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Original poster

Windowless bathrooms, are they awful?

64 replies

lavenderscenteddrawerliners · 19/05/2026 07:29

I've just accepted a SH flat that has no windows in the bathroom or WC. The housing officer said they have proper ventilation (looks like a smoke alarm) but I'm expecting major issues with mould. I'm hoping posters might come along and say it will be fine [wishful thinking]

OP posts:
Sandflea9900 · 19/05/2026 18:19

They’re bit terrible, but the issues expressed by PP are real. If the fan isn’t decent, get it changed. Also consider changing the lightbulbs - consider brightness and the warmth of the white. This can make a huge difference.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 19/05/2026 18:33

We have one, family (2nd) bathroom in a 4 bed house. There is an extractor fan that comes on automatically when you switch the light on. We’ve never had mould in 40 years - even when dds were still at home and dd1 was having a shower and a bath every day!

TBH I stopped even noticing the lack of a window ages ago, let alone caring.

Oddly enough, the ensuite is rather bigger, and yes, it has a window.

mynameiscalypso · 19/05/2026 18:34

It’s fine. We have three. No issues with mould or anything. We have good fans in them.

NoodBanaan · 19/05/2026 19:12

We do, but we have a good ventilation system. You have to leave the door open when you've finished to let the air flow through, which means you also need to open the windows elsewhere in the flat to make sure the hall doesn't get damp. I actually like it, it's much easier to keep warm than ones with windows and no need to worry about blinds, moths and mosquitos. We run a dehumidifier regularly in the winter.

localnotail · 19/05/2026 20:26

Monetsbridge · 19/05/2026 07:34

mine is fine. There's a ventilation system in the flat that draws air out of the kitchen and bathroom, and exchanges it somehow with fresh air that goes into the bedroom and living room. called an MVHR system I think.

We have the same, also have a huge heated mirror - new flat built to current regulations and relatively high spec. The bathroom dries out in about 5 minutes after use, never had any mould (lived here for 4 years now).

I actually disliked window in my previous bathroom, it was above the bath and was always getting scabby and mouldy and also made the bathroom cold (old Victorian house).

localnotail · 19/05/2026 20:30

You need to have good ventilation in the bathroom, with or without window. Also, good insulation if its on the external wall to prevent cold bridge and mould.

redcosmeticbag · 19/05/2026 20:31

No issues with mine.

baddayformeredith · 19/05/2026 20:46

MrsCarson · 19/05/2026 07:44

Our main upstairs bathroom has no window. We've never had mould in there. The light is attached to an extractor fan and it runs for the whole time the light is on and for 10 minutes after the light goes off. It is less steamed up, less damp and better than the downstairs one where we have a window.
My mothers flat has the same kind of bathroom, no mould or damp.

Same here.
lived here for over 10 years and no issues with damp or mould

Bryonyberries · 20/05/2026 07:43

My bathroom is downstairs with a big window and close to the back door which I can open for air flow and it is prone to damp and mould. I think a lot of it is to do with how good the extractor fan is and how warm your walls are in general.

My bathroom is in an extended part of an older house and single wall with a flat roof so it is generally cooler than the rest of the house.

basoon · 20/05/2026 08:03

I had one for a few years, it was fine.

BooseysMom · 20/05/2026 08:16

We have only once lived in a house with a bathroom window and it was pure luxury. It was a private rental and all the others had no windows. We are now in a 2 bed shared ownership house with no bathroom window again. We had to replace the inadequate fan and the one we have now is so noisy it drives me mad! Lying in the bath listening to that incessant drone is hardly relaxing.
There's not even a landing window so the damp air gets trapped and we have mould on the corners of the ceilings in both bedrooms. It seems that opening both front and back bedroom windows does nothing.

My dream in life is to live in a house with a bathroom window!! But obviously it's too much to ask.

I think it's disgusting the way that house builders get away with leaving out basic requirements like windows in their shitty new builds.

GrimDamnFanjo · 20/05/2026 08:19

Mine is absolutely fine. I have one of those units in the loft that filters the air though. I don’t have any condensation in the house at all.

Myblueclematis · 20/05/2026 08:26

I had a house with a windowless bathroom for around six years, it did have an extractor fan in the ceiling.

I found that as long as the bathroom was never cold during the winter months and if I had a bath or shower, the heating was or had been on, I never had a single problem with mould as there was never any condensation.

We solved a problem for my dad, he had a window and an extractor fan but he had quite a bit of mould over the shower area due to excessive condensation in colder weather.

We got rid of the ineffectual towel radiator, had a proper decent sized radiator put in and the problem was solved. No condensation and and no mould.

LupaMoonhowl · 20/05/2026 08:43

I recently had my house remodeled and on the original architect plans the new bathroom had no window, but the builder (and plumber and electrician 😂) all strongly advised on getting permission for one. So the architect sniffly complied…
So glad I did! Makes the room appear seem much bigger and much better for ventilation.

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