Settle an argument- downstairs loo or not…?

[TheBeaTgoeson1]

Please help settle an argument…

Starting on a small renovation. One person thinks that a downstairs loo is important as part of the work, there is space for it.

The other doesn’t see that it adds attraction to a property, and there’s a nice bathroom with loo at the top of the stairs…

Those who have or haven’t got one, who is reasonable?

(It would bring the total of loos in the house to two.)

Good that guests have no reason to go upstairs

I’d want downstairs loo

Team loo too

100% yes.

Agreed for these two reasons. I’m happy to nip upstairs but potty training would have been so much easier if we’d had a down stairs loo then, and it is now essential for elderly visitors especially.

Downstairs loo all the way (much to my irritation)

As PP's have said, great for toddlers potty training. DH recently broke his shoulder and it was so much easier for him to have a downstairs loo than having to manoeuvre his way up the stairs every time he needed a wee. So future-proofing is also a consideration .

Also, we as a family recently succumbed to our first ever attack of norovirus (DS was 20yo so I realise we've been incredibly lucky) While the downstairs loo is normally "wees only", only having the one loo would have made the situation sooo much worse.

It got to a point my grandpa couldn't visit us at home as our only loos were upstairs and our stairs are steep and taller than average, at that point I wish we had one downstairs I also agree with playdates etc keeps the DC out of the bedrooms as no reason to go upstairs

Confused with the vote but absolutely on team downstairs loo.
We have a garage conversion with downstairs shower room, shower never gets used but couldn't live with one bathroom again

I wouldn't even look at a house with only one loo - and there's just the 2 of us now.

We fit one in when we renovated in London after a friend had found that for some potential buyers it was a dealbreaker. Personally I prefer it as I don't really want guests having to go upstairs and elderly parents struggled to go up.

Now that I have one I would say definitely to downstairs loo. There’s an unwritten rule here that poos are only for upstairs, but downstairs very useful for guests, tradesmen, wee during garden time or just convenience in the evenings.

I’ve seen a few houses recently advertised as for “forever living” because they have toilets and showers on the ground floor so the buyers can stay living in the house if they become elderly and immobile (if they can afford to!)

Honestly, apart from the extra money it will cost, I can't see any reason for NOT doing it!

I would always rather keep casual visitors out of the family bathroom, and out of the 'private' parts of the house, if at all possible.

It will definitely add value to house. As PP have said, it's great for young children, and anyone with mobility issues. If there's space, making it wheelchair accessible would be another box ticked.

Good luck, hope you get the loo!

I would never consider buying a house that didn't have a downstairs loo, and I live on my own.

Absolutely a downstairs loo. No question.

Downstairs loo helps makes a property much more accessible for a wheelchair user.

I wouldn't look at any houses without a downstairs loo, huge selling point imo.

100% put in the loo. We have 3. In a previous house we had 4!

It was something we looked for as I personally think it makes small children easier. I can have a wee and still keep and eye and also we found it helpful for potty training. Obviously there’s the disability/accessibility aspect as well.

I'll never live in a home with only one loo if I can possibly help it. Life is just better with two.

If you have room for one, definitely put in a downstairs loo, @TheBeaTgoeson1. It is useful if you have visitors who struggle with the stairs, or if you are potty training a child. Plus it means visitors don’t need to go upstairs.

I never ever use ours and gripe about it being another thing I have to clean. But I wouldn’t change it and if I remodelled downstairs again I would still put it in with no debate.

but ours if def not assessable by wheelchair or summer frame. We have several single steps on our ground floor and very tight doorways and hallways. No getting around that

We don't have a downstairs loo, or room for one and I've always been non plussed about them because its just another loo to clean. However, I can see the upsides and I do believe they increase house value.

I am obviously in the minority but I don't think a downstairs loo is necessary. We have a lovely big walk in cupboard in our hall which I use as a larder and storage room and DH wants to make it into a loo. I really don't want that and think it is a waste of the useful space

Downstairs loo is great for visitors and family in the house.

I discounted houses that didn't have a downstairs loo when we were looking at houses 2 years ago. With a husband and 2 teenagers it's a must! And we have a bathroom and an en suite. If you have the space, and you can afford it, then go for it. Those who want a downstairs loo seem to out number those who don't, so will be an asset later down the line.