Removing downstairs toilet to make more room in kitchen

[Needallthesleep]

Would really appreciate some opinions.

We live in a Victorian terrace in London with a galley kitchen. At the end of the galley kitchen is a downstairs toilet. We never use it (there are two other bathrooms in the house, just not downstairs), so it’s basically a big storage cupboard.

I want to knock down the toilet, create some seating and put in some large (well, as large as you can get in a galley kitchen, realistically around 2m wide) bifold/french doors at the end to make a bit more of a modern, sociable space.

In an ideal world we would do the side return extension but having just done a loft extension we can’t afford it at the moment!

We want to sell the house in a few years. Is removing the downstairs toilet going to put off buyers? Or would they prefer the lighter, larger kitchen?

We’ve been quoted £5k for the work, so not an insignificant amount. Would you progress??

Depends who your buyers are likely to be. Some families with young children prefer to have a downstairs loo. I’d continue with your plan if you are staying for a while. Is it possible to leave plumbing in so any buyer would still have the option of putting it back in?

Thanks. Yes it is probably what would be seen as a starter family home...3 bedrooms, not outrageously priced (for London), near good schools etc.

Not planning to stay any longer than 3 years.

I love my downstairs loo, i wouldn't consider buying a house without one.

Maybe do without one in the short term (only you know how your family uses the house), but plan to put one in as soon as possible. Is there an obvious space that it can be relocated to eg under the stairs?

I think as long as you have 2 toilets in the house it's fine. A lot of people don't like loos off the kitchen. I think the plans you have would provide a wow factor.

I wouldn't remove it it's the most useful thing from our extension work... although I can see the idea of doors at the end also being nice but the people who buy may start with a side extension so having the plumbing for downstairs loo already there would be better

Don't spend money if you are moving shortly... save it!

I would much prefer a seating area, patio doors and a view of the garden, than a loo off the kitchen.

We moved recently and downstairs loo was essential- I have 2 young DC though. I think you should leave it! But maybe have the plans available for potential buyers. But I agree that if you are moving in the not too distant future then if would be better to leave it

I wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs loo.

Your plans sound really good though, and other buyers might not mind.

A downstairs loo was probably no1 on our list, having lived in a house without one. However, if yours is "out the back" through the kitchen, it might not have fitted the bill for us either.

Is there a way you can put one I elsewhere, maybe under the stairs? I think family home with no downstairs loo would be a big disadvantage when selling.

I'd prefer a downstairs loo for fil visitors.

I love a downstairs toilet

The absence of a downstairs loo would definitely put me off buying.

We are looking to buy at the moment. I'd prefer the seating area as you already have two bathrooms. We don't have kids yet though!

I was going to say keep the loo but given where it is ewww I wouldnt like that.

My loo is under the stairs in a hallway and I love it but I wouldn't want one after the kitchen if I'm honest.

If I could choose between two exactly the same three bed houses with two loos upstairs, I'd absolutely choose the house with doors from the kitchen onto the garden. No contest. (And I currently live in a one loo per person home!!) Very important to me to have at least two loos but three are unnecessary in a normal sized three bed starter home

Although I'd like a diagram to be sure!!

And toilets off kitchens are gross

We have a small kitchen with a loo at the end. Currently used as a shoe cupboard!! Have half heartedly tried to clear it out - dc declared they won't be using it anyway as there is always a spider in there!! So I am debating if I should just shut the door and leave Tracey to it...
*Tracey is our resident 7 legged spider..
Sorry op no use.
We only rent but if we owned I suppose we would knock all through.
Kitchen /pantry /loo /utility room. Ndn have and it looks amazing!

If you're going to move in 3 years?

Hell no.

I'd just put up with the kitchen for that length of time.

I also wouldn't spend 5k on a fairly unnecessary thing for the sake of just 3 years.

I would never buy a house without a downstairs loo.

I am all for doing what makes the house the way you want it, rather than worrying about what some hypothetical future buyer may or may not want. You're the one who has to live there! And chances are some people will be put off by no downstairs loo, while other people will be put off by a small kitchen or a loo off the kitchen. You can't please everyone so might as well please yourself.

As long as there are 2 other loos in the house I think I’d go for bigger kitchen. It’s really hard to predict how potential buyers will see it though. We didn’t have a downstairs loo in our old house and it was a real pain through the toddler years! We have a downstairs loo and use it a lot, but you won’t miss yours if you don’t use it!

Now I have a downstairs loo I'd never go back to living without one. Keep it for your planned sale.

If one of the upstairs loos is an ensuite though...........I view ensuites as not that communal really.

Gosh, that would be a deal breaker for me, even though I don't have young children anymore. Keep the toilet if you can.