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Original poster

Replace downstairs loo with washing machine and dryer

40 replies

Seainasive · 13/02/2022 18:17

Would this be a stupid thing to do? Would it put off future buyers? Not that we are planning to move any time soon.

We have a total of 3 toilets in the house, 1 in the master en-suite and one in the family bathroom. No space for a dryer in the kitchen.

Thoughts?

OP posts:

Shmithecat2 · 13/02/2022 18:18

Hmm. A downstairs loo is a good thing to have. Is there no room in your kitchen for the wd?

watchtheglitterdustswirl · 13/02/2022 18:18

I personally wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs loo, it would put me off massively. Even with the other two (I have the same set up as you).

I don't want visitors traipsing around my house to use the toilet thanks! Plus I have small children so much easier with a quickly accessible toilet.

I think you'll devalue your house.

titchy · 13/02/2022 18:20

Don't do it! Can you squeeze a stacked washing machine and drier in the loo? Maybe a combined loo/sink?

Roselilly36 · 13/02/2022 18:20

Downstairs loo is essential IMHO particularly in a family home, could you buy a washer/dryer instead if it a space issue?

gunnersgold · 13/02/2022 18:20

Isn't there enough room for both ? A lot of new builds have a downstairs loo and utility together !

MotherOfDragons27 · 13/02/2022 18:21

I'm in a council house and we have a downstairs loo as well as bathroom. Luckily it's a nice square shape so there's room for my washing machine and tumble dryer in there. It's handy to have them both together out of the way and meant I could have a dishwasher installed in the kitchen instead of the washer. If I had to make a choice between them I'd lose the toilet.

Dyrene · 13/02/2022 18:21

Can you put the washer and dryer (maybe stacked) into one of the bathrooms?

Hairyfriend · 13/02/2022 18:21

Is the loo under the stairs or in a utility room or somewhere else? Could you put a dryer and toilet in the same space? Even a wall hung dryer? Is there the ceiling height in the room to have one of those clothes hoists and a dehumidifier in there?

I would never give up a down stairs loo. Easier for elderly parents/family than climbing stairs and also quick with young children when potty training. I also prefer guests to use a downstairs loo, rather than wandering around upstairs!

MotherOfDragons27 · 13/02/2022 18:22

Forgot to add my dryer is stacked on top of my washer.

NotMeNoNo · 13/02/2022 18:22

Children are one thing, but in the last couple of years my PILs have also been unable to visit us as MIL can't manage the stairs to the bathroom. It makes your home accessible for everyone.

Hairyfriend · 13/02/2022 18:23

Could you draw a rough floor plan, or size of the room and we might come up with other suggestions to help.

MotherOfDragons27 · 13/02/2022 18:23

Actually reading the other comments I do agree with the visitors using the loo aspect. I'd hate to have people going upstairs, it's a tough one.

FeckTheMagicDragon · 13/02/2022 18:23

I hated our downstairs loo. I would put a washer/dryer in there in a heartbeat
Mind you, the most convenient location I’ve ever had was a cupboard between all the bedrooms, upstairs. No more traipsing up and down with basics of clothes. And ironed in the bedroom!

Dyrene · 13/02/2022 18:23

Years ago I had a house without only one bathroom 😱. Reading MN I was worried no one would ever want it because it didn’t have a downstairs loo. Guess what: loads of people wanted it. There was a bidding war and it went for considerably more than the asking price.

Make your house work for you.

Kite22 · 13/02/2022 18:25

I too would look for alternatives.

I would want a downstairs toilet in any house I bought, or space to put one in and money in the budget to do so.

A downstairs toilet is SUCH a plus point in a house - not just for resale but for your own use.

JustWonderingIfYou · 13/02/2022 18:26

Downstair loo was on the non-negotiable list for us. I hate visitors going upstairs and also much easier with toddlers/ visiting small children.

There's also the ease for older visitors who would struggle up and down the stairs.

I'd rather a downstairs w/c and an upstairs laundry room rather than a master en suite tbh.

headintheproverbial · 13/02/2022 18:27

We lived in our house for about 6 years without a downstairs loo. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is transformative to have a WC downstairs!!

Yy to stacking the dryer if you can or consider moving it upstairs?

Original poster

Seainasive · 13/02/2022 18:28

Thanks that is a resounding No then! No space in the kitchen unless we lose the dishwasher and downstairs loo is small.

Where I come from, having the washing machine in the family bathroom is completely normal but I’ve never seen this in the UK and assumed it’s not allowed here?

OP posts:

MotherOfDragons27 · 13/02/2022 19:25

@Seainasive

Thanks that is a resounding No then! No space in the kitchen unless we lose the dishwasher and downstairs loo is small.

Where I come from, having the washing machine in the family bathroom is completely normal but I’ve never seen this in the UK and assumed it’s not allowed here?

You can put it anywhere you like. No rules as to which room it goes in. Choose the room most useful or convenient for you!

lndnbrdge91 · 13/02/2022 19:41

There is a good episode of your home made perfect where the architect makes a small space for the washing machine and dryer just outside the family bathroom upstairs. I think it was series one with Laura Jane Clark as designer.

TurquoiseBaubles · 13/02/2022 19:47

You can put it in the bathroom if you put it in a "cupboard" - plumbers don't like doing it, but as long as the bathroom isn't too small it's perfectly legal.

Caterina99 · 13/02/2022 19:50

My friend has just moved hers upstairs as they were doing major renovations. It’s basically in a cupboard on her upstairs landing. So much more useful!

titchy · 13/02/2022 19:52

You can put it anywhere you like. No rules as to which room it goes in. Choose the room most useful or convenient for you!

Actually you can't - the socket needs to be a certain distance from the bath or shower hence why people don't tend to have them in bathrooms in the uk.

BertieBotts · 13/02/2022 20:07

The problem will be you are highly unlikely to have sockets in your bathroom to plug the appliances in.

You'd have to look up the regulations for getting sockets installed. It's possible, but rare because the regulations need the socket to be a certain distance from a water source (even though it's magically fine in a kitchen or utility room :o) and most bathrooms aren't big enough to do it legally.

Georgie8 · 13/02/2022 20:13

UK regs are really strict about sockets in the bathroom, unlike virtually every other country in the world 🙄
How large is the under-stair cupboard, if you have one? When we were having building work done we put our washer/dryer in there.

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