How much value does a downstairs toilet add to a property?

When discussing home improvements, renovations and refurbishments or indeed creating additional value, the humble ‘downstairs WC’ has been the poor relation to the more ubiquitous ‘en-suite’ – but have we been casting our envious eyes in the wrong direction in terms of return-on-investment?

The best barometer of intangible value could be calculated by the amount of use it gets or the number of people it benefits. The downstairs WC’s intangible value knows no bounds as it supports the needs of the whole family - particularly useful for felt-pen wielding minors and less limber seniors. If you are the type that likes to entertain at home but doesn’t wish to invite multiple guests to traipse up-and-down the stairs, peak into your beautifully-curated (although uncharacteristically messy) boudoir or form a disorderly queue outside your poor overworked family bathroom, then a downstairs WC is a saving grace.

The cost of this interior preserving marvel will typically range between £2.5k-£4,000 including materials and labour, and take between 1-2 weeks to complete.

Bear in mind that building regulations mean that new homes must be built with a downstairs toilet with government figures suggesting that half the growth of new households in the UK will be made up of people over the age of 65. This means that buyers and investors are becoming used to seeing houses with a downstairs toilet and are likely to expect them.

Where or how to position the second toilet will take a lot of people by surprise. You won’t need to knock down walls or build an extension to fit one into your home. If you have a large cupboard, under-stair space or a portion of a room you can syphon off, this could be the perfect place for an additional toilet.

For investors, property developers and sellers, the real reason you’re even considering the outlay is for the capital return. Well, expect to see around 5% increase in value, which based on Office of National Statistics September 2017 average house price figures, equates to an average of £11,304 (or an average of £30,780 in London).

Whilst adding a downstairs toilet to your property will almost certainly add value, if you've got the available space you may also wish to consider adding adding a bath or shower at the sametime to maximise the return of the new room.