Downstairs loo v utility room

[WinniePig]

I really want a utility room! We could convert downstairs loo into a utility room with space for washing machine (currently in kitchen), tumble dryer (currently in garage), ironing board (currently behind door in lounge) and hoover (currently stored in hall way). There would also be room for shelves and a work surface to store laundry baskets (we have three scattered about house). I just want everything tidied away! Would lack of downstairs loo put you off buying a house? It’s a four bedroomed town house with three loos upstairs. Thoughts please!

Three loos is enough. Where is the next nearest loo though? Second floor?

I live in a a 3 story weavers cottage. There is one loo on the ground floor and then two on the top floor.

It would do my head in if I had to go two flights up every time I needed the loo. We live mainly on the ground floor too (kitchen/diner/lounge area)

There’s a family bathroom on the first floor so really not far.

Could you convert one of the upstairs loos to a utility room so you still keep a loo on each floor?

We have 6 dc and 1 loo!! The downstairs is a shoe room!
Never been a problem. People learn to be patient or don't wait until they are desperate!!

If possible, I'd keep the downstairs loo and convert one of the others.
Many other countries have upstairs laundry rooms as the norm - why bring your washing downstairs to wash,dry and iron and then take it bs upstairs? Obviously a different matter if you dry outdoors most of the time.

I think the lack of a downstairs loo might put off young families if you were selling.

Thank you for your responses. We do like to dry on the line outside. I can’t get my head round an upstairs utility room (but only because it’s not something I’m familiar with or have seen). Hmmmm I’m going to keep pondering this one.

I grew up in houses with one upstairs loo and it was never a problem! For the type of house we have though, I worry people would expect a downstairs loo and house may seem unbalanced without one!

I’m building a house & I’ve sited the washer & dryer in a cupboard upstairs - with dry rails and a dehumidifier.

95% of washing is generated from upstairs. I’ll iron in my bedroom - why lug it around?

In a house your size and with 3 other loos I would definitely prefer a utility room.

how big is the room? i have a tiny downstairs shower room, only five feet x five feet square. I am seriously considering removing the shower that doesn't ever get used and replacing that area with a stacking washer and dryer, one on top of the other. i could then have a small sink built into a slim cupboard and keep the loo.

I really wouldn't get rid of a downstairs toilet. Could you stack the washer and dryer?

I'd really miss my downstairs loo. I'd I had 3 upstairs I get rid of one of those first.

Most of washing ends up upstairs so an upstairs utility is very logical.

I really wouldn't get rid of your downstairs loo, I think they are very desirable. The washing machine and tumble dryer are fine where they are in my opinion.
However I would need to find a place for my ironing board and hoover, can you repurpose another cupboard? My hoover goes in my under the stairs cupboard and my ironing board goes in a tall cupboard in the kitchen.

I have four toilets , not sure how you cope with one but I grew up with 3 and I've never had less than two in a house .. 😬😬

Can you keep the loo in the utility and then continue to store hoover/ironing board in the cupboard under the stairs? You can get loos with a basin built onto the top so they don't take up too much room? Then you get both.

A downstairs toilet is an asset, what if someone had an illness or injury that necessitated them needing downstairs facilities for a while. Whatever you decide, I would find somewhere else for the ironing board and Hoover, there must be somewhere in a house that size.

We moved our washing machine and dryer upstairs last year. I figure that when it’s bad weather I’m saving a trip up and downstairs and when I can line dry, I’d have had to carry it all down then back up again when it was all downstairs!

There was an example of an upstairs laundry room on an episode of ‘Your home made perfect’ - it looked really practical. You can find them on iPlayer if you need help pondering!

I would prefer downstairs toilet over utility room

I am always put off my no downstairs loo. Mostly because we have elderly relatives who really can't get upstairs when they visit. But also because it's a bind running upstairs!

Not having a downstairs loo wouldn't put me off an otherwise perfect property but it would affect my offer as I would have to put one in. If you have room for both w machine and drier can you not either get a washer/drier or stack them so that you can fit a loo in there as well? Or is there anywhere else you could put a tiny loo? If the only options are upstairs you have to think about visitors who can't manage stairs and workmen who I wouldn't really want going upstairs and using the family bathroom. Upstairs utilities would put me off as we like to use the washing machine at night (cheaper electricity) and it's a lot of traipsing up and down to the line.

Unless you have loads of visitors and want a fancy downstairs loo, is it big enough currently to be a dual purpose space? I think I would be more likely to have an ironing board on the back of the toilet door than a living room one. Is there enough space for the dryer and Hoover? I wouldnt be sad about the washing machine being in the kitchen, so could live with that, it's pretty standard.

All new build houses are required to have a downstairs loo to cater for those who are less mobile/struggle with stairs etc.
I think it would be unwise to convert your downstairs loo but yy to converting one of the upstairs loos.
After years of being an absolute slave to ironing, I now very rarely iron anything but thinking of buying a clothes steamer and plugging it in on the (galleried so spacious) landing. Individual items can be done as and when required.

Utility room upstairs.

I'd move the utility upstairs, unless the downstairs loo is directly off the kitchen/dining. We're currently looking and the amount of houses which excitedly exclaim about a downstairs loo which opens directly into the kitchen or dining area is bonkers. If we have people over I don't want to listen to them doing their business which I'm cooking or we're at the table!

Definitely wouldn't get rid of a downstairs loo. Having injured my leg this week and being in severe pain I was extremely grateful to have a loo downstairs. Also don't want visitors trapsing upstairs to use the bathroom (unless they're staying the night). Pretty sure building regs require new builds to have a downstairs toilet - even the housing association housing on our road was built with downstairs toilets. I think you would put a lot of buyers off in future by getting rid of it.

I visited a house a couple of years ago that had combined the two - it was a little odd sitting on the toilet looking at the washing machine, but they had toddlers, so I imagine it was actually pretty convenient!

I wouldn't be without my downstairs loo for anything. Have you a shed or anything you could convert, or could you afford to get a small cabin to use as a utility room.