Does this seem reasonable for an elderly-friendly bathroom in London?

[PinkCamelias]

My in-laws got a quote for 18k for a bathroom renovation including adjustments for the elderly. It's in London, but I stll think it's very steep? It would include leveling the floor, removing a bathtub, sink and toilet and installing a walk-in shower with a seat (with a new electric shower, this is what they have now too), higher toilet 'with a bidet function' (not sure if they mean a 2-in-1, or with a bidet shower attachment) and rails on both sides, new wash basin with a vanity, a standing unit, towel rails, a heated towel rail (I have to ask if that is necessary because it would be opposite the current radiator, so pipes would need to be moved). I think the wall covering proposed is panels, not tiles, and floor is Karndean.

Do this seem right to you? I am torn, because I could design a prefectly nice and safe bathroom for them, and certainly make it look less like a hospital (which would matter at resale) but we don't live in the UK and don't know any London bathroom fitters who would be reliable and available, so I am wary of offering my help. Would it even be cheaper?

It sounds like they’ve made their choices so if that’s the cost of what they have specifically chosen then that’s the cost. Lots of things there could be done cheaply, but it depends if they picked this or that at the showroom. Your comments about selling the house make it sound like you just want to get this done on the cheap to preserve an inheritance.

My mother has one done for £10k last year, but nowhere like so much work, only removing bath and replacing with walk in shower .. she is in Greater London

you can get new quotes from Checkatrade to compare? Make sure you include photos and a full list of what tasks are required. Id guess at 8-10k being more reasonable (based on our recent works)

Rule of thumb is to get three quotes and see how they compare. That's what my parents did when they replaced their roof last month.

You could look it another way.
If it gives your PiL a future proofed option to remain in that house, then they are saved the hassle of a house move, and your DH is spared the worry and concern for them. ( Not to mention stamp duty, legal fees etc)

My bathroom refit is costing £11k. They probably are paying slightly over the odds but if they have gone to a specialist company who have understood their potential issues and provided solutions then I would be ok with it.
Remember care home fees can be upwards of £10k a month so your PiL are wise to reconfigure before they need to.

@Darragon that’s quite an assumption and a wrong one too! My concern is that it is a lot of money for what I fear might look like a care home bathroom and will be changed by the future buyers while it could be done more aesthetically and still age-appropriately. If I find out it’s a fair price, however, I will tell my husband to go ahead with it though because getting it done quickly is a priority.

Yes absolutely @Rockfrock. They left it very late and the house is completely inappropriate. I don’t think it will spare them a care home for MiL but it’s neither here nor there, nobody knows the future and their immediate comfort is important. I just think it’s at least 30% more than I’d expect for the specifications.

Thank you @Newgirls and @Arlanymor. I’ll ask my husband if FiL will consider asking other companies for quotes with my help.

Oh that’s very useful info, thank you! We’re in an expensive European city but I see that London prices are still something else.

My Dm paid £11k 8 years ago for similar, no floor work but removal of airing cupboard.

as per PP get three quotes - Check a trade v good

They can apply for a council grant if they need a more appropriate bathroom, I think it's up to 3k but check. Occupational therapy can visit them and supply a raised toilet seat and frame, bath rails, perching stool, bath seat, they don't need kardean flooring and a swish bidet. What's the bathroom like at the moment, why does the floor need levelling.

I mean up to 30k, it's called a disabled facilities grant, don't part with any money until they've had a oit assessment, it won't add value and they may manage with simple equipment and adaptations.

I think there was about a £10k variance in the quotes that they got and they went with the one in the middle as they also had a good rapport with the chap who ended up doing it. Good luck!

The wash and dry toilets can be several thousand alone. Wall panels can be anywhere from £50 to £250 each and Karndean flooring isn’t cheap, either. It sounds like it’s a wall-mounted shower seat so the walls will require a bit of reinforcing to take that, they should also be reinforcing where the grab rails are. Check that they’re also installing at least one grab rail in the shower, too. As it appears that your PIL have some disabilities check whether the work can be Zero Rated for VAT purposes (see paragraph 6.3 of VAT Notice 701/7) or if they’re just elderly then some of the work could be eligible for 5% VAT (see paragraph 9).

The specialist elderly bathroom companies always seem really expensive compared to local tradesmen, and not always great quality either. Is it worth jumping on to the FB page for their location, asking for tried and tested recommendations as you’re not local? As a guide, we paid £10k for a straight bathroom refit, bath with shower over, loo, sink, vanity unit inc tiles and electrics and £18k for fitting a bathroom in a former bedroom so including pipe work , electrics, moving a doorway and blocking original, full plaster, mid/high end appliances bath, separate shower, loo, vanity, dual fuel towel radiator, underfloor heating, tiling with Porcelanosa tiles etc

I don't think it sounds astronomical. Also depends on the quality of the toilet, sink, shower etc. they can vary massively in price. Karndean isn't cheap flooring and having to remove everything and level the floor too - it's a big job.

License to print money
Get an independent man to do it cheaper

It actually isn’t a big job - a rip out can be done in a day. Levelling the floor a half day,

i reckon it’s a 2 week job allowing for plaster to dry etc.

skip hire in London £300. Def shop around.

Does that quote include the new fittings or is it just labour?

@MissMoneyFairy they got these adaptations done by the council already (a stool, a toilet seat over the existing one, rails). There is a bathtub which is becoming inaccessible for MiL. I don't know why the fllor needs levelling, I just read it in the quote. The bathroom is very basic and has not been renovated in ca. 40 years so I believe a lot needs to be done. I am not sure if they would qualify for any grants, no disabilities and probably it is means tested, but we can check.
@Yellowpingu thank you, we will check the VAT just in case. I don't know how this quote was created, was it all requested by FiL or offered by the company and he agreed? I will ask. Nothing has been signed yet.
@Defiantly41 yes, i think these companies charge a premium; what you paid is reasonable and corresponds to the price of our recent bathroom renovations, including also fitting one in a former bedroom and moving plumbing.

Also labour and they say they will do it in one week.

My local plumber in expensive Surrey did my bathroom for £6k - walk in shower, with seat (which I really did not want but sensible head ruled), grab rails etc. No replacement toilet, etc. So lot less than yours but less included - and we re-used the perfectly good shower. Encourage more quotes!

sorry I meant to say fittings plus labour!

If its being fitted out as a wet room it will
need all sorts of modifications including tanking and floor levelling to stop it being a leaky mouldy nightmare. Is the door also being widened and a new door installed?
Ask for a detailed breakdown but also the warranty on the work and get references.

Disabled Facilities grants are means tested and if person has savings and occupational pensions they are unlikely to get a grant. Waiting times can be lengthy depending on area.