New property - no shower (only bath)

[Ivaylo]

So I just moved into a new property and there's no shower at all, just a bath. This is what it looks like: m.imgur.com/a/ryBXX

Obviously my roommate and I can't take baths every day. I contacted the agency and they said that the landlord didn't want to install one which means we have to come up with something ourselves.

I was looking at over bath shower mixers (or something like that) but the thing is I have no idea what I even need to look for. Do I have to hire someone to to do it? Do I have to buy the parts myself? What are some things I need to consider, e.g. water pressure?

Any help would be really appreciated, we are completely clueless and we don't really know anyone who can help with this.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Didn't you look round?
Anyway, you can't be installing an actual shower without the landlord's agreement - you'd have to get pipework changed etc.
Are you thinking of something that connects to existing taps a bit like the old rubber hair washing things?

[sparechange]

How long are you planning to live there and how much can you afford to spend?
Is the wall above the bath tiled?

The cheapest option would be to get an attachment that fixes over the end of the taps
A more permanent option would be to get a mixer tap installed into the same holes the taps are currently in. The shower tap would be about £100 and it is an hour of a plumbers time or a job for a competent DIYer
But you'd need to tile the walls around it because water running onto a painted wall will damage it very quickly

[sparechange]

And you'd need to check the water pressure. If it is low, you'll get nothing more than a dribble from the shower when it is high up

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

Like this?
www.amazon.co.uk/instant-Hosepipe-Permanent-Aerator-aerators/dp/B00DO1GYW0?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[FunkyChunk]

I'd get someone to fix something like this: www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/apollo-bath-shower-mixer-chrome?campaign=googlebase&gclid=CjwKEAjwwOvABRC08aedoZ_lnTMSJACs_cbuInB4hC5yqNF2nfoHaB45_9xtOZZkpag3faKXxPVyrhoCypzw_wcB . Keep the taps that are there and re-fit when you move out.

[viques]

Why can't you and room mate take baths everyday? If you are worried about how much water you are using you could take it in turns to be first in the bath water........

[LIZS]

You can't install anything permanent or that would require fixings without express permission! And if that is the configuration it would be tricky to screen it off to avoid splashing into the floor. You could get a spray attachment to fit onto the taps with rubber tubes, I think Boots sell them. Surely if a shower was so important you'd have ruled this property out on sight

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

But that only works if you have a mixer tap and tiles as spare days.

[Ivaylo]

We did look around, the old tenants had something installed they must have taken it down when they left which we didn't realise would happen.
The landlord doesn't mind us installing a shower he just doesn't want to do it himself.
And yeah something that connects to the existing taps would potentially be a viable option, it would mean we wouldn't have to change anything.

[Emberfirefly]

One of these as cheapo option http://www.wilko.com/shower-accessories/wilko-everyday-value-bath-shower-spray/invt/0182571?gclid=CLaQ9bmsjdACFW0R0wodG8QEKw&gclsrc=aw.ds

[LIZS]

Yes I meant something like ember fly's link. For something more shower like they also do www.wilko.com/invt/0343562 but you'd need to fit a shower curtain or screen as well and that pic suggests an awkward space. Why are short shallow baths not feasible?

[BackforGood]

Another person not sure why you can't take baths. Fine, if you prefer showers, but not sure why you "obviously can't take baths".

[girlandboy]

I don't really understand this "we can't take a bath every day" thing?

We've only just installed our first shower in nearly 30 years of being together, and we've got grown up DC's still at home too. So that's four of us in the house having baths every day. And we've only got a small hot water tank.
What's the problem?

[SheepyFun]

Having lived in a house without a shower, the mixer taps/shower attachments don't always work. In our house (with elderly plumbing), the cold water into the bath came straight off the mains at high pressure (the mains is pumped) and the hot water from a tank. When using a shower attachment, we realised some of the cold water was forcing its way into the hot tank (and the shower was cold!), which wasn't going to improve the plumbing. However I managed to live without a shower for over 2 years, and I have long hair.

In our current house, both the hot and cold water for the bath come from tanks, and it has a shower attachment on the taps.

Top tip: fill a bucket with warm water when you're in the bath, and use a (plastic) jug to pour it over your head when washing your hair - that way, you use clean water, and your hair actually gets clean.

[dynevoran]

sheepy is right just have bucket baths. Less glam but just as effective.

[girlandboy]

No need for a "bucket bath".

As I said before.....just have a bath. What's so bad about that?

[SheepyFun]

Sorry, to clarify, I did have 'normal' baths most of the time, the bucket of water was mainly to get my hair clean - I really didn't want to wash it every day,

[dynevoran]

Also bucket baths are better for when you don't want to run a whole bath for time or water reasons. Better for rinsing hair and for when you don't want to sit down in water and just want a quick standing up wash. Use so much less water than even a shallow bath.

[expatinscotland]

So fucking backwards to not have a shower. Get something put on. Your LL is a cheap fucker.

[girlandboy]

Ha! Didn't realise my family and I have been "fucking backwards" for 30 years

I'll consider myself told