Bathroom next to kitchen

trep15

Hi there,

I am considering making an offer on a house at the moment and having a downstairs bathroom for my mother would be nice. We were thinking of converting the understairs space into a toilet but this would mean the bathroom door opened into the kitchen. Would this be ok from a building reg perspective? Thank you

No.

It is strictly against regs to have a bathroom directly onto a kitchen. There must be at least a corridor between.

the14thwarrior

to my knowledge, yes it is now ok to open directly.

i believe they change the regs years ago. many a downstairs toilet is building that leads directly into a kitchen.

the14thwarrior

sorry for typo.

it is ok to my knowledge.

the council allow them under the grant work, and they are most strict (in Dublin anyway) with these kinds of things.

i believe the regs changed some time ago.

Kincora2017

The Regs do not have any issue with a bathroom opening into a kitchen.

It will need to be fully accessible (unless the ground floor is very small (below 45m2 I think). In other words, it’s unlikely to fit under the stairs.

Nickla

are you sure there will be enough space under the stairs for a toilet - if you need to go in from the kitchen it could be very tight unless you plan on taking some space from the kitchen - also is it feasible to get waste out and ventilation in?

Victor

I don't like the concept. However, I understand it is legal, but only for single-family dwellings - you can't have it in a café, bar, etc.

Under-stairs WCs tend to be a bit of a squeeze, so it might be useful to consider other options.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369454#Comment_122369454

The advantage of being next to the kitchen is that there is normally water and drainage available.

Claw Hammer

There are regulations for downstairs toilets which state they must be off the common areas of the house and not from a room. It is unhygienic to have a kitchen and toilet adjacent to each other without a ventilated lobby in between.

Ray Palmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122372272#Comment_122372272

The regs changed and you are now allowed do it provided you have a mechanical ventilation to the outside from the bathroom

ballyharpat

I have a toilet/wc in my kitchen, I know a lot of people that do, it has not been an issue with regulations for a long time, I believe.

Previously there was a “two door” rule enforced between any toilet and the kitchen but these rules have now been relaxed as long as the new bathroom includes a sink for hand washing.

I believe an extractor fan may be necessary, if there is no window, but I'm not 100% certain, it is needed in a wetroom-one that has a shower/bath.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058359248/bathroom-next-to-kitchen

yes. No specific building regulation that prevents this. Be mindful of ventilation.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122372272#Comment_122372272

What Regulations?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122369259#Comment_122369259

What’s regs is this against?

It seems the regs have changed.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122382131#Comment_122382131

Many many years ago it may have been required. Pre building regulation in 1992. It may have been a bye law rather than a regulation?

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122382236#Comment_122382236

Those were the bye laws.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122387616#Comment_122387616

Yes. I think that’s what I said 😆

poker--addict

but how are is it to retrofit on ground floor? Guess it's house dependent