Get rid of toilet in new build

[putitdown356]

About to move in to a 3 bed new build, one bathroom and one en suite upstairs, with a loo downstairs.

I want to get rid of downstairs loo and put a washing machine and dryer in there.

I live on my own. If I don't do this washing machine will go in kitchen and dryer im not sure where it could go. Does this sound like a mistake? Or would you also do this?

We had a toilet right off the kitchen when we bought our relatively new build. The idea of hearing someone pee while I ate was enough to get rid of it! We took the toilet out and capped off the floor so when we sell the house we can just put a new toilet back. We shelved the walls and use the room as a utility room with a tumble dryer now, much more useful.

Ours is enormous for this reason. We have a chest of drawers in ours, but you could easily fit a dryer and there's space for the washing machine in the kitchen.

It hasnt been well executed because homes are allowed to be so small. No room for dining tables is a disgrace. No room for wardrobe. Smallest room not always room for a bed. Could easily be addressed with minimum room sizes in building regs that were actually adequate.

Would they stack and still fit in? Perhaps if you changed sink to something more compact?

Do you have floor plan?

If you do, keep the plumbing but just have it capped so it's easy to reinstate.

Does it have a garage? Taking a section off the back is also a relatively easy job and commonly done to create utility space.

Use your home as best suits you but leave future options open.

@allaboutsign no, due to money, also it would eat into garden space.
Ive got a feeling for the first 5 years you can't build an extension due to clause from developer🤔

@Theunamedcat there are loads of new builds in the area, prob around 900 plus at a guess. So yes I agree, very good point.

Im not sure what the plan is re. doctors and schools. There is also one very small supermarket in the town.

is a separate dryer really necessary if just you?

why not a washer dryer if important to you?

@VesperLind yes thats what I was thinking, a sort of storage cupboard as well. Although there is a cupboard under the stairs, I know I would always use the extra space.

Do you have a floorplan/dimensions? Could the loo could be replaced with a small one with a basin on top of the cistern leaving space to stack a washing machine and dryer? If that's not possible, what about putting the washer and dryer in the ensuite as previously suggested?

You aren't allowed

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

All new homes need a toilet on the entrance level now. There's also minimum sizes.

If large enough could you stack a washer and dryer in the downstairs loo? As long as you retain the actual loo you don't need to use it!

@DisplayPurposesOnly I have always wanted an en-suite, I know that sounds silly, but I really don't want to get rid of it.

I've been looking around a lot of newbuilds recently (for work reasons) and I did not know that about the building regs - it explains why these tiny houses have loos opening directly off a small kitchen / diner which I think is absolutely horrific. We need better regs if this is what the existing regs leads to. It's animalistic, this is not how humans want to live. In the past when people had limited space due to means, they put their out house.... outside. I get that not everyone has room for a spacious and well separated lavatory wing on every floor, but it isn't how humans want to live to move the thing into where you cook and eat.

@MovingCrib @SquigglePigs oh I had no idea, thank you I will def look into this.

It's wild have new builds seem to have lots of toilets, I guess they think it increases the value. My friend has a beautiful 2 bed house but 3 toilets which is madness 😂 I would take the downstairs loo out.

Have you got a garage?
We're in a new build and just had a space for a washer in our kitchen. We had a cupboard put in the space where the washer was supposed to be and the plumbing for the washer put into the garage, so I have my washer and dryer in there.

@Heatherbell1978 thats what I was thinking, I don't really need it being on my own. And I have no issue with guests using upstairs one.

This is what I'd do. Change it too suit your situation but make it easy to change back if needed.

@Theunamedcat

I'm in a new build. We have a garage, reserved parking in front and a general unreserved parking space (or more) in a residential parking, this is pretty standard here. The fact-- we have 4 cars is by the by--. We didn't have space for a tumble dryer though so I built a utility cupboard in the kitchen with them stacked and space for the ironing board beside and cupboard for the iron, laundry supplies etc above. Obviously you need to redesign the kitchen for this so it was sat next to the fridge in the dining area initially.

I didn't realise this, how ridiculous that the regulations stipulate what you should have in your own home. Explains a lot though, I agree about it being grim when there's a small toilet crammed in near the kitchen, ew.

That is an awful layout isn't it

Can I just say not all new builds are like that

I would be minded to put the dryer in the upstairs bathroom myself ( I like a downstairs loo )

@allaboutsign I guess I could get away with not having a dryer, but in my last house I got fed up of washing everywhere, and bedlinen /towels took almost 2 days to fully dry. I ended up spending quite a bit at the launderette.

You will probably also find doors wide enough for disabled wheelchair acccess

Which given the general health of the country isn't as daft as it sounds

Fixing health would be better

I know someone who has done just that (even though she has two small children). Not a difficult job for a plumber to sort out and as long as they make sure the plumbing needed for the toilet is still in place it can all be reversed back to being a toilet if necessary. My friend had a sturdy shelf put in and the washing machine and tumble dryer are stacked vertically. There’s then space for more shelving/storage.

A lot of people do like a downstairs loo. I viewed a house where they had done what you are planning and it really put me off. I didn't offer but if I did I would have factored in the cost of putting it back. The estate agent let slip that lots of viewers were saying they didn't like it. It hung around on the market for a long time compared to other 3 beds on the same estate with a downstairs loo.

Obviously not so much of an issue if you plan to live there for many years.

@Flowerrrr

It's partly about accessibility, our home was built so the downstairs loo can take a wheelchair (well a slimline manual one at least) the stairs to the first floor are compatible for a standard stairlift, our en-suite is also designed to be converted a wet room and door opens outwards for easy access. It's future proofing our housing stock plus nearly everyone wants a downstairs loo and mandating them means even entry level housing has them