Understairs toliet in old house...must I conform with wheelchair access regulations?

S

SPUDZ

Registered User
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I am considering putting a toliet and washbasin in the space under the stairs. I know that there was some new regulations a few years ago...which requires that all new builds must have downstairs bathrooms big enough for wheelchair access.

Does anyone know if this applies also to a refit in an old home.Can I go ahead..or do I need to get some kind of planning permission?? (just to be clear...this is not a remodel...it is a first time installation of downstairs toliet)
 
Re: Understairs toliet in old house...must I conform with wheelchair access regulatio

Technical Guidance Document M
Access for People with Disabilities

Existing Buildings
"In the case of material alterations of existing buildings, the
adoption without modification of the guidance in this
document may not, in all circumstances, be appropriate. In
particular, the adherence to guidance, including codes,
standards or technical specifications, intended for
application to new work may be unduly restrictive or
impracticable."

Section 2b: Dwellings
2.8 The guidance in Section 2b applies to new
dwellings.
 
Re: Understairs toliet in old house...must I conform with wheelchair access regulatio

I think that new regulation is in relation to new builds. If it were a case that you were looking for planning permission for a large extension, including the addition of a new bathroom, you would probably be required to make the bathroom conform to the new standards in order to get the planning permission. What you're talking about doing doesn't need planning permission so I can't see why you couldn't just fire ahead. We did the same thing a couple of years ago and it was the best thing we ever did - it's so handy not to have to run upstairs and I'm sure there's countless others who've done the same too.
 
Re: Understairs toliet in old house...must I conform with wheelchair access regulatio

Um, oh dear. I have a fairly new build house (about 5 years old) and it had a massive downstairs bathroom with only a loo and handbasin that I considered a waste of good space. I paid money to have the toilet moved closer to the wall, and the room split into a coat/shoe cupboard and smaller cloakroom.

It never even occurred to me that there might be regulations about this - the builder I used to move the toilet and create the partition certainly never mentioned it. Am I going to be in bother one day many years down the line if I want to rent/sell the house? Do I just keep shtum and hope no-one notices?
 
Re: Understairs toliet in old house...must I conform with wheelchair access regulatio

Any surveyor or solicitor dealing with a sale of the house would be looking for conformance with the building regulations and should pick up on the alterations & restricted space.

Having said that, you may still be complying with the regulations it there is enough space and the doors are wide enough.

Any builder is legally obliged to comply with the building regulations. At the moment there is a lot of 'sure I'm only doing what I'm being paid to do', and "why let some-else get the work?" leading to corners being cut and possible headaches in the future years for homeowners trying to sell.
 
Re: Understairs toliet in old house...must I conform with wheelchair access regulatio



The door isn't wide enough and there wouldn't be enough room to manoeuver a wheelchair beside the toilet. On the other hand it is only divided by a partition so if it is a problem when I want to sell I can tear that down for the new buyers and tidy it up.

Can't believe the builder didn't mention the regs on it though. Probably laughing at the thought of having to come back one day and undo the changes!
 
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