To buy a house with a bathroom downstairs only?

[PennyLany]

We are FTBs and have a limited budget for our area. All properties within our range are small cottages, often with 1 bathroom downstairs only (i.e. no loo upstairs). I know this is a pain point and might make it hard to resell but would it be silly to discard these types of properties fully? Here is an example:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145466324#/?channel=RES_BUY

We are a family of 3 with a small DD.

I remember hating going down in the middle of the night. I swear we wet the bed later than we should have because of putting it off. If I lived alone it wouldn't bother me as much to be fair.

Well I can’t imagine choosing to live in the north over the south but we’re all different aren’t we? Half a million for a 2 bed isn’t unusual in many areas and you don’t “lose” that money because you get it back when you sell plus whatever percentage the property has increased by. And property prices do generally increase over time, (especially in popular areas) albeit we are in a bit of a slump currently after the Covid boom.

Well I can’t imagine choosing to live in the north over the south but we’re all different aren’t we?

That's why we stuck in the middle, 4 bed 3 bath detached house for under £400k but can be in London in hour, compromises 😂

Sorry @aldjpandfleba but to someone born & bought up in London like me, anything north of Watford is still the North 😂

Sorry @aldjpandfleba but to someone born & bought up in London like me, anything north of Watford is still the North

so I hear!

I mean I couldn’t bear to be in a suburban commuter town and would much prefer paying £500k for a 2 bed flat here.

We’re all different.

plus if we want we can sell up and move on retirement and have a nice half mill nest egg eh?

Our first house had a downstairs bathroom. Had our twins there and it was like that until they were 10 and we extended. Wasn’t a problem at all.

Laughing a bit at PP’s confusion about why an older person might find a downstairs bathroom a little off putting. You’ll be enlightened in due course I’m sure…

Two trips to the loo for me last night.

Plus a cat who likes to hang out stealth style on the stairs.

What could possibly go wrong?

It is a very sweet cottage and understand the price tag given where you are looking to buy. There are some slightly cheeper areas nearby but Weybrudge is pricey for a reason because it is lovely.

Honestly, yes a downstairs bathroom will put off future buyers when you come to sell. However, this is not uncommon in old terrace houses and realistically you are likely to be selling to first time buyers in the future due to the number of bedrooms so they will be willing to compromise to live in the area, just like you are. This property is probably in your price range for the very reason that some people are not keen on this layout and the same house for a more usual set-up would cost you more. It's a compromise that I could live with.

Haha 😂

Our first house was like this and it was fine (it also cost a 5th of this price though!)

Be glad you did if you get to a ripe old age and are still in the house!

I wouldn't (and couldn't) live or visit a house without a loo upstairs and downstairs. Bathroom being downstairs wouldn't be an issue, but I'd need at least a loo upstairs.

If its something you can live with then only you can decide.

Very cute but the bathroom would drive me nuts. With a young kid I would choose a flat for convenience with plenty of outside space. (Eg mansion flats with grounds).

“I wouldn't (and couldn't) live or visit a house without a loo upstairs and downstairs”

Lol I can see it now…

”Where is your downstairs loo”

-we don’t have one

“Gaaah get me away from these ghaaastly peasants I command nothing less that loos on all floors, with absolutely no exceptions!”

I meant to stop over. I'm disabled and wouldn't be able to get down the stairs. I'd just piss all over your carpet. But glad it made you laugh

@K0OLA1D apologies.

But I’m not psychic.I was reacting (playfully) to what you wrote initially, that’s all. Wouldn’t have made that comment if I’d have known, obviously.

I thought the bracketed 'couldn't' made it pretty obvious.

No, it didn’t, and apologies again. @K0OLA1D

It’s a pretty house. Weybridge is expensive. But personally I would widen the search. downstairs bathrooms, though very common in that style of house, are an utter pain. And yes it does put off buyers going forward.

Just widening your search area will throw up other possibilities without the downstairs bathroom issue. It really is a big consideration.

All property has a compromise - bathrooms, bedrooms, living space, garden, parking, view, overlooked, transport links, insulation, light, price...
All the compromises affect resale - who knows what will be fashionable when you sell?
For me, I would hate the bathroom to be via the kitchen, so Id rule it out.

Most Victorian terraces have steep narrow stairs which arent great if your (or your overnight guests) mobilty or balance is an issue. So if one bathroom is the option, a downstairs bathroom might work better than an upstairs one there.

Standard here in SE London, the 'cottages' all have a downstairs bathroom and now +500k

Always the usual comments "you can have a castle where I live with that budget". Well yeah but I don't want to live elsewhere, our jobs are in London and we have a lot of other things to consider, housing here is expensive.

Do you have a car? That road would be a nightmare for parking and busy for people coming and going.

That would be the main issue for me especially as you step straight into the front room from the street.

If you don't need to rush then hopefully something you like will come up in Weybridge that you can afford?

It is gorgeous! I lived in a listed building with a downstairs bathroom in the centre of the house and it was fine. It was very handy for my DS when he was small.

Many Victorian cottages near me have the bathroom after the kitchen downstairs and because of the area they command good prices. Some have extended over the kitchen to have a bathroom upstairs.