How Important is a Downstairs Loo?

[DimpleHands]

We are about to do the side return on our 4-bed Victorian terrace house in London. We have the option to put in a downstairs loo (and our architect is pushing for this) but it would mean cutting into the size of the kitchen - it would still be "eat-in" but would be pretty cramped.

I would much rather have a bigger kitchen - we have two nice bathrooms with loos upstairs - but am worried about putting people off when we come to sell (which we will probably do in about 6-8 years' time).

If you were buying, how important would a downstairs loo be for you?

I've bought a new build with downstairs 'cloakroom'. It is okay, but I think the bigger kitchen would be more attractive to a buyer.

I would say it adds value, and if you have visitors it stops them snooping upstairs!

A deal breaker for me if it had no downstairs loo, I'm afraid.

That's a tough one tbh!!!

I think the larger kitchen would be better - although are you sure you can't do with fewer cupboards to create more table space that way?

4 bed house with 2 receptions rooms, eat-in kitchen but no utility room or cloakroom does seem a bit odd?

Is there room to squeeze one in under the stairs?

I'd go for downstairs loo, every single time. You don't need much space for one. Essential if you have children, and saves all your guests going upstairs and nosing around in your bedrooms!

Could you put one somewhere else, like under the stairs?

Tbh, I would be seriously put off buying a 4 bed house with no downstairs loo.

We don't have one and visiting friends and relatives who do I've realised how much I'd love one. The toilet training years would have been easier and I totally agree with visitors not having to traipse through your house.

As long as you have at least two toilets in the house, I don't think it matters too much if one is downstairs or not. I'd be quite happy to have two toilets upstairs and keep a bigger kitchen.

I say it's important. If it's a family home you want the luxury of toilet training down stairs so you can keep an eye on other dc. Similarly the downstairs toilet is great for going yourself when you have young dc, otherwise you'd have to carry them all upstairs!

I would have never minded either way but after buying a house with a downstairs loo, having since had 2 children I would not not buy a house without one, or the potential to add one.

Having more than one loo is worth its wait in gold!

I'd rather have a bigger kitchen. A nice roomy kitchen is a huge selling point IMO. I wouldn't really even notice the lack of a downstairs loo (although we haven't started toilet training yet, so that may change!).

For me it's nice but not essential especially if you have 2bathroonns elsewhere.
I have one at the moment but wish the builders had used the space to have a kitchen/diner instead.

Essential. Totally essential. This was brought home to us when dd smashed her leg aged 8 and spent two months in a wheelchair. She was plastered from foot to thigh and had to be monitored for movement of the breaks every few days for the first few weeks.

I suppose we could have hired a commode!

No, no room for loo under the stairs sadly - it is a tiny space which leads down to the cellar.

What's with the expectation that guests are automatically going to rummage through your bedrooms if they go to an upstairs loo
I thought this only happened on that shite tv programme?

next time i buy a downstairs toilet is at the top of my list

im going to look into converting my understairs cupboard into a cloakroom but not sure if it is possible but worth looking into

I live in a 4-bed with a family bathroom upstairs, plus en-suite to master bedroom upstairs. I really really want to shoe-horn a downstairs cloak in the cupboard under our stairs, as would love a downstairs loo.

I'd go for the slightly smaller kitchen; like someone else said, the loo can be a tiny space really.

Essential if you ever have guests and visiting children IMO.

Can you not put a toilet in the cellar (I mean you can, what is the reason that isn't an option)

I'd guess that selling in London is such that there will still be plenty of people who would buy without a downstairs loo. But the market isn't infallible.

I only care that there are two toilets. Don't care where they are. Except when shoehorning one in makes another room scrunchy and awkward. A third toilet is not worth making the kitchen weird.

Downstairs loo is really important.

Downstairs loo is nice, but one that is only separated from the kitchen by a stud wall is rather eeew. I'd keep the nice big kitchen and upstairs bathrooms for visitors rather than be able to hear people pissing while you eat. I wouldn't want to use that sort of loo myself either, and would go upstairs.

Yes evilgiraffe it makes me a bit eeew too! It would be right next door separated by a stud wall.

Can't really put one in the cellar - would cost a fortune to make it usable as a room as it really is just a cellar - as in bare earth on the floor etc!

I think it's vital.

I had a (now deceased) relative who was elderly and disabled and would have struggled to go upstairs.