Downstairs loo into utility room

[Callmecordelia]

We live in a three storey new build (2010) town house - garage, cupboard and loo on ground floor, kitchen/diner, living room on second floor, three bedrooms, bathroom and ensuite on the top floor.

In practice, we hardly ever use the downstairs loo. There's no rooms down there, and it's really, really cold (house built into a hill). On the other hand, there's a lack of storage space in the kitchen. There's no room for a tumble dryer, and we have washing all over the place with open windows, or I take big things to the launderette to dry. I hate this.

I was thinking of removing the toilet and basin, and stacking a washing machine and tumble dryer in the downstairs loo, putting a fire door on there (as a fire would block the main access route out). We would lose a pretty much unused loo, but gain some valuable space elsewhere.

Any drawbacks to this idea? I suppose we've got used to not using the bathroom, but my Dad always uses it when he visits, despite the arctic temperatures. It does mean on the ground floor you're two flights of stairs away from a loo, which could be difficult with a young child. On the other hand, the washing situation is also difficult with a young child.

Is there a reason the garage cannot be used as a utility room? I would change but leave all plumbing available to convert back to original loo if needed or selling.

no garden to dry washing? Absolutely nowhere else for a tumble dryer?

also if you have someone in the main bathroom, the only other toilet is then the ensuite which means going through the bedroom. Sounds inconvenient.

I also believe that toilet training when there are several flights of stairs to the toilet can be challenging!

Don't see how downstairs loo will help with potty training as there aren't any rooms down there.

BUT I know I'd probably use the downstairs loo on my way out/in so wouldn't want to lose it. Can't you convert the cupboard instead? Or the garage, unless you actually keep your car in there.

We have been house hunting on/off for the last 8 months. The absolute first thing I look for a guest loo downstairs. Its unusual not to have one downstairs nowadays imo (we dont have one and estate agents queried why).

Oh i see, living is 1st floor. Still, I wouldnt do it as you never know what the next buyer is looking for when you need to move on.

I agree with others, I would put a utility area into the garage, if you have the space. Due to drafts from around the garage door (unless you've insulated it) clothes would dry quickly even if it's cold, saving having to run the tumble dryer all the time.

My downstairs loo is away from the main living area but it gets used by all visitors, so the main bathroom doesn't have to be presentable (very handy with small DC). The loo is also a good place to get the worst of the grime off the toddler when we get home before she plasters it over the rest of the house.

I would keep bathroom and also use garage for utility.

The reason I'd discounted the garage is the electrics and water are quite weirdly set out, and I was told a conversion wasn't straightforward. Getting the water pipe in there is quite fiddly apparently. In common with most new builds, storage is at a premium, and the garage is where we hang our coats, keep all camping stuff, big suitcases and my husband has filled a large amount with car parts. I am not keen on the car parts, but he is, and he gives me free reign elsewhere.

The cupboard is quite small, and under the stairs - it's also full of hoover/ironing board, spare linen etc.

The garden is a small wooden deck. We're opposite a park, so it isn't too bad for DD, but there's not a lot of room for washing, or anywhere to fix a line or rotary dryer. The tumble dryer wouldn't fit in any of our bedrooms, and can't be plugged in in the hallway because of the lunatic placement of electric points.

I think, on balance, most people seem to prefer the downstairs loo. I will think some more. Not actually down there though. It's freezing.

Callme I'd do what's right for you family and not worry too much about what others would want unless you're planning to move in the near future. We rejected lots of houses because they'd converted their garages into utilities and we wanted a garage (DH uses it as his workshop, we store lots of bikes in there). If you already have two loos, I'd change the unused downstairs loo into a utility.

I'd try and put stacking washing machine and dryer in the garage and keep the toilet.

I would convert it. If you made me choose between a utility and a downstairs loo, I'd have the utility, especially with the layout you've described. Just cap the soil pipe and it can always be converted back.

I would keep the toilet

I'm not sure if buildings regs allow you to lose it due to modern homes needing to cater for disabled people? Could be wrong!

I would usually say keep the loo, but as I understand it the loo is on a floor with no other rooms, just the garage, and you have two more loos on the floors where you actually have living rooms and bedrooms?

In that case, I would prefer a utility room plus two further loos to 3 loos but no utility room.

We lived in a house with only 2 loos for years when the children were small. It's perfectly manageable so I think the argument raised earlier that you need 3 loos because 2 of them might be used at the same time is ridiculous.

My only query would be whether the downstairs loo is big enough to make into a utility room.