Is there an answer to this downstairs toilet conundrum (with diagram?)

[ShowOfHands]

We really need a downstairs toilet. One preteen and one teen, two adults and an upstairs bathroom is manageable but a second, downstairs toilet would make life easier and possibly add value. However, I also have three relatives with mobility issues and the stairs are becoming impossible for them which means they can't visit.

We originally quoted up for a small extension from the back door out to the kitchen window which is big enough for a toilet and sink but it's ££ and financially, not the best choice as we wouldn't add the value compared to the cost.

Every builder (and MN!) suggested converting the cupboard under the stairs as a cheaper and quicker option but the builders have all said we would have to brick up the back door and incorporate the back vestibule/hall into the toilet because just the space under the stairs wouldn't meet building regs. The problem is that it would mean the toilet door is off the dining room which makes me deeply uncomfortable.

I don't want to do it if when we come to sell, it puts people off and it's as weird an idea as it feels but we really want a downstairs toilet so that my family can visit and we can have a wee when the main bathroom is occupied.

Have I missed an obvious solution? Other than moving of course.

Sorry, I'm a bit confused!

Is the vestibule already there, or is that the extension you've been quoted for?

What is it about the space under the stairs that wouldn't meet building regs?

What shape are the stairs? I.e. do they go in a straight line from where you've written "Hallway"? Do they go round any corners?

Where are the stairs on your diagram?

Sorry I mean in which direction do they go? Up from the hallway I presume?

I think it would be helpful to see the downstairs footprint.

The complete downstairs I mean
Could the door of a cloakroom open into the hallway?

I think if you can ensure the downstairs toilet room door doesn't open directly into the dining room then it's fine.

Stairs go straight up from the hallway.

Picture is, though not to scale, what is there at the moment. We originally thought about changing the back door to an internal door leading into a small extension but the builders all said convert what's there instead by bricking up the back door, replacing with a window and use that vestibule space and the cupboard space together to make a downstairs toilet.

And the building regs issue is a space and head height issue.

The problem is that it would mean the toilet door is off the dining room which makes me deeply uncomfortable.

So the idea is to use the understairs space plus vestibule space as a loo, right?

Why can’t the door to the loo be off the hallway (ie under the stairs) rather than off the dining room?

Sorry do the stairs go left to right on your picture or bottom to top?

@taxiformum

I think if you can ensure the downstairs toilet room door doesn't open directly into the dining room then it's fine.

How though? It doesn't seem possible.

The only rooms missing are the conservatory which leads off the dining room (marked) and the living room which leads off the hallway (marked).

@minipie

The problem is that it would mean the toilet door is off the dining room which makes me deeply uncomfortable.

So the idea is to use the understairs space plus vestibule space as a loo, right?

Why can’t the door to the loo be off the hallway (ie under the stairs) rather than off the dining room?

Because the stairs run off the hallway.

Can’t you have the door open into the hallway?

If you could draw the whole ground floor and show stairs direction that would help

Ahh xpost.

What’s on the other side of the stairs?

This should help!

Oh I see so the stairs run bottom to top on your drawing not left to right.

What’s on the left hand side of the stairs? Is the living room there? So the stairs are sandwiched between the living and dining rooms?

If so then the loo would have to be accessed either off the living room or off the dining room. I don’t personally have an issue with that.

So the stairs go up from right to left? From your diagram it looks as if thr area marked stairs is the top of the stairs and you've shown the cupboard underneath - but you're saying they go in the other direction?

Not sure if it uploaded the first time...

We have just bought a 1930s semi with a downstairs toilet under the stairs. I’ve got no idea if it meets building regs as the previous owner lived there for 74 years!

Clearly it did upload as it is now visible...

Would you not mind a toilet off the dining room? I've been googling and reading people saying it's DISCUSTING!

If so then the loo would have to be accessed either off the living room or off the dining room. I don’t personally have an issue with that.

I would. Especially if someone went to the toilet in the middle of dinner

Ok seen the floorplan, yes your stairs are sandwiched. Then the only option is to have the loo accessed from the sitting room or from the dining room.

I’m slightly surprised however that it’s so expensive to build a small lean to extension for a loo, especially since that would work better with your soil pipe location (based on where the upstairs loo is). Building the loo under the stairs is going to involve a fair bit of work in knocking through to the vestibule, changing door to window and most of all, routing a soil pipe through the house to the under stairs space. Maybe check costs with another builder?

@FamilyOfAliens

We have just bought a 1930s semi with a downstairs toilet under the stairs. I’ve got no idea if it meets building regs as the previous owner lived there for 74 years!

I think if it's originally there, it's less of an issue. The adding it now and selling it is what we worry about.