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Original poster

Tiny bathroom - bath or shower in rental property?

61 replies

feetheart · 21/04/2015 09:51

Just canvassing opinion.

We have a small rental property with a tiny bathroom. Want to redo the bathroom as it is tired, old and the layout doesn't work - normal bath with shower over it, normal sized toilet and teeny, tiny cloakroom-type sink (it really is the smallest I have ever seen!)

Replacing the bath with a shower unit would create more space to fit a slimline toilet and decent-sized sink but is getting rid of the bath a good idea? I would have said no up until 2 years ago when we got a downstairs shower-room built. The bath upstairs has been used twice in nearly 20 months!

Thoughts please...

OP posts:
Millymollymama · 21/04/2015 13:08

As above, or get a sliding door. Would this give you more usable space? I would definitely keep a bath with a shower over. I would also look into narrow basins but ones that have a bit more depth so they are not as small as cloakroom basins. Basins do not just have to be wide to be useful.

Do not get a wet room for tenants. They cost a lot to install properly and you will need the whole room tanked and tiled. Costs a fortune and you will not get the money back if you sell. If it is done badly you will get leaks. It is expensive to heat and you do need underfloor heating or you can have a wet floor for ages which is horrible if you do not have another loo. Don't do it. You need a bath and shower to appeal to all tenants, not just single people or families - both!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 21/04/2015 13:09

Is the hot water tank in the bathroom? If you changed to a combi boiler would it create more space in the bathroom? We were able to fit in both when we got rid of the cupboard but our boiler was on it's last legs so it was going anyway.

If you want to market to families, you need to keep a bath imo [and I never ever take one].

Wetrooms are v expensive to do well. A low rise shower tray does the job much more cheaply.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 21/04/2015 13:18

As well as outward opening and sliding doors you might also consider a door that has a hinge in the middle on runners if you don't have enough wall space for a sliding door - so it can be folded back like this: V| (V is door with hinge at apex, | is wall).

Momagain1 · 21/04/2015 13:19

Just because current tenants dont mind no bath despite two small dc is no reason to limit your future potential tenants. What is so horrible about a shower over anyway? i dont get it. Multipurpose is surely better?

Even though we have a ds old enough to shower and I have used the bath exactly twice in 8 months, a flat without a bath was out of consideration when renting before, and unacceptable when we were buying unless there was room enough and the price was low enough to immediately replace it.

I dont think those who would rather have a shower stall would reject a home with shower over bath. But those who want a bath will reject a home lacking one.

sianihedgehog · 21/04/2015 14:33

I know a LOT of people (me included) who won't rent anywhere without a bath. There may be some who never use the bath, but I doubt they reject properties on the basis that they do have a bath.

doradoo · 21/04/2015 14:56

If you used a 'shower bath' like this on the short wall - you'd then have 900mm either side on the longer wall to play with.

Or you could look at using a corner loo with an offset bath - but I'm nor sure if you'd have enough leg-room there.

If it's really tiny - is there a bath/shower hybrid you could have - like a hip bath?

justjuanmorebeer · 21/04/2015 20:10

Shower over bath. I rent and it is my number one requirement when looking for places to live. No bath and I don't view it.

MyArksNotReady · 21/04/2015 20:12

What is a hip bath?

Volvox · 21/04/2015 22:03

Walk-in shower. Most people appreciate a decent shower and young children can use a plastic tub.

snowgirl1 · 21/04/2015 22:21

Shower over bath, definitely. I shower 99.99% of the time, but I would still want the option of having a bath if I want one.

VenusRising · 22/04/2015 02:57

Movingon, the bidet attachment goes onto the toilet, Japanese style, duh!

There is room for an ikea double basin. It's a shallow double basin, and they are marvellous if it's the only bathroom, as it has storage under - tennants can use their basins at the same time - essential if there's only one bathroom, and both need to be out the door.
If you've never used double basins Movingon, I can see how you might not appreciate them, and mock someone who suggests them. GrinFlowers

Agree with the pp who advised against a wet room: sodden, leaky and cold unless done right££££

SoupDragon · 22/04/2015 07:03

You said "have a bidet" not "have a bidet attachment Japanese style". Duh!

BabyGanoush · 22/04/2015 07:19

Shower over bath

I did this in tiny bathroom, got a good bath (non slip bottom) and nice powerful shower with foldable glass door against splashing.

HoldenCaulfield80 · 22/04/2015 07:29

Don't get rid of the bath. We're moving from our otherwise dream rental to somewhere else because of the lack of bath now that DD is here. Bathing a baby in a gardening bucket is far from ideal!

MyArksNotReady · 22/04/2015 07:32

Are baby baths now that expensive? A gardening bucket Shock

Crocodopolis · 22/04/2015 07:46

Bath over shower, definitely.

Crocodopolis · 22/04/2015 07:47

Gah. I meant shower over the bath!

(I posted pre-morning coffee.) Blush

BabyGanoush · 22/04/2015 07:57

Myarks, bucket fine if you have - tiny baby.

2 small kids: bath so much easier!

lentilpot · 22/04/2015 08:17

We have a pretty compact bath in our rented house, it's perfect for bathing a kid or two and just big enough for me to have a long soak (even when I was very pregnant I could get in), I actually like it being a bit shorter most of the time - easy to read in!

Nessalina · 22/04/2015 08:37

Our bathroom is 5'7" x 5'5" and when we did it out 18 months ago we seriously thought about just a shower, because we rarely bathed, but decided it might cause issue with resale.
I actually disagree with the poster that said hang the door so it opens onto a wall instead of the Middle of the room - if you do that you create dead space you can't use behind the door. Our opens into the centre of the room, you just have to push it closed to sit down on the loo, but then you would anyway?!
So when you open the door the wall straight opposite is taken up by the bath, with the shower controls on the right-hand wall. We install a quad-fold screen, which makes the space seem bigger as you can fold it away when shower not in use. On right wall is a towel rail and a square mirror which actually does wonders to make the space seem bigger, and being opposite the window reflects lots of light. If you turn to face the window then we have the loo, and the sink between loo and bath. We got a sink without a pedestal which is also a great space saver - there's room for a bin & toilet roll tower under the sink. That and a loo that fits flush to the wall mean it's all straight lines on the floor and easy to clean. Then on the back of the door we have one of those storage wotsit on a hangar, so we don't need a bathroom cabinet.
Whole bathroom is tiled, with large floor and wall tiles to help make it look bigger.
It's still the world's smallest bathroom, but there's always enough space now! And now we have a baby, I wouldn't be without a bath.
Victoria Plumb were very reasonable for fittings, we got literally everything there.

MadamG · 22/04/2015 08:45

We have a folding door as mentioned above, it's brilliant for saving space.
Don't get rid of your bath, I sold a tiny cottage with only a walk in shower and lost loads of possible buyers as people do still really want a bath.

doradoo · 22/04/2015 08:50

arks a hip bath is a small bath that you can sit in so the water comes up to hip/middle height but it's not long enough to lie in.

like this

7to25 · 22/04/2015 09:02

My son and his family rent and have no bath, just a walk in shower. Unlike your current tenants, they hate it and the rent was reduced before they rented. I think the bath was an issue. Young singles might be a different prospect.

Damnautocorrect · 22/04/2015 09:07

2 beds keep the bath. I wouldn't rent without one because of the kids.

Original poster
feetheart · 22/04/2015 17:19

Thank you so much everyone for all your really helpful comments Flowers - Nessalina I'm going to draw out your bathroom and see your layout will fit in ours! Think the windows are in different places though.

The wet room feedback was great - ruled that one out quickly and have taken on board all the pro-bath comments.

Now to source a bath/shower, sink and loo to fit - oh joy :)

OP posts:
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