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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No basin in the only loo?

83 replies

Feminine · 15/12/2014 19:09

Am I being unreasonable to think this can't be okay in 2014?
We have an option of a 'swap' (social housing) anyway... There is just one loo, one loo minus a Basin! The bathroom is upstairs. It is a council property built in 1958. Is it legal Anymore? Should the council put one in? I am also prepared to sort this out ourselves but... I think it strange they haven't updated? It isn't a deal breaker, but l think it us seriously unhygienic. Isn't it? Thank you all.

OP posts:
Aeroflotgirl · 15/12/2014 19:13

It seems very odd, if council won't put one in, I would.

LittleBearPad · 15/12/2014 19:15

Is the loo in a room next to the bathroom where the sink is?

My GPs house was like that. Bit weird but not seriously unhygienic.

DoJo · 15/12/2014 19:15

So the loo is downstairs and the rest of the bathroom is upstairs? Sounds like a bit of an odd arrangement, but is there enough room for a basin in there?

TidyDancer · 15/12/2014 19:19

The house I lived in as a teenager was like this. The bathroom was next door to the toilet and that had the basin in it. Not what I'd describe as unhygienic at all and a bit of a non-issue really.

PuppyMonkey · 15/12/2014 19:19

The council house I grew up in had this. Bathroom was right next door.I survived. Grin

(Six of us kids and mum and dad sharing it too - and you tell the young folk that today, they don't believe you etc etc)

Vycount · 15/12/2014 19:21

You haven't said if the loo is on the same floor as the bathroom. Ours is, and it's great because nobody bashes on the door to come in and have a dump while I'm soaking in the bath. We are great handwashers though, and I'm find with himself coming in to wash his hands. Smile

Nomama · 15/12/2014 19:25

This made me laugh. Until I was about 18 I had never seen a loo with a hand basin in it. Hell, both GPs still had outdoor loos in the late 70s and we lived in a caravan with a sani lav for 2 years - one kitchen sink was our only source of water, drink, bath, wash your hands... that tap ran everything!

I don't think I died of anything nasty Smile

ThePrincessWhoSatOnTheSprout · 15/12/2014 19:33

OP did say the bathroom was upstairs...
So if the toilet is downstairs and the bath and basin are upstairs then what's wrong with washing your hands in the kitchen sink until you can get a small basin put in the downstairs toilet?

CheeseBuster · 15/12/2014 19:36

My friend lives in a house like this. You have to use the kitchen sink. Its fine, not sure why it'd be "illegal"?

magpieginglebells · 15/12/2014 19:42

Could you just use the kitchen sink?

Comito · 15/12/2014 19:46

My parents' house still has the toilet minus basin separate from the bathroom. None of us died. Admittedly, if it was my house now the very first thing I would do was knock them together. Grin

justwondering72 · 15/12/2014 19:49

It's completely normal here in France both in older and newer housing, to not have a sink in the toilet room. But since we are staring down the barrel of our second gastro attack since September I have to say I'd rather see every loo fitted with basin, hot water and hand sanitiser!

Suefla62 · 15/12/2014 19:53

Still like that in my Grandparents old house. Just put a big bottle of hand sanitizer in there or yes the kitchen sink.

Suefla62 · 15/12/2014 19:53

Use not yes.

Original poster
Feminine · 15/12/2014 19:55

Thank for your replies...I am comforted by the fact that some of you think it is a non issue. Yes, that bathroom is upstairs. So... Out of the loo with dirty toilet hands... Touching the handle... Touching the bathroom door... finally washing your hands... Just seemed like it needed sorting. If the loo was next door, or the bathroom had a toilet in, l don't think I would be too concerned. Washing 'toilet' hands in the kitchen, just seems wrong. I am sure we could get used to it. Does anyone know if adding a basin us a very expensive job? :)

OP posts:
KnackeredMerrily · 15/12/2014 19:58

I know of lots of houses with a toilet next door to the bathroom. Old fashioned now, but not quite as old as avacado bathroom suites.

campingfilth · 15/12/2014 19:58

The house I grew up in and, my mum still lives in, has a toilet with no basin in upstairs and the bathroom downstairs. I'm still alive and so is my mother.

Original poster
Feminine · 15/12/2014 19:59

I am feeling more positive... ;)

OP posts:
EnlightenedOwl · 15/12/2014 20:00

Yes our house was as described so you washed your hands in kitchen. I suppose we must have made the door handle germy passing back and for but no one died.

EnlightenedOwl · 15/12/2014 20:01

sorry posted too soon. You could put some hand gel in the loo for washing hands.

Original poster
Feminine · 15/12/2014 20:04

Maybe l have been spoilt? With my freezing downstairs bathroom? Grin at least it was all in one place. I do see the value of a separate loo though. Thinking back l grew up in a home with a separate loo, difference was, it was on the same floor!

OP posts:
Original poster
Feminine · 15/12/2014 20:05

Yes, l will supply hand gel. :)

OP posts:
PianoSlayer · 15/12/2014 20:07

How about installing one of these integrated toilet and hand basin?

www.diy.com/rooms/cooke-lewis-duetto-close-coupled-toilet-with-integrated-basin-with-soft-close-seat/160720_BQ.prd

anotherdayanothersquabble · 15/12/2014 20:09

I think I put one in our downstairs loo for £250.

Original poster
Feminine · 15/12/2014 20:10

Thank you, yes... I have seen those. Good idea. The lady that is living in the house at the moment, says there is ample room for a basin too! So at least we won't be cramped...

OP posts:
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