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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to buy house with no bathroom windows?

38 replies

confused14453 · 10/04/2021 00:45

Finally able to buy our first place at long last, and have seen a lovely new build which ticks many boxes. Apart from the fact that neither the main bathroom or the en-suite have any windows! Didn’t even realise this was a thing. It’s an end terrace and bathrooms are on outside wall so technically having windows put in ourselves is possible but we wouldn’t have the funds for a long time for this.
Are we crazy and setting ourselves up for years of mould / damp issues? Anyone else in same situation?

OP posts:

WhenPushComesToShove · 10/04/2021 00:51

We put in a super high spec ventilation fan which comes on with the light and overruns for a preset time. It works beautifully and keeps the bathroom pong free

devuskums · 10/04/2021 00:54

@WhenPushComesToShove that's a great idea, would you mind saying which one you have please?

Emeraldshamrock · 10/04/2021 01:10

If there is good ventilation it is fine. I never had any issue with it when I was living in an apartment.

MotherPiglet · 10/04/2021 01:21

One of our ensuites doesnt have a window but has a fan extractor. We just leave that on for some time afterwards and it stops it from smelling or being damp in there.

Regularsizedrudy · 10/04/2021 01:23

I’ve lived in houses like this. So long as there’s good extraction it’s absolutely fine.

Lou98 · 10/04/2021 01:28

Neither of our two bathrooms have windows but they both have extractor fans and never had any issues. PIL's house is a new build and they don't have windows either, again though have an extractor. As your house is a new build they will have built in an extractor that will be sufficient but you can always change it further down the line if you wanted to

pinkprosseco · 10/04/2021 01:33

Another one here , two of our bathrooms and one downstairs toilet have no windows but all have a really good extractor fan controlled by the light. Only time we had a hint of damp was when one fan had stopped working and we didn't realise as they are so quiet. Got a replacement and no problem since.

TaraR2020 · 10/04/2021 01:55

Grew up in a house with a windowless bathroom, no issues whatsoever. Think the extractor fan came on whenever the light did.

ElizabethTudor · 10/04/2021 02:14

But why are there no windows when it’s an end terrace and the bathrooms are on an outside wall?
Did they not put them in to scrimp on money? In which case, what else have they scrimped on?
Have you asked the developer why there are no windows?

wigglerose · 10/04/2021 02:19

I rented a flat wherr neither the ensuite nor the bathroom had windows. The ensuite developed terrible mould. We had to spray the ceiling with mildew remover every few months.

avamiah · 10/04/2021 02:19

It wouldn’t bother me as I have the blinds down all the time .
As long as they have ventilation and are happy then I don’t see a problem .

LibbyL92 · 10/04/2021 03:01

My flat doesn’t have windows in the bathroom! Never, ever had an issue with damp. Extractor fan is great

ivfbeenbusy · 10/04/2021 03:04

It's normal in lots of new build 2 or 3 bedroom houses unfortunately.
Personally I wouldn't buy one - they never smell totally fresh and not damp - when we bought our house it was one of my must haves

Flittingaboutagain · 10/04/2021 03:08

I assume when you come up the stairs the bathroom is on the wall with the neighbours and in the middle of the house, surrounded by bedrooms, hence no windows.

This wouldn't bother me at all for a first home if you can check the quality of, or upgrade the ventilation. Going forward if I had the money to avoid this I would though, because I love natural light.

Justanticipating · 10/04/2021 03:18

@ivfbeenbusy

It's normal in lots of new build 2 or 3 bedroom houses unfortunately. Personally I wouldn't buy one - they never smell totally fresh and not damp - when we bought our house it was one of my must haves

Same. I had a windowless bathroom in the flat I was in at the time I was looking and hated it. It felt so dingy and clerical relying on the electrical lighting and having no natural light. My dp and the sales lady at the new build office thought I was mad being so adament about it. I think there was even a plot about £10k cheaper that had a windowless bathroom and I just couldn't do it.

ivfbeenbusy · 10/04/2021 03:28

@Justanticipating

My husband thought I was crazy pouring over floor plans on Rightmove and discounting any with windowless bathrooms - I just flat out refused to view them 🤣.

eatsleepread · 10/04/2021 03:40

In my experience:

New build with windowless bathroom (and good extractor fan) - not a problem.

Current, old (Georgian) flat with windowless bathroom - big problem, with damp to the ceiling.

eatsleepread · 10/04/2021 03:41

I should add that windowless bathrooms are very common in new builds.

Tootsee · 10/04/2021 03:58

Would be a deal breaker for me, have to have a window in the bathroom.

RedAntsBiteHard · 10/04/2021 04:09

It's possibly a condition from planning - prevents views into other houses

custardbear · 10/04/2021 04:13

Our main bathroom couldn't have a window due to building regs when we did an extension, however we got around it by havjng a velux put in which is fabulous!
Any chance you could put one in?
Ours looks like a square in the roof with a bit of a corridor, then Velex slanted in but gives masses of light ... I'll try to take a picture (it's a bit dark just now ..)

custardbear · 10/04/2021 05:16

Here's my pictures ... could you do something like this?
Another option if there's too much roof to go through is a light corridor

ivfbeenbusy · 10/04/2021 07:17

@RedAntsBiteHard

It's possibly a condition from planning - prevents views into other houses

It'a not planning related as bathrooms have frosted windows

It's house builders putting the bathroom between 2 bedrooms so that they can maximise "space" - or lack of it really - U.K. houses have some of the smallest room sizes in Europe. Our housing market is priced on "number of bedrooms" rather than square footage so it suits builders to shoe horn in the maximum number of bedrooms and get more "value" from it.

KoalaOok · 10/04/2021 07:19

Does it have a good ventilation system?

StatisticallyChallenged · 10/04/2021 07:26

Our new build has windows in the bathrooms but they're very rarely opened - they all have very good ventilation in them which totally clears shower steam etc, so you might be fine.

If the house is finished can you test it?

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