Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Bathroom with no window

39 replies

Roomarmoset · 13/07/2021 10:01

Would it be a deal breaker for you? We sold our house 5 weeks ago and there are no houses coming on the market. One came on yesterday and ticks every single box (although they're already fully booked for viewings so chances of us getting it are slim but we are booked in to view it).

It's slightly under budget so we could go higher, my only concern is that the bathroom is on the side of the house that's attached to next door so there's no window and there's no way one can be put in.

If we managed to get it at a good price we could add a toilet downstairs or possibly a small en-suite but with so many people wanting to buy houses and such a limited choice we might have to go in higher and forfeit another bathroom.

Any thoughts?

OP posts:
TheDogsMother · 13/07/2021 10:05

Its fine. We have two bathrooms without a window. Its a quirky conversion and would have required jumping through massive planning hoops to add a skylight. Just make sure you have a decent fan and good lighting.

Willwebebuyingnumber11 · 13/07/2021 10:06

I wouldn’t do it personally. It’s hard when you’re sold and nothing comes on the market but try not to just settle or you’ll probably regret it.

sunshinesupermum · 13/07/2021 10:08

No problem whatsoever!

Onlinedilema · 13/07/2021 10:08

Well they have them in hotels.

cindarellasbelly · 13/07/2021 10:09

It depends a bit on the bathroom. Our main bathroom has a velux window, so not one we an easily open, our downstairs bathroom (which is a toilet but also a shower-room/wet room) doesn't. We have a good fan in there, but Im' surprised that I will often walk upstairs to use the bathroom. I just don't like being in there as much. I keep meaning to replace the light fitting for a higher wattage to see if that makes a difference. So... its fine, but I'd think how much it would bother you.

Are you someone who really cares about light/ventilation, or is it just something you feel you 'should' have?

Cyberpixie · 13/07/2021 10:09

I have a bathroom and separate toilet on the party wall which I love because all the habitable rooms are on the other side, so no noise.

I also like that the bathroom is always cool in summer and it has a really good fan that runs constantly with a booster pull switch.

So no it doesn't bother me.

DecorChange · 13/07/2021 10:11

Our downstairs shower/toilet dosent have a window just a fan it's fine for the amount of time you'll spend in there its not worth it

Wimpeyspread · 13/07/2021 10:11

My bathroom has no window - just an effective fan. I don’t see the problem

olderthanyouthink · 13/07/2021 10:12

We live in a rental with windowless bathrooms, both get really mouldy because the fan isn't enough. Others in the building have similar issues.

Teaandscone · 13/07/2021 10:13

I had a solatube put in mine; means I can still enjoy sunshine and natural light in there.

MissMissTorrance · 13/07/2021 10:15

I've been in a couple of smelly, mouldy bathrooms with no windows.
I'd not.

Original poster
Roomarmoset · 13/07/2021 10:15

@cindarellasbelly

It depends a bit on the bathroom. Our main bathroom has a velux window, so not one we an easily open, our downstairs bathroom (which is a toilet but also a shower-room/wet room) doesn't. We have a good fan in there, but Im' surprised that I will often walk upstairs to use the bathroom. I just don't like being in there as much. I keep meaning to replace the light fitting for a higher wattage to see if that makes a difference. So... its fine, but I'd think how much it would bother you.

Are you someone who really cares about light/ventilation, or is it just something you feel you 'should' have?

I guess I'll get a better feeling when I see it. In our rented flat we had a bathroom without a window and the ventilation wasn't great.

I don't want to settle on a house but it has everything we asked for so I think I'm just being silly questioning whether a window is a dealbreaker!

OP posts:
Original poster
Roomarmoset · 13/07/2021 10:16

@Teaandscone

I had a solatube put in mine; means I can still enjoy sunshine and natural light in there.
Haven't heard of those before, they look great!
OP posts:
Livingintheclouds · 13/07/2021 10:36

You can upgrade the ventilation of its not good enough. When you view you'll be able to tell if it smells damp.
I also don't think most people open their bathroom windows, it's more for light than ventilation.

goldenshoes · 13/07/2021 10:36

I have also put a solatube (similar) in mine and it works amazingly well.

emmathedilemma · 13/07/2021 11:49

I don't have a window in my ensuite but I compensate for that by having the bedroom window open a lot and it tends to only get used for one shower at a time. I don't think I'd like to not have one in a family bathroom that gets a lot of "traffic" through it.
I also don't think most people open their bathroom windows, it's more for light than ventilation.
really? Mine is open every time the bath or shower has been used and if anyone has had a poo!! Grin

burritofan · 13/07/2021 11:51

Unless you can do a skylight, I wouldn’t. It’s a deal-breaker for me.

Wildwood6 · 13/07/2021 11:59

I've had one in the past and the grout did get a little mouldy at times but nothing unbearable. If I ever bought a house like this again my very first job would be to fit the best bathroom fan I could, and make sure it was connected to the light being switched on. That should keep on top of most of it. Maybe look at in-line fans, which can pump away much more air than the rather puny fans that seem to be fitted as standard. Also, if I was ever redecorating that room I'd think seriously about getting under floor heating fitted to help things dry out more quickly.

Itscoldouthere · 13/07/2021 12:13

Good ventilation and lighting makes a massive difference. I recently stayed in a friends flat both bathrooms were windowless but really nicely done with concealed lighting around the bottom of the bath and around built in cabinets. Lighting came on automatically when you entered the bathroom, the floors were heated, really lovely warm welcoming bathrooms.

VenusClapTrap · 13/07/2021 12:27

It wouldn’t bother me. My previous home had a windowless bathroom and it was never damp or mouldy. It had a good fan and radiator and I always left the door ajar when not occupied.

My current en-suite just has a velux window and it’s lovely and light. I like not having to close a blind when I’m having a bath/shower.

DappledThings · 13/07/2021 12:32

It would be a deal breaker for me. Not so much the general shower ventilation, a good fan will cover that, but I find not being able to open a window if someone's done a smelly poo just too grim!

LakeShoreD · 13/07/2021 12:39

There’s only a problem if the ventilation is not adequate. After all, hotels have them. When we remodelled the windowless bathroom in our old flat on our list was a really good extractor fan, a heated towel rail that’s electric so not dependent on the heating being on and a heated mirror so you don’t get condensation. We have windows in our new house and I honestly don’t notice any difference compared to the windowless bathroom in the flat.

Carrott21 · 13/07/2021 13:02

We have one bathroom with no window and the fan is awesome. I guess it depends.

AwkwardPaws27 · 13/07/2021 13:05

Our upstairs shower room is windowless - we have a good inline fan which switches on when the light is turned on, and runs on for 10mins or so afterwards. No issues at all with it.

Catfox1 · 13/07/2021 13:07

It’a a deal breaker for me but I suspect I’m in the minority! I wouldn’t worry about it if you’re happy and love the house.