Can a toilet be off a kitchen?

8 years ago

I would like to knock the wall through between my kitchen and utility room. Plan is to have large kitchen with no utility room. However, at moment, the WC is located within the utility room with a door to separate the utility room and kitchen. So, with the new idea, the toilet would technically be in the kitchen. I don't have a problem with this due to its positioning as you won't see it when you enter the kitchen. But is it a problem re planning?

Featured Answer

PRO

Vaughan Design Ltd

8 years ago

As long as you provide a basin to wash your hands before re-enterning the kitchen and also provide mechanical extract ventilation to the WC room (this should be a fan that can extract a minimum 6 litres of air per second, and if the room does not have an openable window it should have a 15 minute over that could be linked to the light switch / pull cord), there is no issue in regard to current building regulations.

From a planning (i.e. space planning not the Council) point of view, I do my best to not have WC's off kitchens for the reasons of privacy and aesthetics as mentioned above and I try and get access directly from a hall if I can, but if that's not an option or issue for you then providing it complies with the building regulations, that is all that is required.

Your local building control will ultimately need to inspect and sign off these works. They're also very useful to ask in regard to the processes involved when considering work such as this.

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Comments (16)

mrskain1
8 years ago
I think it's OK but I would hate to see it directly from the kitchen. Plus there is the privacy issue. Do you have a layout you could share?
Laura
8 years ago
Building regs no longer require two doors between the kitchen and toilet, but I don't think people find it desirable.
Is this your forever home? I would say that it would put buyers off.
How much space are you going to gain by knocking through to the utility room? The washer and dryer will be noisy in a kitchen.
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randr11
Original Author
8 years ago
Someone had told me you need an additional door between them. The government website is not clear at all. I didn't want to phone our council as they are all over these things. We did a garage conversion with planning permission and they visited twice! Anyway, yes it's our forever home. So it'll be the kids problem to sell!

I don't have a layout but you walk halfway up the kitchen then turn to left (into utility room) then left again and turn back on yourself so it's in a corner and not visible from all angles. It has a plain white door, next to another plain white door which houses the electricity meter so it does blend in.

It will actually give us lots more space as its a big utility room but not the biggest kitchen.
randr11
Original Author
8 years ago
Of course, joking aside, I do care if the kids have a problem selling it so it's interesting that people find it undesirable.
Kerry Donnelly
8 years ago
I've not came across it being a problem in the technical handbook so think it will comply, it's more of an issue with people being off-put with it being straight in from the kitchen,, but you can't please anybody because it would annoy me being through a utility, so I would say so what suits you the best, your always going to get people who don't like things but it's you living in it so make your home right for you, not for somebody else.
embzop
8 years ago
I installed a new downstairs loo in my home. Building regulations are not bothered about it being off another room like a kitchen or living room, however, it will have to have a basin in it and ventilation (either a window or a fan). I didn't want it directly off another room therefore I took some space from another room, my living room, to create a new hall way leading to the room the loo was in. I'm really pleased I added the new loo, useful for guests and for me when I don't want to go upstairs eg. I've got muddy shoes from gardening.
randr11
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks embpoz for building regulation advice. Those regulations for toilets must be new. My house in only 7 years old and the downstairs loo has no fan or window.
PRO
Architectural Drawings Ltd
8 years ago
A toilet can be off the kitchen.

There is no need for a separating lobby any more, that went out a number of years ago.

Planning is different from Building Control. Your local Planning office will have no jurisdiction over the insides of your home unless its a listed building. Building control will only need to be involved with something like this if you are making structural alterations requiring steel work.

As long as you use certified and Insured contractors for all the electrical work its doubtful you'd need to involve Building Control.

However;

The w.c. must have its own hand wash sink, using the kitchen sink is not acceptable under current Building Regulations.

The w.c. must be fitted with its own 100mm vent, this will be operated by the light switch and should have a minimum 15 minute overrun. Windows are ok, but there is the risk of the wind blowing in the wrong direction and pushing air into the kitchen instead of drawing it outside.

The door should open outwards if this is the only downstairs loo. This is a safety feature as d/s toilets should be disabled friendly, so if someone has an incident or fall in there they wont be trapped behind the door.

I'm assuming as its an existing w.c. you've probably got most of this covered already.
HU-236607646
3 years ago
Huh I was wash your hands on COVID-19
PRO
D7 Architecture Ltd
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
The current regulations in Scotland require a separating space between a toilet and kitchen. You can find more information on the latest domestic regulations under 3.12.1 Sanitary Provision "There should be a door separating a space containing a WC, or waterless closet, from a room or space used for the preparation or consumption of food, such as a kitchen or dining-room.
E D
3 years ago
There is a slight chance OP has sorted the issue.

After 5 years. 😂
PRO
D7 Architecture Ltd
3 years ago
I really do hope so ED 😂. It was focused more for anyone new searching for this. Especially singe the regs change.
Scott Douglas
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
When it says there should be “a door separating a space containing a WC“ is this just a toilet door? I currently have a wc under th stairs situated in the hallway with a door leading to kitchen and a door to the living room. we want to knock the connectong wall between kitchen and living room and remove both doors leaving yhe entire area open. this will leave the toilet accesible directly from the open plan space. is this possible?

edit I’m in Scotland. toilet will still technically be in the hallway section but the rest of the ground floor will be open and there is a sink and extracter fitted
Anna Church
2 years ago
We are planning to do exactly what you are suggesting and are wonder ling the same. be very interested in the answer…
George Wilson
last year
Anna did you do it at the end? I am thinking about the same but worry it affects resale value.

Can a toilet be off a kitchen?

Vaughan Design Ltd

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