Adjusting Toilet size

[Steve125]

Hi. I have a house built before 1999 with a downstairs toilet. I want to make this toilet room smaller. Do I need to comply with building regs M and keep it big enough for disabled access. Or given the house is pre-1999 this doesn’t apply to me.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

It needs to comply with the regs that existed whenever it was built. What year was it built?

 

[Steve125]

So just to confirm. I need to comply to regs for when house was built (1987). Or building regs for when I did the building work (I.e. now).

 

[Steve125]

Sorry for stupid question. I just wanted some peace of mind. Had a bit of a sleepless night last night after building regs guy came round and made some mad suggestions like this one.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

For 1987 in theory you could do away with the toilet altogether but your BCO might throw a tantrum, ask him to show you the regs that say a toilet needs to be retained.

 

[Steve125]

We want to keep the toilet. Just make it a lot smaller than it currently is. Which means it won’t be wheelchair accessible which the current regs apparently say it has to be.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

But the house wasn't built to current Building Regs, when your house was built there was no requirement for a downstairs WC.

 

[Steve125]

Yep I see your point. Therefore if there’s no need for any downstairs toilet in 1987, you can’t argue that a toilet needs to be a certain size.

That’s good news. Thank you for reassurance. Let’s hope building regs person has that same common sense.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I doubt it unfortunately.

 

[cdbe]

Probably best not to have involved a "building regs person" in the first place.