Removing a downstairs bathroom

Hi, first time posting here so apologies if I've posted in the wrong place.

I'm in the process of buying a house, it is an old Victorian property with the current bathroom (bath, sink, toilet) downstairs through a small narrow kitchen 8ft x 5ft.

To create a bigger kitchen I would like to move the downstairs bathroom upstairs.

I have searched the internet to see if there is anything that could stop this and found several mentions of "Building Regulations Part M" that say something along the lines that a downstairs WC/cloakroom can't be removed or if it is it has to be replaced elsewhere on the same floor. At the same time I've also found a lot of examples where people have totally removed downstairs bathrooms and resituated them upstairs including the toilet. Have they done this against building regulations or are bathrooms and WC's different things?

TIA

I've heard that people sometimes do things that contravene guidance.

Incidentally, the requirement is to provide access to the property and its facilities. While you're not supposed to make the situation any worse, there may be other ways of achieving that, if you were concerned to do so.

Yes, there is a special team of people within every LA who go around knocking on doors, inspecting the position of your facilities and then comparing them to old plans, in case you have been naughty and moved your bathroom without permission.

if there's room, retaining just a loo with a washbasin would be better than total removal?

mrrusty said:

Yes, there is a special team of people within every LA who go around knocking on doors, inspecting the position of your facilities and then comparing them to old plans, in case you have been naughty and moved your bathroom without permission.

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Lol!!! I wasn't too worried about that to be honest, but where I wanted to move the bathroom required a window being installed so they would be around anyway to check on that.

Thanks all. Have managed to speak to Building Control now. I was told it wasn't a problem and only refers to residential properties built after 2004.