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Property/DIY

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Original poster

Cottage with a downstairs bathroom only. Leave it?

67 replies

Wannabemamas · 13/12/2023 18:38

Found a cute cottage within our budget in an expensive area. A bit small but very cute, only downside is that it only has a downstairs bathroom and not upstairs. Would this be a massive mistake?

OP posts:

KievLoverTwo · 13/12/2023 22:18

MargaritaThyme · 13/12/2023 20:45

If you’re going to buy a “character property’, there are always going to be compromises. For example, we live in a barn conversion in a naice village with a tiny, north-facing garden. Not ideal, obviously, but that’s what brought it within our budget. You have to decide whether the inevitable quirks are deal-breaker for you, or not.
I could probably live with a downstairs bathroom if everything else was great.

There's something to be said about not being able to hear your partner wee through a flimsy wall.

I can hear mine peeing on a different floor (yay, 2000s standards of building).

PatFussy · 13/12/2023 22:27

I have a downstairs bathroom and actually love it! Easier for making sure the kids aren't in the shower too long in the mornings, when you have guests they don't need to trek upstairs for the toilet, when I broke my foot last year the downstairs bathroom was an absolute godsend! We keep a bucket upstairs in the event of tummy bugs. They only downside is if you need a wee in the night but you soo get used to it.

Pinkandgreytiles · 13/12/2023 22:35

We live in a 300 yr old cottage and only have a downstairs bathroom, so right that you spend a lot less time upstairs than down.

It's very characterful and agree you always have to make compromises. We brought up 3 kids here and I'm in my late 50's and never bothered me even though I do visit the restroom in the night quite frequently!

Tistheramseason · 13/12/2023 22:43

I think it's quite common here in Scotland (guessing you're somewhere else if you think it's unusual)? Of the houses I know with only one bathroom, including my own, most have it downstairs rather than up. It just ideal at night but is handy during the day.

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 13/12/2023 22:51

We have one. I like it. When kids are small they could bath while I nipped in and out.

When people come round no going rhrough the house.

Poppy training was easy - just a potty in bedroom for night.

GasDrivenNun · 14/12/2023 00:12

The kitchen is minuscule and the downstairs bathroom would be a No from me.

ChateauDuMont · 14/12/2023 00:15

It wouldn't bother me as I have a wee before I go to bed and don't need to go again until mid morning.

If I was I'll or bedridden I would either sleep downstairs or use a chamber pot upstairs.

Starseeking · 14/12/2023 00:55

I wouldn't, I go to the loo at least once during the night so would hate this layout.

MariaLuna · 14/12/2023 01:04

Well, if it's a cottage, i.e. ancient, you'll have nothing but bills to pay for upkeep.

Cottages are gorgeous on picture postcards. Wouldn't want to live in one.

My modern flat has all mod cons and is fabulous.

no stairs to fall down from and break your neck as happened to someone I knew.

Eekmystro · 14/12/2023 09:07

Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 13/12/2023 22:51

We have one. I like it. When kids are small they could bath while I nipped in and out.

When people come round no going rhrough the house.

Poppy training was easy - just a potty in bedroom for night.

Ah yes this is one of the positive I found when mine were small. Bathing easily.

User2856948 · 14/12/2023 09:16

our first terrace house was like this, it was fine for ftb but probably not ideal for family house.

ohdamnitjanet · 14/12/2023 09:26

Wannabemamas · 13/12/2023 18:55

But would it be an issue to resell?

Depends where you live. I’m in an area that has a lot of small Victorian houses with downstairs bathrooms so I think it’s just accepted even if not ideal. If there were no other houses like it it might be different. I’ve bought a few houses like this and it isn’t a deal breaker if the rest of the house is lovely. You just get used to it.
At present I have a downstairs bathroom ( off the kitchen ) both small, but both renovated so lovely, and an upstairs shower room. However I have to go through my son’s room to it, so I still have to go downstairs to the loo at night! It’s not the end of the world, running upstairs a dozen time during the day would annoy me more tbh.

tealweasel · 14/12/2023 10:11

How common is it in the local area in properties of this size and type? That will be important when considering resale - round here this is not an uncommon layout and so, although it goes in the 'cons' column on my list, it wouldn't stop me from buying somewhere that otherwise ticked my boxes. If it's the only property you've seen like this, then there's a greater chance that it'll be a dealbreaker.

Whattodowithit88 · 14/12/2023 10:13

Depends. If you have no young kids and not going to in the near future (when they’re sick it’s a nightmare with a downstairs only toilet) then go for it. If you’re elderly with a weak bladder don’t bother, again that’s a nightmare.

easilydistracted1 · 14/12/2023 10:18

I love our downstairs bathroom it's so handy for everything being on one level in the dayz particularly as my wife has a disability and you're not cut off from everyone. Will come in very handy for keeping an eye on kids too. We do however have a tiny loo upstairs although we rarely use it. I'd buy it and hope you can squeeze a tiny extra in upstairs. God knows whats going on with all the mad cupboards on and across from bedroom 2. It makes it not bedroom sized. I'd be ripping those out if possible. You may or may bit then find somewhere to squeeze in

DramaticBananas · 14/12/2023 10:45

If everything else about the property was good like the location, price and period features, I wouldn't worry. In time, could you build on top of the existing kitchen and bathroom and turn the stairs around to have your upstairs bathroom above the kitchen?

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 14/12/2023 11:47

I have a cute, tiny cottage with a downstairs bathroom (only two bedrooms and no opportunity to extend, so I'm stuck with it). When I first bought I worried it might be a disadvantage, but I moved from a house where I had to walk along a massive landing to the loo anyway, so going downstairs was actually quicker!

I've got used to it now. I leave a plug in light in the shaver socket on 24/7 so it's never dark at night and the staircase (which is almost sheer) I keep well lit. It's just one of the perils of living in a very old house, as far as I am concerned!

There are advantages too. When the immersion tank in the bathroom sprang a leak (unnoticed for a couple of hours) and was pouring water all over the floor - if that had happened in an upstairs bathroom the tank would have been in the living room with water pouring down all the walls before I managed to find a solution and emergency plumber. As it was I just had a wet floor.

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