downstairs loo

[daninman99]

can i have a downstairs toilet opening into the kitchen

[smurfchops]

Make sure you put a door on. Seriously tho, I think you are supposed to have a door in between so you don't go straight into the kitchen, like a hallway. Not sure if this is only in restaurants.

[Impret-Sir]

This used to be ok, my sister married a farmer about 20 years ago and his farm house had a loo adjoining the kitchen. However, when they bought out the farmhouse next door and made them into one, the council, who owned the farms, took this loo out, telling them that building regulations now forbid this on hygene grounds.

[gen2]

I'm sure you have to have a vented space between a loo and a kitchen.

[stanleyman]

As I recall this was changed again so that you don't need a lobby but may not apply to kitchens, best check with building control.

[joko]

if you own the house and have no lodgers or tenants you can do what you like.

you could always add a sort of vestibule rather than a hallway, to save on space.

or use those sliding doors and then you won't need such a wide hall or vestibule area

[Buenchico]

Contrary to Joko's statements, you can't always do what you like with your own home.

An application under Building Regulations is compulsory for several types of internal alterations. One of these is the installation of a new WC. Wherever you plan to put your new loo, you must seek consent. Consent will not be granted, however, for the siting of a WC within a room which opens directly into a kitchen.

Chris

[smurfchops]

Since my earlier answer I have spoken with my neighbour who is a builder - he says no, you don't need a vestibule now, you can open straight onto the kitchen - the regulations have been changed. But check with your Local Authority just in case.

[sazzle73]

..think legislation changed a while back... so long as you have a facility to wash your hands (eg a hand basin) in the loo you can have it opening onto the kitchen, you don't need to have two doors anymore.

[morg_monster]

We had a student house where the only toilet was in the bathroom, which was attached to the kitchen. There also was a folding-in-half type door, rather than a full solid door, due to lack of space for the door to open out into the kitchen or bathroom. I really hated going to the loo if people were cooking or washing up or whatever, you could hear everything. It was quite unpleasant.

Just something to think about, even if it is legal, will anyone want to use it... (of course if you have an alternate WC then not such a problem). Make sure you put a fan in the bathroom so smells don't put people off their food.

[Buenchico]

Even if the regulations on toilets opening into kitchens have been changed, the requirement to obtain permission from your local authority before the installation of ANY new WC has not. This is confirmed on many council's websites, including this one:
http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/buildingcontrol/content.php?p age=internalalt

Speak to your local council's Building Control Department and you will be able to obtain a definitive answer on whether your proposal is permissible.

Chris

[stoo_pid]

We've just had some building work done in our kitchen & we discussed this very topic with the bloke from Building Control. He told us that the regs had only just recently changed & that if you wish you can now have a toilet opening straight into a ktichen. However, as has been pointed out - you still need to contact your local Building Control dept before you start any work.

[Greedyfly]

Im in rented accomodation with a loo ajoined to kitchen no space between and as far as I am aware - there are regulations againt this.

[Greedyfly]

Well if this is ok - I wouldnt advise having a kitchen and bathroom right next to each other. Im suprised that regulation has changed for this. But I suppose there is less space these days, you do have to shoe horn what you can in. =D

[Hard@it]

Depends where you are located, up in Scotland they would not allow anything like your problem, they don't even allow outside gullies except from sink macerators.

[KARL]

It seems likely that someone finally realised that insisting on a separately demarcated space with a door on it between kitchen and toilet actually led only to higher sales of doors which were rarely if ever closed - a 1m or less "vestibule" was simply a nuisance. So the rules changed, throughout Britain I think it was. The hygiene fear probably originated in the conversion period from pit latrines to flushing toilets - but that has not ensured everyone washes their hands afterwards (just spend 5 minutes in a public lavatory) door or no door. Strange how old habits and misconceptions linger for generations and poor hygiene is a perennial problem - towit MRSA et.al.

[amdbc]

Part G section 1.2 of the Building Regulations states that only a single door needs to be provided bteween a w.c. and a room for food prep. (kitchen).