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Original poster

Downstairs toilet with no window?

55 replies

SomeCatsLikeCheese · 12/05/2021 20:08

We’re planning a single storey extension and are waiting for building control approval after securing planning permission. The extension will put a kitchen-diner on the back of the house and turn our existing galley kitchen into a downstairs loo (opening into the hall) and utility room (opening into the kitchen). I can’t link the floor plan but it’s a classic 1930s semi.

Our architect has just got back to me to say that we can’t put a window in the planned downstairs toilet because there is currently no window on that side of the house and it is overlooking the boundary. The boundary of our property is less than a metre from our house - it’s a fence - and the neighbouring house is about 30cm from the fence, albeit with no windows on the side wall facing our side wall so there’s no privacy to infringe, if you see what I mean. It would literally be a small frosted pane of glass. But apparently we can’t have a window.

He has suggested putting in a door with the top half in frosted glass for privacy purposes to let in light. I really don’t like the idea of this - it means when you walk through the front door into the hall, the first thing you’ll see will be a door with frosted glass in it, as opposed to a 1930s style door.

Has anyone else had this? What did you do to allow light in? Has anyone had a windowless downstairs WC?

OP posts:

Kokosrieksts · 12/05/2021 20:48

Wouldn’t bother me a bit. I’ve lived in many apartments in Europe and a bathroom without a window is pretty standard. Put nice lights in, job done.

DustyMaiden · 12/05/2021 20:51

Light with extractor fan. Don’t like windows in small toilets, feel like everyone knows you are in there.

ineedaholidayandwine · 12/05/2021 20:58

Our downstairs toilet is under the stairs with no window, it's painted a light colour with a bright light. Don't miss a window

KihoBebiluPute · 12/05/2021 21:04

I would do as @minipie suggests with the glass above the door. It would look fine. You would need an extractor fan through the wall for airflow though.

Onthegrid · 12/05/2021 21:12

I was coming on to say that the only person I know with a downstairs cloakroom with a window was my parents who have an old rambling house it is large and draughty so the window is locked shut. Then I remembered PIL do too only it’s not very big, is above the loo and the window sill has so many nik naks on it you’d never be able to get the window open.
All modern and not so modern houses around here have interior cloakrooms, except a few which have them by the front door sticking out, these ones are always freezing.
Ours isn’t that pleasant a room but it will do and an air freshener keeps unwanted smells at bay.

minniemomo · 12/05/2021 21:19

None of our bathrooms (3) have windows! Downstairs loos commonly have no window

WeatherwaxLives · 12/05/2021 21:20

Frosted glass actually in the door? You can't do that - with a light on in the loo and no lighton in the hall you'd be able to see into the loo!

My student digs had a frosted glass door to the bathroom - we had to hang towels over it to get any privacy!

Original poster

SomeCatsLikeCheese · 12/05/2021 21:22

Wow, lots of responses! I will try to answer questions.

So we applied for planning permission and were granted it, then submitted building control drawings. Building control have now come back to the architect and said we can’t increase the number of openings on that wall because it is within a metre of the boundary. We wanted to put in a small window for the loo and move a door for the utility. No problem to move the door but we can’t add the window as well. I am assuming that building control are right on this so I haven’t pushed back. It is particularly irritating as our adjoining semi has an identical extension with multiple windows on the side of their house...

Obviously we will need an extractor fan! But it is reassuring that lots of people have downstairs loos that have no window. Sounds silly but it’s ages since I’ve been inside other people’s houses and most of my family/friends don’t have separate downstairs loos so I can’t visualise it.

What @KihoBebiluPute and @minipie suggested would be my preferred alternative to a window if we can’t have one. But I’m not sure there is sufficient space between the top of the door frame and the ceiling to fit in glass.

I have reverted to our architect and asked whether we could have the window if we brick up a similar window upstairs....we have an upstairs loo separate from the bathroom which, post-extension, we want to turn into a storage cupboard. So I’m wondering whether they would let us have it if we bricked up the one upstairs and therefore weren’t increasing the number of openings...

The only thing I think we are clear on is that we don’t want a frosted door in the hall. DH has said no and it’s unusual for him to have that strong an opinion on anything design-related.

OP posts:

summerdodododododo · 12/05/2021 21:25

I have an upstairs loo with no window. It's fine. Doesn't even have an extractor fan.

userchange856 · 12/05/2021 21:28

Our downstairs toilet is largely under the stairs, can't say I've ever thought about it. It's literally just a toilet and a sink, we don't use it for anything else.

Why does it need natural light? Presumably you're only in it a couple mins a day?!

WestendVBroadway · 12/05/2021 21:37

Blimey , I live in a terrace house and my mainonly bathroom doesn't even have a window. The door has a glass pane at the top , plus an extractor fan. No issues th odours, but can get steamy.

PigletJohn · 12/05/2021 22:08

@maggiso

ooi, the light in a downstairs WC does not need a pull cord. You can have a switch on the wall.

there are rules relating to electrical fittings in bathrooms, but they only apply to rooms that contain a fixed bath or a shower.

In fact you can have a wall switch in a bathroom as well, subject to position.

PigletJohn · 12/05/2021 22:12

also...

I strongly recommend having a fire door (and no window into the hall)

not because I expect your WC to burn, but because fire doors are extra thick, extra solid, and extra heavy, and very good at muffling noise. You can probably get one to match your other doors. And fit a bathroom lock that, in an emergency, can be opened from outside.

if you want, you can have a "daylight" lamp in a fake window or skylight with frosted glass to give the impression of outside awareness.

Allsizes8to14 · 12/05/2021 22:32

We have a downstairs toilet with no window and it’s never been an issue. I quite like it’s privacy! We have an extractor fan that operates on a sensor so comes on as soon as you enter the room.

Retrievemysanity · 12/05/2021 22:36

Just bought a house with a downstairs loo with no window. Our current house does have a window but to be honest, we’re in that room so infrequently/briefly that we don’t care either way! As long as there’s a light I don’t think you’d go in and wish there was a window!

LittleOverWhelmed · 12/05/2021 23:16

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

cozycat1 · 12/05/2021 23:21

Downstair toilet with no window here too. Not a problem. Spend literally 2 mins in it at a time. Switch light on (and extractor fan linked to light switch) do your business, out again. No need for a window really.!

CherryMaple · 12/05/2021 23:28

We don’t have a window in our downstairs loo. No glass anywhere. There’s a light - it’s not a problem.

Windowless downstairs loos look great with really funky wallpaper. We once viewed a house with whales wallpaper in its windowless downstairs loo. It looked great. We have trees. Just stayed in a holiday cottage with big bold florals in a windowless downstairs loo. It’s a brilliant feature and people then don’t give the lack of a window a second thought

WildLadyLucy · 13/05/2021 07:28

My parents have one. It's fine. The extractor fan is hooked up to the light so if the light is on, the fan is on.

echt · 13/05/2021 07:56

I'm in Australia, and we also had a windowless downstairs lav. A good fan and lighting overcomes all, i.e.that dreadful smell of windowless lavatories in public spaces; not shit, not pee, just flat awful smell. I'm looking at you Barbican. Bleurghhh..

amyboo · 13/05/2021 09:04

We have a downstairs toilet with no window. It's fine - we have an extractor in it which vents permanently... We're about to move it as we're doing an extension, and in its new location it still won't have a window in it - just a new extractor fan that will vent into an unused chimney....

DuesToTheDirt · 13/05/2021 09:15

We have one, the lack of window is no issue. How long do you spend in the loo anyway? Only, it's supposed to have an extractor fan to conform to building regs, which it doesn't (not easy to see hoe we'd do this). It came up when we bought our house and I suppose could be an issue if we sell.

Bunny2021 · 13/05/2021 09:27

The extension plans sound exactly like our floor plans - our downstairs loo only has an extractor fan and no window. Honestly - I never notice that there isn't a window.

We have spotlights in there which are bright and I'm in the process of persuading my husband to let me decorate it in quite fun/bright colours. It's a small space so it's one that you can have some fun with!

I promise you really won't notice no window!

rbe78 · 13/05/2021 09:35

I wouldn't mind a downstairs loo with no window, my parents and PIL both have this and it's fine. Extractor fan wouldn't go amiss, as others have said.

The glazed door is a good idea too, I think - then it wouldn't be pitch black without the light on.

1930s style glazed door

PigletJohn · 13/05/2021 09:46

a glazed door into a WC?

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