Downstairs bathrooms!

[woebetide8]

I just started another thread about buying a house with a downstairs bathroom, which (listed) I don't think we will be able to put a bathroom upstairs because the soil pipes are all the other side of the house and downstairs buried in the ground... Anyone live with a downstairs bathroom (we are a house of adults, no small kids), and is it a right pain, or okay?

I think you get used to it; it does affect the value and popularity of a house for sale.
If you have enough money then you can sort the soil pipe and drains out - I wouldn’t use a macerator though as they can get blocked then leak.

We put a shower room upstairs about 10 years ago and the soil-pipe tie in was a bit of a challenge, added to the cost, but was do-able. No problems with it.

The downstairs bathroom is a bit redundant at the minute, but I can see it being useful when I am too old to climb the stairs.

We rented a house with only a downstairs bathroom and toilet - but had young kids - it was rapidly a pain to go to toilet in night had to walk length of house - to get a drink. It was more of an inconvenience that I'd expected TBH.

But you do adapt - and if you can get one in upstairs later having two is useful.

We have one and honestly, it is a real pain. It's also really cold as it was built in an extension off the main house.

I mean, it's perfectly manageable and doesn't cause real problems but I wouldn't get another one unless I had absolutely no choice.

My friend had one, it was a right pain when staying, you had to brush your teeth downstairs, go downstairs to pee, go through the kitchen to shower etc,

don’t get me wrong, liveable with, but far from ideal.

If you plan to live there into old age, bear in mind that older men (and some women) need to get up during the night, sometimes several times, to pee.
Do you really want to be navigating stairs at night?

Also on a rare occasion you have an upset tummy…. hurrying downstairs multiple times could be challenging.
Future proof your life!

I would say absolute no-no.

Years ago folks had outside loos and no bathrooms in the house, then when they were put in, it was done, usually at the back, often in a small extension, as it was cheaper and easier plumbing wise. It wasn’t done as an ideal choice really back then, most houses have had an upstairs bathroom added, or at least a loo, as times have moved on , but many still exist where it’s not done.

you can redo the plumbing and put one in upstairs, but there will be a cost.

Our first house had it's only bathroom downstairs off the kitchen, it was a pain but you get used to it. We were also younger though and there was only 2 of us in the house. I have a relative who only has a downstairs bathroom and my mother has refused to stay there on that basis, she needs the loo a few times a night and doesn't want to navigate the stairs at night

I think it would be a challenge as we get older perhaps... stairs at night, etc. for sure...

Or a godsend if you can't manage stairs and have to have a bedroom downstairs. 😊
There's always an alternative viewpoint.
My first house only had a downstairs bathroom and I honestly don't remember it being a pain.

Yes, I was thinking today that not having a downstairs loo has been a pain, and we spend most of our waking time downstairs, but there is no room for a bedroom downstairs, just a living room and kitchen...

Ultimately most house choices are based on a balance of which features you are willing to compromise on depending personal life style.

Some houses will suit particular phases of life better than others. It's rare to be able to futureproof for all eventualities.

Good luck in your decision making!

I grew up in a house with a downstairs bathroom, and it was not a problem at all, before that we lived in a tenement with no bathroom at all, and an outside toilet.

The house I live in now is a maisonette, with the kitchen and living room upstairs, and the bedrooms and bathroom downstairs, and I just love my upside down home!

So I don't get why a downstairs bathroom is an issue.

I always have to get up in the night for the loo. Recently I've been getting up about 5x a night . If I had to go downstairs for this I'd be seriously considering a chamber pot!