Removing a Downstairs WC Consequences

marineralpha

Hi All,

I know this topic has been covered on here a few times already but I never found any clarity on the consequences of if I was to remove my downstairs WC regardless of regulations.

I have recently bought a house and there is a WC attached to the kitchen but I need to get shot of it to gain the extra space in the kitchen. I know Part M says that this is a violation unless a WC is relocated elsewhere downstairs (which I don't plan on doing) but I also heard that you are not legally obliged to follow the regulation?!?

So does anybody know what ramifications I would be looking at if I went ahead and got rid of the WC anyway? I imagine they would never even know until I came to sell.

jk0

marineralpha wrote: »

So does anybody know what ramifications I would be looking at if I went ahead and got rid of the WC anyway?

Nothing to do with the law, but I can think of the following:


1.) Lower house value.
2.) Narrower market of buyers. (No-one over 60 or with kids under 5)
3.) Personal inconvenience.

Doozergirl

Part M only applies if it was applicable when the house was built. Was it?

London50

If you have made up your mind to remove it no matter what then why bother asking what could happen??

marineralpha

Doozergirl wrote: »

Part M only applies if it was applicable when the house was built. Was it?

Hi Doozergirl,

Yes the WC is an original feature of the house (built 1960s).

marineralpha

London50 wrote: »

If you have made up your mind to remove it no matter what then why bother asking what could happen??

I wasn't aware my mind was definitely made up...

DigForVictory

Without wanting to sound alarmist, getting rid of a loo to save space is a massively false economy.
Short term, look at redesigning the kitchen with better storage. (And really, whenever was Christmas a reasonable time to judge how much space and storage you need? Although it might be one of the few weeks you have no choice but to appreciate the issue.)

Medium term, mind how you go on streets & pavements as the temperatures fall in the coming months - you really do not appreciate a downstairs loo until you have to haul self plus cast upstairs for relief. Also visitors - so much more restful not to have to do stairs with knees clamped. Whether you'd rather they didn't see the kitchen is Another Matter.

Long term - resale, as has been neatly summarised above.

Oh and should you find yourself with a family, a downstairs loo is a godsend for the summer sport of potty training and an almost everyday blessing for those Expecting.

London50

marineralpha wrote: »

I wasn't aware my mind was definitely made up...

I know Part M says that this is a violation unless a WC is relocated elsewhere downstairs (which I don't plan on doing);)

SandraX

jk0 wrote: »

Nothing to do with the law, but I can think of the following:


1.) Lower house value.
2.) Narrower market of buyers. (No-one over 60 or with kids under 5)
3.) Personal inconvenience.

Maybe a problem if a leasehold property otherwise as stated above.

We took ours out to wider hallways but knocked door into garage and built one there.

ATB

tacpot12

marineralpha wrote: »

Hi All,

I know this topic has been covered on here a few times already but I never found any clarity on the consequences of if I was to remove my downstairs WC regardless of regulations.

I have recently bought a house and there is a WC attached to the kitchen but I need to get shot of it to gain the extra space in the kitchen. I know Part M says that this is a violation unless a WC is relocated elsewhere downstairs (which I don't plan on doing) but I also heard that you are not legally obliged to follow the regulation?!?

So does anybody know what ramifications I would be looking at if I went ahead and got rid of the WC anyway? I imagine they would never even know until I came to sell.

According to the link below, if the council find out that you have contravened the building regulations within two years they can prosecute the contractor, or within one year they can force you to undo the work:

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200128/building_control/38/building_regulations/3

They also point out that there will be no completion certificate on file if you come to sell the property, but how will anyone know that work requiring a certificate has been done if the plans were never submitted to building control for approval?

Because the contractor can be fined an unlimited amount, you may struggle to find a contractor to do the work, but many have a 'relaxed' attitude to buidling regulations anyway.

I think you will be ok to remove the WC if you plan to keep your property for at least a couple of years, don't discuss the fact you have played the system with anyone, and don't do anything that can't be undone cheaply if needed (basically this means being thoughtful about how you cap off or make good the connections to the drains and soil stack).