Upstairs loo

We made the mistake of turning a large cupboard in our apartment into a cloakroom with toilet and basin but didn't get building regs. As it was connected into the existing bathroom plumbing which was directly behind it we thought it would be ok. It also had ventilation through the existing system. When we sold a few months ago we did have a lot of issues when the buyers solicitors wanted to see all the appropriate application and grants etc. Thankfully it went through ok but it was a lesson learned - always check if you need approval from the authorities.

My DD2 has always had a bathroom/bedroom combo! Her OH thinks it is wonderful.. he installed them in both places they have lived. She insists that the loo is only to be used for a pee! Other loos are available!

Well the bucket bit does ! Obviously

But don't go for a commode , it is just a big potty that needs carrying down the stairs ?

I already had a shower, wash basin and vanity unit(no toilet)in an open alcove in my bedroom accessed through an archway. It was very dated and I hated it. A local guy put a stud wall up where the old archway was and put in a door, a new shower, basin, toilet, medicine cabinet, mirror, new ventilation, heated towel rail and new flooring and changed my old bathroom suite too in the bathroom for under £5000. I did have all the plumbing already there in place, of course. It took two weeks to do it all but I am very happy with the results. No planning permission required.

Shouting Gardyloo! as you do so!

Or just throw the contents out of the window!

(sorry...)

agie You don't take the whole Porta Potti to empty it - there is a removable section!

Dear Watermeadow, I purchased a fold up commode a few years ago, when my husband broke his leg and could not get upstairs to our only loo. I have to say that commode is still very much in our lives. I keep it in the shed if we get caught short and can't get up the stairs quick enough! It folds up neatly and the bucket slips out easily to be emptied and disinfected, and we wash our hands in the kitchen. Best thing I ever bought. When we have guests we set the commode up in our bedroom so that we don't have to queue for the loo and keep anti-bacterial hand cleanser nearby. When the coast is clear we empty it in the loo. I hasten to add we only use if for peeing!

Ye Gods !! The thought of struggling down the stairs with a full Potty !

Think if it was me I'd go for the Thetford Porta Potti. Will be much easier than plumbing one in. Or, why not get yourself an old fashioned chamberpot?

If it's feasible and legal I'd go for it. I gather very fancy hotels have a posh roll-top bath in the middle of a bedroom these days so how can a loo in an alcove with a screen be much worse? Much more convenient than going downstairs in the middle of the night.

We put a ensuite in a house we were doing up to sell. All we used to separate it from the bedroom was a glass brick wall. They are glass blocks not see through obviously. It looked fab and buyers loved it

If you have any disability you may be able to get a grant from the council. Check with CAB they will know where and how to apply for any for grants. I don't know how it works in England but in N.I. any work done to make your house more suited to your needs you get 25% relief on you rates

You can make an application to the disability team of Social Services for a home inspectation. They will send put the O.T (Occupational Therapist) who will look at your needs and a toilet being put in upstairs. You will not have to pay for it providing you have disabilities.

The local councils are usually happy to provide as it long term is cheaper to find ways to keep people in there own home. You can be a home owner as well as social housing tennant and apply for it. At least you can here where we are. It's worth asking about as they can only say no.

We had a downstairs toilet put in through the O.T. However for them to put it in anywhere it dors have to meet building regs today.

It maybe wiser to look at this route as it likely it will cost more than you think to put in a toilet and basin with all the regs there are now

Yes, thinking about it, a blind lady I used to read to and who was in a care home had a bathroom corner, toilet, sink and shower and it was just screened off by a shower curtain.

You don't need building regs to put a loo in the bedroom.

Don't see why not. Seem to remember seeing something similar on Grand Designs. There was a toilet and handbasin in a corner of the room with a screen (a half wall in this case) around it but with no door. We've stayed in smart hotels abroad with the same idea. One had a glass screen and you could see the bathroom part through it from the bed, but when the bathroom light was switched on the glass became opaque. Probably a bit too expensive for an English bedroom, tho

Didn't say, I used wipes for hand washing. It might be a temporary measure for you.

I lived in an old cottage during the week where I worked in a catholic public school. The loo was downstairs and one night half asleep and needing a wee, I fell down the stairs. I thought I am living on my own, if I had been badly hurt. Who would know. I then got a portable loo for my bedroom. Which worked well. Now I have 5 loos!

All care home bedrooms have ensuite loo and showers. Yours could easily look like a fitted wardrobe.

google finds you plenty of information how to go about it.
Try this for a start.

ukbathroomguru.com/adding-a-small-en-suite-shower-room/

good luck.

'loo upstairs'

Do you need the upstairs because of poor health? If so you might qualify for a grant to help with the costs www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/overview

I travelled with my work quite a lot and have stayed in lots of B&B's where an ensuite has been provided by sectioning off a triangle shaped piece of a bedroom, you can get a toilet that has a washbasin over it which would reduce the amount of space you need - B&Q have one for just under £180 - www.diy.com/departments/cooke-lewis-duetto-close-coupled-toilet-with-integrated-basin-with-soft-close-seat/808507_BQ.prd

Like a lot of disabled people have, you could just have an ordinary commode in your bedroom, you would naturally need to empty it every time you use it or at least in the mornings after use, but there is nothing wrong with that. If no one is going to see your bedroom and even if they were what does it matter? Every one used to have potties under their beds not many years ago.

Watermeadow - 'no ones' going to see it or use it except me' - so if it will help you and make life easier - get it done. :D