Toilet off kitchen. Thoughts?

[Cheeriosaddict]

We live in a 3 bed semi with one toilet (in the main bathroom upstairs). The only place we could add a w/C would be off the kitchen. Thanks to previous owners strange extension the back door currently looks onto a brick wall so the w/C would go there, effectively removing the back door from the kitchen.
We would still have rear access via patio doors.
I think it's unpleasant to have a loo off a kitchen but DP sees no issue and another toilet would be handy.
What would you do? Add a toilet or not? 4 in our family if that matters.
Thanks x

It's not ideal but it's better than having to queue for the loo. As a buyer I would be more put off a house with only one toilet than one where the downstairs loo opened off the kitchen.

Personally I couldn't do it and when at others homes with such a set up ask to use the upstairs. I'm a microbiologist, I just can't stomach the thought of cross contamination.

Fine but would have the no solids in the downstairs rule

As you are in Scotland you need to check out the Building Regs for a new w/c - especially on the ground floor.

It will have to be disabled accessible which impacts the minimum size you can have / orientation of the toilet.

Yes, definitely check buildings regs re. disabled access OP. It may be a no-go due to the size.

@FrogFairy the external dimensions are 90cm x 140cm. The door opens outwards away from the actual kitchen units if that makes sense. It is on an internal wall so no window but it is fine with the extractor (we definitely noticed when the fan broke in the last lockdown).

@Proudpeacock that is a lovely wee room (pardon the pun)

Lots of people seem to vaguely remember that the building regulations have something to say about needing two doors between a toilet and a kitchen. As I understand it they used tout no longer do. The requirements which currently aplly in England are in Building Regulations Approved Document G, requirement G4.

See attached, but basically there has to be a basin for hand washing, either in the room with the loo or an adjacent room. The room with the basin could be e.g. a lobby or a utility room with the loo leading off it, but it can't be the kitchen.

We had a loo in the utility room, you could unload the dishwasher while on the loo. Also the door had frosted glass panels so you could see people doing their business. Utterly revolting. We got rid of it pretty smartly.

you need an effective extractor fan that always comes on when the room is being used, and runs-on with a timer. Some people moan about fan noise. Soler & Palau, and Envirovent, make a "silent 100" that is the quietest I have ever heard, and a good quality build.

I also recommend a substantial solid door that will block sound. I used a matching fire door. With a perko-type self-closer. Modern hollow doors are quite unsuitable.

And you need a bathroom-type lock with an internal thumbturn and an emergency release from outside.

One door is fine. The hoyse I'm hoping to buy has it off the dining part of the kitchen diner. Not ideal, I'd rather it under the stairs, but I'd also much rather any loo.downstairs than none.
It's not hygiene but rather noise...😬

@PigletJohn good tip about fan. Sadly the door is a sliding pocket, so even less substantial than normal!

@78percentLindt

I have a vague feeling that there is some kind of building regulation that prevents this, there needs to be some sort of lobby between li and kitchen. It came up on their survey, and my parents had to change their old house within the first 6 months of moving around as a condition of their mortgage but this was in the early 1980s. DS is house hunting at the moment and I've seen details of a few older houses with a loo off the kitchen though. It would put me off.

There used to be, IIRC, but it was removed, because it is often the only way to get a downstairs loo, and that affects adaptations for disability.

@idontlikealdi

IT's a standard set up in most of the victorian stock around here - bathroom downstairs, walk through kitchen to the bathroom.

Yep I've seen this in many Victorian houses too - we had one for a couple of years as a child - non issue - good there's a downstairs option for a loo in your case too