have the money for it.

I don't really want to post photos of the room as its identifying and I have family on MN.

OP posts:
Backonmyfeet · 14/01/2023 22:57

2nd toilet, I would rather have laundry pile up in the kitchen than a row about the bathroom especially with two teenagers, that space can become a rarity

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 14/01/2023 23:05

You have the option to have both, I'd do that and sort elsewhere.

Sounds like you have at least 4 people in the house, that loo will get used!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home improvement
LadyChamberlain · 14/01/2023 23:11

Hobbesmanc · 14/01/2023 22:33

But millions of smaller homes and flats on,y have a single loo and cope fine. Especially as the kids are teenagers now. Mumsnet posters do seem to have high expectations for their homes. Terraces houses often still have the only bathroom downstairs. Let alone a second loo

Show quote history

The vast majority of my family and friends just have the one loo and dont feel like were living in a nightmare 🤣 I

WineWithAView · 14/01/2023 23:16

Yes absolutely. If I had any spare money, I'd turn our downstairs toilet into a utility room. I dream of having a utility room. Have always managed perfectly well with just the one toilet in all houses prior to this one.

mackthepony · 14/01/2023 23:18

I'd convert it into a utility room.

I HATE wet laundry draped all over the place like a wash-house

broomtomb · 14/01/2023 23:23

Nooooo.

I absolutely hated living in a house with only 1 toilet.

Especially after the great norovirus disaster of NYE 2012. Worst 48hr of my life. I still have flashbacks. 😭

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 14/01/2023 23:25

Corner loo and a sliding door?

Would you swap a 2nd toilet for a small utility?
Frumpymumma · 14/01/2023 23:25

Id sooner a laundry room.
Weve only ever had 1 bathroom for 6 of us. Never an issue..
And i love doing laundry so that would be a winner for me

Original poster
Opos · 14/01/2023 23:35

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 14/01/2023 23:25

Corner loo and a sliding door?

I didn't even consider moving the loo.

Would be much easier to get in if the loo was in this corner. Hmm.

Thanks

Would you swap a 2nd toilet for a small utility?
OP posts:
Thesonglastslonger · 14/01/2023 23:36

I used to live in a house that had one toilwt.

On one occasion DH was in the bath and I had a bit of a tummy problem that could not wait.

I had to go into the back garden and lift up the manhole cover and go direct into the sewer. Luckily this part of garden not overlooked.

Two toilets. Always, two toilets.

EarringsandLipstick · 14/01/2023 23:38

I HATE wet laundry draped all over the place like a wash-house

The downstairs loo is small. There won't be room for drying if converted to a utility. I know OP will have a dryer, but not everything can go in a dryer.

OP, you can't according to building regulations take out an existing downstairs toilet. You say you don't mind but your BIL or whoever does it for you is convening building regs.

At the risk of asking a redundant question - it sounds like the space in your new home is not suitable for your family. Are you sure it's the right move? I would have said go house the appliances in a shed, but see there's no room even for that.

Original poster
Opos · 14/01/2023 23:39

EarringsandLipstick · 14/01/2023 23:38

I HATE wet laundry draped all over the place like a wash-house

The downstairs loo is small. There won't be room for drying if converted to a utility. I know OP will have a dryer, but not everything can go in a dryer.

OP, you can't according to building regulations take out an existing downstairs toilet. You say you don't mind but your BIL or whoever does it for you is convening building regs.

At the risk of asking a redundant question - it sounds like the space in your new home is not suitable for your family. Are you sure it's the right move? I would have said go house the appliances in a shed, but see there's no room even for that.

I'm going from 2 bedrooms to 5.

Theres 2 reception rooms.

There's alot more space. Just not in the kitchen.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 14/01/2023 23:41

Thesonglastslonger · 14/01/2023 23:36

I used to live in a house that had one toilwt.

On one occasion DH was in the bath and I had a bit of a tummy problem that could not wait.

I had to go into the back garden and lift up the manhole cover and go direct into the sewer. Luckily this part of garden not overlooked.

Two toilets. Always, two toilets.

Houses used to quite often have one loo but separate, not in the bathroom so at least that nightmare scenario was averted.
I wouldn't want only one loo in a bathroom in a family house.

spotddog · 14/01/2023 23:58

If you have an airing cupboard with a hot water cylinder, would you consider replacing existing boiler with a Combi Boiler? That would allow you to get rid of cylinder and use the space for washer and dryer. I've seen this done very successfully.

Mossstitch · 15/01/2023 00:02

broomtomb · 14/01/2023 23:23

Nooooo.

I absolutely hated living in a house with only 1 toilet.

Especially after the great norovirus disaster of NYE 2012. Worst 48hr of my life. I still have flashbacks. 😭

No exactly what you mean..... Unfortunately!!! Seem to remember a mop bucket had to be used😳 first thing I had to have when I moved was a second toilet!

ErrolTheDragon · 15/01/2023 00:22

If you've got a large family, aren't some of them old enough to replace the dishwasher so you can have a washer dryer? Grin

Coyoacan · 15/01/2023 00:31

I'd kill for a second toilet. There are just three of us and I often have to wait for ages to use it

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 15/01/2023 00:34

Ugh so tough. I'd rather keep the toilet, but there's not a chance in HELL I'd ever live somewhere without a dishwasher again.

Is the bathroom big enough to be remodelled to include a washing machine? Very continental!

(We have only one toilet at the moment and it's so annoying. I'm trying to find someone to come and quote us on putting one in....no luck so far)

YourWinter · 15/01/2023 00:44

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 14/01/2023 21:17

I've done it! Had the loo taken out and the pipes capped off, but not removed. Kept the basin. It has an extractor fan, which is good. The extra space suits us very well, better than another loo would.

Sorry to derail your thread OP but I’m thinking of having my unused downstairs loo and basin removed, did you need a plumber to do the loo and a builder to fix the floor? Was it a concrete floor? I haven’t got anyone in to look at it yet and have no idea if I’m looking at £1000, or £5000 or more to turn this room into a cupboard!

NotLovingWFH · 15/01/2023 08:05

I would definitely keep the downstairs toilet and try to fit in the washing machine and dryer. If your family is big enough to need 5 bedrooms I just can’t imagine 1 bathroom being sufficient, it wouldn’t work for us. A sliding door is a great idea and relatively easy to fit.

Hobbesmanc · 15/01/2023 08:18

Just noticed you're going to a five bed home! Can't you either put a second bathroom in upstairs. Or make an upstairs laundry room in the smallest bed.

Kissedbyfire1 · 15/01/2023 08:22

titchy · 14/01/2023 21:11

Because all new builds have to have a downstairs loo, and removing an existing one would go against the regulations (designed to improve life for older and disabled people - not you, but future residents in your house):

https://www.labc.co.uk/news/can-downstairs-toilet-be-removed-home

We turned our downstairs loo into a mini-utility/storage/cloakroom. Took architect advice re building regs and he said that because the building (conversion) isn’t wheelchair/disabled/whole life accessible there was no building regs issue.
We do have two bathrooms upstairs however and only two people in the house.

RampantIvy · 15/01/2023 08:24

Definitely keep the loo. It sounds like none of you have ever had an upset stomach or needed the loo when someone is having a bath/shower, but one day it will happen.

All those saying "but we managed" is irrelevant. I remember being extremely uncomfortable when waiting for DH to finish in the bathroom when we lived in a one loo house.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/01/2023 08:27

If your only other loo is in the bathroom, I’d def. want to keep a 2nd.