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Can you have a toilet in a garden office?

Building regulations are different from planning permission, which usually isn't be required for a garden office, even with a toilet. Some councils have different rules though and adding a toilet can, in some cases, classify the building as a living space. At that point, formal approval is required.

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Garden Office with Toilet

A garden office is one of the most popular constructions we’ve helped our happy customers to design and then build. It is a great place to work from home without actually being in the house. You’ll have your own space, with access to electricity and a Wi-Fi network, into which you can escape from a traditional office setting. Instead, you can create a unique place in which to be productive and efficient during business hours.

It adds value to the building but, of course, comes complications.

At Garden Room Sanctuary, we’re committed to helping our clients through the entire process. That includes weighing up options during an initial design phase and navigating building regulations where appropriate before building your garden office complete with toilet.

Reasons to add a toilet to garden office

There are many great reasons to add a toilet to your garden office. Although it will increase the price at the outset, it is best to consider it as an investment. With an office that’s worth more, the value of your overall property increases too. Compared to adding an extension to your home, it is comparatively cheap even with the added cost of a toilet. It also provides greater seclusion – not to mention peace and quiet – from the hubbub of family life. There is flexibility as well to customise your garden office, kitting it out in whichever way works best. Before embarking on a project, you’ll need to be aware that adding a toilet to the design of a garden office will inevitably prolong the process. That said, because work takes place outside, disruption to your family’s routine will be minimised.

Building regulations for a garden office with toilet

For a garden office with toilet, you’ll also need to be aware of building regulations. Our experts at Garden Room Sanctuary know about them and are happy to share with you their knowledge. We recognise the importance of keeping on top of what is required by a local authority and can signpost you to more specialist advice if appropriate.

Not all garden offices require planning permission to be built.

However, if you are considering whether to install a toilet, you will need to aware of – and comply with what is required by the council before starting work. Building regulations are different from planning permission, which usually isn’t be required for a garden office, even with a toilet. Some councils have different rules though and adding a toilet can, in some cases, classify the building as a living space.

At that point, formal approval is required.

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That isn’t the norm, however, and in any case, we always check each customer’s circumstances carefully. Building regulations approval is needed to ensure that your garden office with toilet meets health and safety standards set out by the authorities. Increasingly, they also seek to ensure your new construction is as environmentally friendly as possible too. They are in place to protect your property, and to keep you safe. Rather than seeing it as an obstacle to buying garden office with toilet, instead view it as a way of ensuring you have the best quality design and construction on the market.

Connecting plumbing to a garden office

The most common way to incorporate a toilet with a garden room is by connecting it to the existing main water supply and sewerage system. At Garden Room Sanctuary, we have the know-how to suggest the best plumbing solution for your project. A link to the public system ensures your toilet will work in the same way as those inside the house. It requires two separate sets of pipes, one for freshwater and the other to remove waste, laid below ground. Of course this option that requires a larger budget and usually needs considerable groundwork. Occasionally, depending on the location or the design involved, it is advisable, or not possible, to connect to the mains water supply.

While rare, there are alternatives to consider when that is the case.

A dry or eco-toilet is a potential solution.

They dispose of water waste into a soakaway while the rest is collected separately before being composted or removed.

It is important to consider how the latter will be done.

Building a garden office with toilet

Installing a garden office with toilet is a fantastic way to increase the functionality of your outside space while making it a more comfortable place to work. You’ll be separated from the house, and won’t need to head back inside to use the bathroom. That said, a toilet is a significant addition in terms of both costs and planning. That means you’ll need to think carefully about the implications when it comes to building regulations and the labour required to connect to the mains water supply. Get in touch today to learn more about how our team of experts can help.

Call us on 01756 461 696 or send an email to enquiries@nullgardenroomsanctuary.co.uk

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