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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Only bathroom downstairs

82 replies

Emboo19 · 19/02/2017 13:15

Ok, I wasn't really sure where to put this.
My boyfriend is looking to buy a house, and we've been to view three so far, all with the only bathrooms downstairs. Looking online it's seeming normal for the area and price he's looking at, lots of terraced cottage style houses, his other option will probably be a flat/apartment but then no garden.

I think the only bathroom downstairs is a bit impractical and will be difficult when dd is older and toilet training. Also don't like the idea of no garden though.
So does anyone have their only bathroom downstairs? And if so how do you find it? Would you choose that over no garden or not?

It's not actually my choice. I'm not buying with him he's just asking my opinion and I might move in. I'm just curious really and I've never thought about it before, but just presumed most bathrooms would be upstairs!

OP posts:

daisypond · 19/02/2017 14:04

I think it's fine, too, and I can see advantages - like keeping the upstairs bit your private section but the bathroom is downstairs for any visitors to use. I also think it's better to have a downstairs bathroom for when a child is toilet training, etc. A child is more likely to be downstairs than upstairs, surely. Even as an adult, I'd say it's better to have the only bathroom downstairs where you're more likely to be.

mygorgeousmilo · 19/02/2017 14:05

It's normal in many, many areas. My bathroom is on the middle floor with my bedroom on same floor, but upstairs from living area, and downstairs fro the kids' rooms. Doesn't bother me and the kids very quickly get the hang of stairs and just go up or down. If it was the choice of having to suffer a downstairs loo, or being without a garden, I'd take the bathroom. If it's big enough you could one day have a loo put in upstairs in the future if it bothers you enough.

MikeUniformMike · 19/02/2017 14:05

I think you'd get used to it. A big plus is that if you flood the bathroom, you won't have a ceiling collapse.

SumAndSubstance · 19/02/2017 14:09

Toilet training, I was more thinking of when she might need to go to the toilet through the night.

In my experience, this almost never happens with toddlers - they have bladders of steel. Just make sure she wees before she goes to bed. It wouldn't be a dealbreaker for me, but it would be worth looking at whether you could squeeze just a loo upstairs in any of the houses though - that would make all the difference and sometimes is possible.

AnarchyKitty · 19/02/2017 14:10

I have a downstairs bathroom. It's not a problem. Last two houses I in lived in had them too but I prefer period houses so comes as standard it seems.

dingdongdigeridoo · 19/02/2017 14:10

We had this set up in our last place. It was generally quite annoying. The only advantage was that when we potty trained DS it was easy to get him to the loo during the day!

Generally, I don't get up in the night for a wee, but when I was ill or had had a few drinks it was most annoying to traipse downstairs in the cold.

I got into a habit of getting showered and dressed in the bathroom rather than wandering through the house in a towel or dressing gown. We set up the tumble dryer just outside the bathroom so we could have nice warm clothes ready to wear.

Was very relieved to move into our ugly 70s house with an upstairs bathroom and downstairs loo. Such luxury!

AntiHop · 19/02/2017 14:14

I'd choose a downstairs bathroom if it meant I could have a garden.

Dulcimena · 19/02/2017 14:18

Ours is downstairs too - c1900 Victorian terrace with a gf extension. It's fine! Would be lovely to have an upstairs toilet but space is precious and honestly it's not that big of a deal. We are vaguely thinking about having the loft converted at some point, you could look into whether that'd be an option.

Original poster

Emboo19 · 19/02/2017 14:18

To be fair my boyfriends quite sold on the idea of walking round the house in just a towel!
One does have a built in one wardrobe that can be accessed from both bedrooms and one the second bedroom is a slight L shape with a built in wadrobe on the jutting out part (sorry if that makes no sense at all)
My boyfriend said he might be able to put a toilet in either one of those, he knows a few plumbers so he's going to ask.
I think he's pretty much made his mind up anyway.

OP posts:

Fanciedachange17 · 19/02/2017 14:23

Ours is downstairs. You get used to it and the advantages in the daytime outweigh the nocturnal loo visits. Just had a walk in shower done and got rid of the old stained hideous bath. Went minimalist to save on cleaning as I'm a lazy bitch so there is no grout just lovely panels which are speckled and catch the light to give rainbow colours. Love it so much and it is virtually self cleaning.

chocdonutyy · 19/02/2017 14:24

To be fair potty training is for such a short time if the house is going to be lived in for a while it's not worth worrying about.unless you have bathrooms on each floor then there's always going to be times when you're on the wrong floor.

MikeUniformMike · 19/02/2017 14:26

You might need planning permission to put in an upstairs bathroom.

SemiNormal · 19/02/2017 14:28

I spent 16 years growing up in a house like that and it was no problem for me or the rest of the family at all. I'm amused at how disgruntled people get at the thought of trekking the short distance to the toilet in the middle of the night, unless you live in a mansion it's really not that far and you do get used to it.

Original poster

Emboo19 · 19/02/2017 14:31

It's not listed Mike he thinks at most he might need building control approval. He'd be buying as it is though and he's ok with that. If can add one and it would be worth doing so, he might.

OP posts:

littlewoodentrike · 19/02/2017 14:35

I used to have a downstairs bathroom, and can honestly say it never bothered me. I actually found it easier having a shower etc with DD around and her playing downstairs. That house had a lovely garden and that was so much more important to us.

CharlieDimmocksbosoms · 19/02/2017 14:35

You can keep a potty for night trips to the loo for DD when she's older. Thinking about when you use the toilet most it makes sense to have it downstairs really!!

Original poster

Emboo19 · 19/02/2017 14:35

It is funny Semi to think not that long ago, most people had to go outside to use the loo! In fairness the one I like best not that it's my choice the stairs are at the top of the landing near the master bedroom and straight down to outside the bathroom door.

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SemiNormal · 19/02/2017 14:38

It is funny Semi to think not that long ago, most people had to go outside to use the loo! - Yes, now that would fill me with dread and fear! Just think of the spiders and other things that could be lurking there, ick!

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/02/2017 14:40

Outside loos are good for parties in the garden. Think dh and I missed a trick....

blueteapot · 19/02/2017 14:41

Any scope to put an ensuite in one of the bedrooms?

Original poster

Emboo19 · 19/02/2017 14:41

Yep, outside would be a deal breaker for me. I'd definitely be staying at home in that case!

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mellowfartfulness · 19/02/2017 14:43

Ours is down half a flight of stairs (and right next to the front door - this house is weird) but we're very used to it now. It'll start to seem normal in no time, honest. Nightlights around the house and an emergency potty available upstairs should help when your DD comes out of nighttime pull-ups - that's normally a while after they become dry during the day so I should think she'll be fairly confident and capable by then.

plimsolls · 19/02/2017 14:44

I can honestly say I wouldn't care in the slightest.

Our house currently is tall and thin, the bathroom is on a middle floor. It's upstairs from the lounge/kitchen and downstairs from the bedrooms so technically worst of both worlds. It didn't even bother me much when I was heavily pregnant and getting up several times in the night. It's a difference of what 30 seconds vs 10 seconds?

I haven't really thought about what will happening when the baby is of toilet training age but even if it's an issue, toilet training is fairly temporary!

I would never have location of bathroom as a thing for deciding whether to buy a house. And if it came down to upstairs bathroom v garden, I would say it's a no brainer.

Kikikaakaa · 19/02/2017 14:44

Mine is downstairs and it doesn't bother me

Original poster

Emboo19 · 19/02/2017 14:45

Mummyof the one I prefer again not my choice has a the back door and a porch then the bathroom, I did think that's good for summer when you have barbecues and friends round, they don't have to go through the house, and my boyfriend thinks a extra fridge will fit in the porch for the beer!

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