Removing downstairs toilet

[Pebble65]

Hi All,

We’re in the process of moving house but noticed when we viewed the new house that the downstairs toilet is not great. It’s an early 1800’s cottage which has been extended in the last 7 years to almost double its size. The kitchen is open plan to the hallway which leads to the front door and the toilet is off this hallway.

The downstairs toilet room is the width of the toilet (tiny and claustrophobic), it effectively leads off the kitchen and we just don’t think it’s a good use of space. We have a downstairs toilet in our current house that barely gets used and the idea of everyone in the kitchen being able to hear people in there is off putting.

This is all part of the new extension and we assumed we could remove it and extend the pantry in to it which would be a much better use of space. However, I’ve been reading up about building regs and now I’m worried we won’t be allowed to remove it.

Do the rules about downstairs toilets apply to extensions or does anyone know if they just apply to new builds?

Think I'd rather add a wall to seperate the kitchen from the Hall or change the lay out of utility and down stairs loo . Looks like a flexible space.

We paid £25k to have a downstairs loo fitted (we had to move around lots of plumbing and build the room! Apparently, it adds 5% to the value of the house...not that we were thinking of that.

I wouldn’t buy a house without a downstairs toilet……never had an en-suite …..never wanted one …..would actively look for a house without one

Is there a door between the kitchen and hallway? If not, I'd put one in - apart from helping to soundproof the loo from the kitchen/diner area, it also makes sense for fire safety.

I kind of wish I had one because it would make it easier for elderly mother visiting. However I would not want one that was accessed from the kitchen, that’s just weird and off putting.
I don’t know what the rules are but do what you want in your own home as long as you are allowed.

We’ve got a newish build with a downstairs loo under the stairs, a main bathroom and an en-suite. There’s many a time when I think I’d rather have an under stairs cupboard but I’d never swap out the toilet.

Improve it, sound proof it, but defo don’t remove it! Would never ever have a house without one - not just for us, but for visitors/people who struggle with stairs etc. An absolute essential imo.

I have to admit though I’m really surprised at how much people love a downstairs loo!!

I'm surprised that you're surprised, OP.

As others have said, besides not wanting visitors, especially children, roaming around the private parts of my house upstairs, I want my house to be accessible to people who can't climb stairs. And that person might be you. I have a good friend who broke her ankle and couldn't climb stairs for several weeks. Her DH set up a bed in the dining room, and she was able to use the downstairs loo.

We had similar in an old house. Took out the loo but left the basin (useful!) and the plumbing. In return I got a fabulous pantry with shelves all round and room to store the hoover.
When we sold, the new people put the loo back and had it reconnected. It obviously didn't put them off buying the place.

Lock the downstairs loo door and give the key to a neighbour or someone who doesn't live in the house. Keep it locked for a month or more and see how you feel about it not being there!

Just put a door between the kitchen and hallway. Problem solved. Not sure why there isn't one there already. I wouldn't want cooking smells permeating throughout the hall and into the rest of the house.

I would keep it and put a door between the kitchen/dinner and the hall.

I'd keep it for all the reasons already mentioned. Could you either put in a door to close off the kitchen or close off the hall way door and make the downstairs loo bigger by opening it up into the utility room?

I'd just close off the kitchen diner from the hallway with big glass doors.

No way would I get rid of a downstairs loo though. I'm not especially precious or demanding but it's one of my absolute must-haves when looking at houses.

If you get rid, I think you'll find it harder to sell too, if need be

If it's your home for your old age I would leave it in, it will be very handy when you're older especially if you need downstairs living eventually. But I work with elderly/sick patients at home and think everyone should have a downstairs loo.

Could you reconfigure and turn the loo room 90 degrees clockwise so that the door is still off the hallway but the toilet itself is next to the study? Not sure how much it would impact on the size and layout of the utility room though. Or move the door of the loo nearer to the kitchen then put the loo where the basin currently is.
I thought you had to have a minimum 2 doors between a kitchen and a toilet, but I’d put a door in at the end of the hall anyway.

A friend has a 3 storey terrace with the bathroom and only toilet in the attic. Nightmare!!

I also wouldnt consider a house without downstairs loo. Try and leave the plumbing if you do remove it.

@MagpiePi after roosting this it has got me thinking.

In our current home we removed a wall which, in theory would leave no doors between the kitchen and bathroom and a bedroom. We added a doorway but I remember the surveyor mentioning building reg requirements that there’s a door between the kitchen, toilet and bedrooms.

We have a level 3 survey booked for a couple of weeks time so I’m hoping this is something they can advise on? We’ve had issues with the house being over valued and proposed developments in the area so I’m worried this will be another bone of contention if it turns out to be non-compliant!

I think a few people have answered this already, but it was previously the case that you needed 2 doors between kitchen and toilet. That is no longer the case as long as there is a sink in the toilet.

I personally find the pantry/utility more important (I hate having piled up washing in the kitchen!) so if we do have to keep the toilet I wouldn’t want to compromise the space in the utility room.

@Reallybadidea perfect, thank you!

We live in an older house. The main bathroom - shower, loo, bath - is off the kitchen. The most modern bit of the house is Victorian. It’s just a different way of living and something we are used to. If all you have is a separate loo then it may be worth removing it. But first think about where downstairs loos/cloakrooms are usually located. Often by the front door or off the utility - is this really so different?

Outside loo use example - friends of ours bought an inter war house that still had the sole loo as an outside loo. One of those where it’s within the footprint of the house but the door opens to outside. The previous owners had made it indoorish by building a conservatory. Their initial solution was to install a loo in the upstairs bathroom and plumb a washing machine into the outside loo. Later they extended the kitchen - it’s a corner house - and the loo became a loo within the kitchen footprint that was also a wet room. It was the tiniest wet room I have ever seen. Access remained directly off the kitchen.

On personal experience, it’s not been the case for a very long time. Our downstairs bathroom is directly off the kitchen. The loo was originally separated from the bath and sink by a stud wall with sliding door. It’s been a full bathroom with bath, shower and loo and no extra door to loo for more than a decade

I'm going off information from 30 years ago, so no wonder I'm out of date!
Even so, a toilet opening straight onto a kitchen 😬

It is a bit of a non-issue. You can direct visitors upstairs and use it as a cupboard if you want. It will still be there in emergency and when selling the house in the future.