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 put our drier in our old house in the garage. The washing machine was in the kitchen. When we moved a utility room with space for both was at the top of the list.
Do you have a garage or room in the garden for a shed where you could put a drier? Or you could get a washer drier.

How big is the main bathroom?

Here it's usual for the washing machine to be in a utility room or the bathroom

The OP has already stated she has parking spaces, no garage.

That used to be the case here too but the rules changed a few years ago so that it was allowed as long as there are separate hand washing facilities in the toilet room.

What is all this 'you're not allowed!!!' guff..

Of course you can take out the toilet - just be aware that once you do it's no longer compliant with current building regs, and you probably have to reinstate it before you sell or you'll find buyers struggle to get a mortgage.

But your house won't be compliant with current building regs when you sell it anyway, because they are amended and altered all the time.

So it's really not a massive deal, you're not going to have the Building Regs Police come out and see that you've taken the loo out, capped everything off and stuck a washer and dryer in there... no blue flashy light will go off WHOOP WHOOP at Building Regs Central.. putitdown356 has taken their toilet out!

My kitchen isn't compliant 'cos I have taken the door off. The door currently could trap me IN the kitchen were I to be in there and there was a fire, and I cannot currently get out of the back door (which also probably isn't compliant). When I can get out of the back door I may put the door back on and of course when/if I sell this place, I'd put the door back on.

We're not talking some crazy structural breach here, no ones messing about removing load bearing walls or lintels or chimneys... just cap off the bog and sink plumbing which can be put back at a later date.

In Ireland you can't have build a new house without putting in a wheelchair accessible downstairs loo. My sister has a clothes drying rack in hers as its so big!

My bathrooms are private and especially the en suite.
If unknown tradesmen come, they use the loo downstairs.

Sure, but my point is that it's not a big deal if a tradesman needs to go upstairs. If you need something fixed upstairs, he'd have to go there anyway.

Having a downstairs loo is in the building regulations as part of a long-term plan to ensure that all homes are suitable for someone with reduced mobility so that local authorities don't have to spend £thousands on converting properties when someone breaks their hip etc, or have to keep them in residential care because their home isn't suitable. If a home has an accessible downstairs loo it is illegal to remove it or make it less accessible. I would convert the en-suite into a laundry room. If you live on your own it's madness to have two loos upstairs!

I'd keep the downstairs loo....handy for guests and if you ever hurt yourself, need surgery etc. look at putting the laundry upstairs where you take off your dirty clothes maybe ....like the Americans ...my son has his stacked in a cupboard in his new build it vents and water discharges into bathroom behind the cupboard.

If you plan to live there forever, do it, but if not, it’s going to affect the resale one day. A downstairs loo is a godsend for me and I wouldn’t even consider living in a house without one now.

OP would have to replace the WC for resale anyway in order to comply with her building regs approval.
OP has stated they intend to cap it off , I’m assuming for this reason.

If OP is planning on living there for decades, washing machines/ sanitaryware don't last forever anyway so there will be points where the contents of the space need to be replaced and reviewed. It's not an irreversable decision, so go with what's more practical for the next decade.

I have a downstairs toilet and often go upstairs to the toilet as it's warmer up there.
Even when heavily pregnant and rather immobile, a cold snap and the toilet being by the garage in a poorly heated, poorly insulated part of the house meant that the effort to go upstairs was preferable to sitting in a 10⁰C toilet.

Take it out if you really don't want it, but keep the basic plumbing in situ (but capped etc). Then, if/when you sell, you can very easily whack the loo back in.

@putitdown356 Haven't read the full thread but I live in a new build and have the washing machine and dryer in the cupboard under the stairs. The dryer is a condenser one and you just buy a special thing for stacking them together from Amazon, it even has a shelf, really handy. I also find having a toilet on both floors super convenient and whenever I view a house without that I have to work out where I'd put a downstairs loo, I feel like it's essential to have one so I wouldn't get rid of it if I was you. So glad to have a downstairs loo with a toddler.

Does anyone PLAN anymore

Ive done a bit of research over this in the last few months

the local council will object tho all of what you've mentioned - but the builders have lasers to override this and the council can't fight this in court and win - losing a lot of tax payers money as they do.

Thats why estates get built where you move in and find there aren't any pavements or buses to the nearest shop and your only option is uber or private car

Houses like that are designed for people on benefits / social tenents.

lawyers not lasers

that's a relief

Lasers sounded much more exciting though.

I broke my ankle 4 years ago and had to have surgery and was non weight bearing for 7 weeks.

I was unable to get upstairs and had to sleep on a bed downstairs.

I would have been absolutely fucked if I didn't have a downstairs loo.

Worth bearing in mind as you never ever know when an accident could happen.

Have you asked builder where the washing machine is meant to go?

Angela Raynor has just, last week and at the last minute ( 3 days before the planning meeting ) pulled in a planning application in Kent for 7000 homes. No gp, access issues, population overload. The planners recommended not to approve and there were over 700 objections. Raynor, I’m guessing, intends to let it through.
Big developers ££££££

Thats how this sort of thing happens

I think you may find that
a) there are regulations about having an accessible lavatory ie one on the ground floor. If you intend to stay in the house for a long time, you may appreciate this (or if you're injured & unable to get up the stairs temporarily).
b) resale value

A downstairs cloakroom is hugely useful - especially when you have guests. Can you talk to the builders about where else you might put the washing machine? And hang the dryer (if you must have such an energy-eater) above the washing machine to save space.

Big developers ££££££

Oh yes

and there will likely be restrictions - 300 houses occupied and then a bus route put in and a school - but the developers will take this back to the planners and cry a bit saying not enough profit to do that just yet....so we want to ignore that part, and guess what they'll get away with it

then everyone in the local area will blame the council and no one will look at the developers...