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How many loos would you expect in a 5 bedroom house?

273 replies

BarkingHat · 07/08/2020 08:05

We’ve got an en-suite, a family bathroom with loo and a loo with no basin next to that.

The loo with no basin is getting removed to putin new hot water cylinder.

Thinking about putting one in downstairs but it won’t be particularly easy as no headroom under the stairs for one so will have to make space elsewhere. Probably mean a smaller utility.

OP posts:
NewHouseNewMe · 10/08/2020 08:50

That estate agent clearly doesn't have to clean his own toilets.
Grin I should think that he certainly doesn't @borisjohnsonsstylist

Mammyloveswine · 10/08/2020 08:51

I love my downstairs loo! So handy! We have a downstairs loo and an en suite in our 3 bed semi!

Downstairs bathroom which has actually been a godsend with two small kids! But wouldn't have bought it without your en-suite!

THATbasicrebelBITCH · 10/08/2020 08:54

Downstairs loo is a god send with young dc

WombatChocolate · 10/08/2020 09:35

5 bedrooms is a large family house. I would expect a house to be balanced in terms of living space, upstairs space and bathrooms. This is important for its use and also re-sale value.

An older 5 bed might have a downstairs loo and 2 bathrooms upstairs with 1 being Ensuite. A modern or recently updated 5 bedders would be likely to have 2 ensuites and a family bathroom.

Consider a fully occupied 5 bed house - that is probably at minimum, 2 adults and 4 kids, so 6 people. You definitely need a minimum of 2 full bath/shower rooms and a house of this size would be extremely odd without a downstairs loo.

Unless you're talking about a house which has been extended and stretched out and squeezed to force 5 beds into, 5 bedders are pretty large usually and bathrooms are part of the balance. You might find a Victorian terrace which really is a 3-bedder with living accommodation to match this, but 2 extra bedrooms have been squeezed in. SUch a house might lack the downstairs loo and the odd one might only have 1 bathroom, but this would be extremely unbalanced. 5 beds with even 2 bathrooms and no downstairs loo seems unbalanced too.

I agree about lots of small new builds which cram in lots of ensuites and tiny bedrooms. 5 small bedrooms with 4 or 5 bathrooms isn't a good use of space really. Quite likely, 5 bed houses with 2 singles and 1 or 2 of the doubles being small doubles, won't really feel like the large family house 5 beds suggests.

In my mind, the 5 bed house also needs a pretty big garden too. Might not be the case in London, but elsewhere I'd want a 5 bed to be on a decent sized plot. You do see new build 5 bed townhouses in terraces which really look pretty disappointing in my mind.

sqirrelfriends · 10/08/2020 09:39

@MrsElijahMikaelson1

One downstairs toilet, one family bathroom and two en-suite bathrooms
This.
intheningnangnong · 10/08/2020 10:05

I sort of understand the dislike of en-suites, but personally I’d rather take a crap in my own space than stink out a generally used loo! I think family dynamics count in this. My DD’s like their private space, my elderly DF & FIL certainly doesn’t want to walk across the landing in the night when they stay.

caringcarer · 10/08/2020 10:09

Our house was 4 bed and had en suite, family bathroom, downstairs cloakroom. Then had loft conversion so 2 extra bedrooms and a shower room in loft.

frazzledasarock · 10/08/2020 10:10

The five bed houses around here, have four toilets, one downstairs cloakroom, a family bathroom and en-suite on the first floor and shower room on the second floor.

I'd expect at least three loos otherwise it would be very inconvenient given a five bed house would reasonably be expected to house a large family.

I did once see a five bed house (on right move I think) with one bathroom and I did wonder how that would work if the house was fully occupied.

Callipygion · 10/08/2020 10:33

We have 4 - one en-suite shower room upstairs plus family bathroom, cloakroom downstairs and an en-suite shower room for a (disabled adapted) downstairs bedroom.

SE13Mummy · 10/08/2020 10:42

Four bedroom Victorian terrace - we have a family bathroom upstairs and a downstairs scullery which has a loo and shower. If we ever converted the loft then we'd have a third loo and shower put in (not en suite though).

BlueJag · 10/08/2020 11:03

We have an on-suit, family bathroom and one downstairs. 2 1/2.

clary · 10/08/2020 12:06

Yes a downstairs loo is a must for me. I would prefer that to an ensuing tbh.

We have four beds and we have downstairs loo, main bathroom and en suite shower room. That's plenty, you see houses now with two ensuites, so many loos to clean!

Downstairs is handy with small kids, also useful for parties or book club meetings or whatever you and your teens do.

burritofan · 10/08/2020 13:55

3: downstairs loo, family bathroom, one extra either in a second bathroom or flying solo, or in a loft conversion shower room. Would rather cut off my bum than have an en suite and refuse to save en suite properties in Rightmove.

copperoliver · 10/08/2020 13:56
  1. X
SnuggyBuggy · 10/08/2020 14:10

I'm actually thinking about converting our ensuite into a second family bathroom

BarkingHat · 10/08/2020 14:10

Surely if you love a house that has an en suite - but hate ensuites, you'd turn it into a dressing room or cupboard or just not use it?

OP posts:
intheningnangnong · 10/08/2020 14:22

@BarkingHat

Surely if you love a house that has an en suite - but hate ensuites, you'd turn it into a dressing room or cupboard or just not use it?
Exactly. I doubt that en-suite dislike is as ubiquitous as MN would seem to suggest, or commercial builders wouldn’t put them in to the degree they do.
SnuggyBuggy · 10/08/2020 14:36

I think it's more the phenomenon of cramming en suites into bedrooms too small for them that puts people off

BarkingHat · 10/08/2020 14:41

I was looking to see if we could put another en suite in - but it would cut off the rather lovely proportions of the spare room.

OP posts:
merrymouse · 10/08/2020 14:44

I think it's more the phenomenon of cramming en suites into bedrooms too small for them that puts people off

Yes - less of a bathroom, more of a damp cupboard with a loo in the corner of your bedroom.

lazyakita · 10/08/2020 16:26

We have a 5 bed with downstairs WC, house bathroom, master en suite and a further bathroom that serves the two bedrooms on the top floor. It's the perfect amount for us, but I wouldn't want another toilet to clean!

SnuggyBuggy · 10/08/2020 16:28

Obviously if it was a massive mansion with a good layout and the ensuites weren't compromising bedroom space that would be different

TrickyD · 10/08/2020 16:38

We used to have 5 loos, but removed one as we still had a downstairs cloakroom, a family bathroom, an en-suite with a bath and a shower room.
5 bedrooms: the top two are adjacent to the shower room.

AltheaVestr1t · 10/08/2020 18:31

Just about to move into a house with an en-suite master bedroom, I'm pretty excited about it...it's definitely a bonus to me!

Ifailed · 10/08/2020 21:19

Just about to move into a house with an en-suite master bedroom, I'm pretty excited about it...it's definitely a bonus to me!
Each to their own, but personally I wouldn't want to hear, and smell, a partner having a dump behind a piece of plasterboard.