Removing downstairs loo, will we de-value the house?

Catatonia

I find the modern fascination with shoving as many toilets as possible into a property quite bemusing (I currently rent a two-bed flat with two loos which is completely excessive) and so would much prefer a bigger kitchen. In fact I'd take bigger hallway/ nice cupboard or any kind of extra space over having a downstairs loo.

Brb

I lived in a rented house that had a tiny kitchen and it had downstairs loo and little cupboard. I'd have loved to have knocked all that out to have a bigger kitchen.

That was a modern 2 bed house too. Strange how they think ppl would prefer a loo over a decent sized kitchen (you could stand in middle of mine and touch each wall without taking a step). It was ok to rent (was fleeing flooded house at time), I'd never have considered buying it. Knocking the toilet/cupboard out would have doubled the size of the kitchen (albeit front door entrance would have been straight into kitchen).

seven-day-weekend

My house is a mid-terrace and has one loo (downstairs), and a small galley kitchen. I would LOVE a loo upstairs but without losing bedroom space or having an extension there is no room.

My Spanish house has one toilet upsstairs, one downstairs and to me this is the height of luxury. It also has a large kitchen.

I personally would prefer the extra loo to a larger kitchen, providing the kitchen was well-planned and usable.

But, people differ on this and unless you intend to sell the house in the near future I would do what is best for your family.

Tiddlywinks

I wouldn't buy without a downstairs loo because...

a) I have elderly relatives that often visit and can't make stairs.

b) I want to keep visitors downstairs away from all the rubbish I had to take upstairs to make the downstairs presentable for their visit .

tbs624

Catatonia wrote: »

I find the modern fascination with shoving as many toilets as possible into a property quite bemusing (I currently rent a two-bed flat with two loos which is completely excessive)

It may seem excessive for your own circumstances but perhaps a LL would probably be hoping that it would make the property more attractive to two individual flat sharers:)

Catatonia

What kind of person can't share a toilet with someone else though? Seriously, it genuinely mystifies me.

gingin_2

We are the same. We've bought a house with a grotty bathroom next to the small kitchen and knocking through would make a good family sized kitchen. We were advised by the surveyor to keep a downstairs loo " as that is what people want " but there are already 2 upstairs and 1 in the basement meaning we have 4 toilets in a 4 bed house. It's definitely going.

westlondonbuyer

Heh at Catatonia Until you've lived with revolting slobs, or in mixed-sex but not romantically linked flatshares, you'll never understand:eek:

Catatonia

Maybe that's my problem.

I must admit that it's one of my property bug bears. See also houses/ flats having a main bathroom and an ensuite, but only a shower in the ensuite, so you have to parade through a bedroom to shower.

hazyjo

OMG I can't wait to move and have more than one toilet! Only two of us, but it seems to be a constant battle for the bathroom. You can guarantee hubby will want the loo when I step into the bath, or he'll be in the loo when I want to go. We've timed the mornings down to seconds, but I had to go in early the other morning and it really threw us out... he was due in the shower/loo when I was in the bath. Oh, to have a bathroom and an en-suite and a downstairs loo... died and gone to heaven

Saying all that... if you have a loo in the ensuite and a loo in the bathroom, all upstairs, I'd rather have a bigger kitchen in a 3 bed semi. A downstairs loo would be on a wishlist, but under 'desirable' not 'essential'. A bigger kitchen will appeal to pretty much everyone. How much could you gain? Is the loo off the kitchen then, or in a hallway which is adjacent to the kitchen? If it's off the kitchen, I'd definitely lose it and extend the kitchen as that in itself could actually put buyers off.

But, as mentioned, it's not clear if you are actually planning to sell any time soon. Do what suits you!

Jx