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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bathroom fitting - no toilet

37 replies

WeWereInParis · 10/04/2023 13:40

We're having our bathroom redone at the moment and it's the only toilet in the house. We went away over the Easter weekend as we didn't have the shower installed but the fitters were in over the weekend doing some bits on Saturday (due to issues with the delivery of stuff they were a bit behind, but we didn't ask/expect them to come over the bank holiday weekend). We've come back and there is no toilet - it won't be installed until tomorrow but we did tell the fitters we'd be back today.

We're having it done through B&Q, am I unreasonable to complain about this or is it just something you should expect when having a bathroom redone? Should we just suck it up and book a hotel (obviously ultimately we will have to do this, but I'm annoyed we had no forewarning)? They started at the start of last week but didn't leave us overnight without a loo at any point.

OP posts:
BunnyRabbitSandwich · 10/04/2023 13:46

You’ll just have to suck it up I’m afraid. Years ago, we had this and had to move out for about 4 days.

Aprilx · 10/04/2023 13:51

Yes it is normal to move out for at least a couple of days when having a bathroom fitted and if it is the only toilet. They have to do things in a particular order that simply might not fit in with your plans. I moved out for a week when I lived in my 1 bed 1 bath flat and did the bathroom.

Growlybear83 · 10/04/2023 13:52

Many years ago, we were in this position. We used a bucket and carrier bags where necessary. It wasn't pleasant but it would never have occurred to me to move out to a hotel!

nosyupnorth · 10/04/2023 13:55

It's a risk you take, but I would expect them to communicate clearly how long they'd expect their work to keep the facilities out of action. If they indicated would be done by a certain date and they haven't warned you of a delay, then I'd have a polite word about better communication, but keeping in mind that this is an expected risk so if you make a strong complaint you will look unreasonable.

Bluevelvetsofa · 10/04/2023 13:57

We had a bucket in a shed and a child in nappies. Fortunately, only for a couple of days.

We actually had another toilet, but it broke at completely the wrong time.

Original poster
WeWereInParis · 10/04/2023 13:59

Alright, fair enough. We half moved out last week and stayed with PILs but now they've got MILs parents staying with them so there's no space. If they'd told us when we'd said we'd be back Monday "but you won't have a toilet that night" we'd have stayed an extra night at my parents' (which is where we were this weekend) but it's too far to drive back there now. They told us it would be finished on Tuesday (so tomorrow) so we thought toilet would be in. But by the look of it, no way will it be close to done tomorrow.

It was just a bit of an "oh no!!!" moment when we got back with two small children to find no toilet.

OP posts:
Wilma55 · 10/04/2023 14:01

Go outdoors will have a chemical porta potti, cheaper than a hotel probably

LoobyDop · 10/04/2023 14:01

I don’t agree that it’s normal and you have to suck it up. I’ve had several bathroom refits done, and every time they left the toilet until last and then took the old one out and put the new one in in one day so we weren’t left without.

2bazookas · 10/04/2023 14:11

Or you could buy a camping toilet , 30 quid at Argos, use anywhere in the house. Empty the 7L bucket at a neighbours loo.

TrudyProud · 10/04/2023 14:13

I'd definitely complain. When I had my bathroom re-done we could still use the toilet (at least for no1s). It was the last thing they did and they fit it in the daytime when I was at work.

MoreSleepPleasee · 10/04/2023 14:14

Not normal from my experience when my bathroom was done I was never left without a working toilet. I'd complain.

MoreSleepPleasee · 10/04/2023 14:17

Our local council do bathroom refurbishment for their homes and no household will ever be left without a useable toilet. Don't see how b&q can't work to the same standard.

StraightOuttaChorlton · 10/04/2023 14:18

I’m amazed how many responses so far think it is acceptable to be left without a toilet - it is very much not!
Toilets are easily isolated and a professional fitter should only leave you without a toilet during the period it is being directly replaced (1-2 hours). Never overnight.

ny20005 · 10/04/2023 14:28

That's definitely not normal or acceptable. You communicated that you'd be back today.

I was 8 months pregnant when we had a bathroom refitted. They always left a working loo at the end of each day

TakeMyStrongHand · 10/04/2023 14:41

Unreasonable to not hook it back up at the end of the day, even more unreasonable to have it as a surprise due to lack of communication! Complain!

Mynotsoperfectlittlefamily · 10/04/2023 14:45

My partner fits bathrooms and never leaves the household without a toilet, he always makes sure it is back in and working everyday even if he has to remove it in the day due to lack of space. It is very unacceptable to be left without a working toilet for any time other than the actual fitting of the new one.

babblingbumblingbandofbaboons · 10/04/2023 15:05

Absolutely not normal to be left without - bathroom refit here took two
weeks (issues were found that had to be sorted before the new tiles went on) and every single night the toilet went back in. It wasn’t bolted down, it didn’t have a working flush, but could be used and a bucket used to flush it! Definitely complain!

wigywhoo · 10/04/2023 15:07

Aprilx · 10/04/2023 13:51

Yes it is normal to move out for at least a couple of days when having a bathroom fitted and if it is the only toilet. They have to do things in a particular order that simply might not fit in with your plans. I moved out for a week when I lived in my 1 bed 1 bath flat and did the bathroom.

Really? We had complete new bathroom, always a loo overnight so we just had days out.

Yazo · 10/04/2023 15:08

We had a night without one and that was our cowboy builder who messed everything up but at least told us that. We're over the road from a GP with a loo and a pub around the corner otherwise had a couple of wees in a bucket. You should have had notice though. It's quite common as when they do the floor can't often put the loo on it etc

DuringDinnerMints · 10/04/2023 15:14

We just had a new bathroom installed. We had a working toilet throughout. It's absolutely possible to do, and we had flooring done, walls plastered etc.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 10/04/2023 15:15

I'm really shocked at everyone saying it's normal - it's absolutely not normal and you should definitely complain, especially as you told them when you'd be back.

We've had bathrooms re-done and DH also works in the industry - the only time a toilet is completely out of action is when it's being replaced - otherwise it's plumbed in and useable, even if the rest of the room is a bomb site.

It would maybe be a bit different if you were in a home with multiple bathrooms and didn't need that specific one, but the builders should always check and not assume you're okay to go without.

SpamhappyTootsie · 10/04/2023 15:18

We had our bathroom completely refitted last year and the toilet stayed in place and workable throughout, in fact it was the only thing in there for about a week while they replaced rotten floorboards and joists at the other side of the room.
Your fitters seem to be treating it as an ‘empty house’ refurb, which they don’t have to do.

I did buy a portable toilet and lined it with nappies in the spare bedroom for wees during the day but only needed it twice,

HowcanIhelp123 · 10/04/2023 15:20

Every time our bathroom got done they made sure we had a toilet every night. Even when we were moving everything around. After all the workers need it too!

CrystalCoco · 10/04/2023 15:22

Another vote for 'not normal' (or acceptable!)
You shouldn't be left overnight without a working toilet.

Moosey65 · 10/04/2023 15:33

Definately not normal. I've done well over a hundred bathroom refits including many back to brick renovations. Unless the customer is away for the duration of the job then one of the first jobs is to figue out how the loo goes back in, even if the surroundings are less than salubrious.
I've never left a customer without yet.

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