How many is too many when it comes to bathrooms? Kevin McCloud bemoans WC excess

Kevin McCloud, presenter of TV’s Grand Designs has revealed his property bugbears as he marks the show’s quarter of a century. Over-provision of WCs is one of the presenter’s biggest gripes when it comes to properties – defined as homes with more bathrooms than residents.

After presenting the show, based around ambitious building projects, for the past 25 years, McCloud also listed unnecessarily complex development projects among his dislikes. “Complexity has become a demonstration of the need to be grand,” he said.

Another complaint was around homes being too big. “Most houses could shrink overnight by a third and the occupants would never notice,” he added.

According to a study by insurers Direct Line properties with two bathrooms for every three bedrooms are most sought-after by buyers, meaning four four-bedroom houses should have two to three bathrooms, with five-bedroomed properties needing three to four.

A survey of estate agents by Ideal Home magazine also revealed that 90% believed creating an extra bedroom was a better way of adding value than boosting a home’s bathroom count.

According to McCloud: “Bathrooms are extremely wasteful in terms of resource yet people are putting more in their homes than there are actual occupants. Four people live in the house and put in six toilets. I don’t understand that.”

When asked what he does look for in a home, simplicity was the key with McCloud revealing that he is a big fan of Swedish retailer Ikea, for providing clever design on a budget. “I am a fan of Ikea, the democracy of good design, and also of properly sustainable furniture, and I like doing stuff myself.”

Read more about this story on the Guardian website.