Do downstairs bathrooms put people off?

hollyh · 27 August 2011 at 2:32PM

A friend of mine has just bought a new house. He's going to renovate the old one and then plans to rent it out. A good few years ago he took the bathroom out upstairs to make a 3rd bedroom. He built an extension downstairs for the bathroom and a utility room. The bathroom is now through the kitchen. I'm wondering if the bathroom being downstairs and especially through the kitchen will put off potential tenants. If he's going to move it then now would be the idea time. He can't see a problem with it so maybe it's just me? Some other opinions would be great.

mallada · 27 August 2011 at 2:35PM

I have seen a couple of properties while viewing that had downstairs bathrooms. It reduced the value and appeal of the property for me personally. May not bother others though.

I wouldnt be as bothered if there was a bathroom upstairs as well as down.

thegirlintheattic · 27 August 2011 at 2:39PM

Depends on property, buyers and layout. For example I wouldn't buy a house with a bathroom off the kitchen but would consider one with a bathroom off a hallway downstairs.

hollyh · 27 August 2011 at 2:44PM

I said to him with a bit of jiggling downstairs he could put it off the hall but he wasn't keen on the bathroom being the 1st room as you come through the front door. I would prefer it there to be honest.

teeni · 27 August 2011 at 2:46PM

my bathroom is downstairs by the kitchen, very beneficial when the kids were small and coming in to use the loo.

It has never caused us any issues and i dont really understand why people are against them, perhaps it is just what you are used to.

Davesnave · 27 August 2011 at 2:46PM

It depends what else the house has to offer. If the house has a uniquely good other feature, there are those who might overlook the GF bathroom in order to gain that advantage, but if it's a fairly bog-standard house, (no pun intended, but spotted later!) then there will be a price to pay for the inconvenience.

Any chance of getting a cloakroom upstairs? Our family did that with a holiday place and it eased matters considerably.

hollyh · 27 August 2011 at 2:55PM

I think without losing a bedroom it wouldn't be able to be upstairs. The garden is massive so that could be a good feature. It's all going to be newly renovated too so that'll be nice and there's not a lot of rentals in the village.

Callie22 · 27 August 2011 at 3:13PM

I currently live in a house that has a bathroom off the kitchen and I hate it - in the future, I would definitely be put off if a house had that feature. I would consider a place that had a hallway separating the two, but I really don't like having to walk through what it is a very small kitchen to get into the bathroom. I can't help but feel that it's not *that* hygenic and I think it's a bit off-putting for visitors - if they're using the loo and I'm using the oven then there's literally just a couple of feet between us (and a door lol) and it can feel a little uncomfortable.

lemontart · 27 August 2011 at 3:17PM

I had a house with a downstairs bathroom to rear of kitchen and would not do so again as a long way to go in the middle of the night if needed.

hollyh · 27 August 2011 at 3:22PM

That's what i think, whenever i go for a wee there it feels like everyone can hear me.

paulwellerfan · 27 August 2011 at 3:24PM

i have a bathroom down stairs. however i also have a very small bathroom ( well a toilet and a sink in my bedroom, which used to be an old walk in cupboard)