What is this boxing in bathroom?

[PumpkinSpiceEverything]

Long story short, we've had an offer accepted on a house, mortgage in place but not exchanging until the end of next month (tentatively). Gone round the house the other day to measure up the bathroom for a bath, as it only has a shower (put in for current elderly lady) and we have a young DD and another on the way, and obviously need a bath.

Anyone know what this boxing in could be? It seriously takes up room for the tub and leaves us with a short/awkward length that would be damn near impossible to fit a bath in, save getting something ridiculously priced or bespoke fitted.

TBH we're thinking this is a dealbreaker for the property and may pull out if it can't be done. I'm going to be about 8 months pregnant when we move and having work done, save having a bath installed, is an absolute no until after the new year - but we need a bath ASAP. Photo attached for better explanation.

If the house is 40 years old then it must have had a bath in there at some point so surely a bath can be reinstated.

Have you considered a corner bath if you want something a bit bigger?

Do you really need an 1800 bath? I'm 6ft 1" and my DH is taller and I find a 1600 more than long enough- I'd hate to be fully submerged when I really just want to lie down with my head out!

But I agree with others it looks likely that the bathroom has been moved or somehow drastically altered. Our downstairs one has similar because a) it's downstairs and b) it used to be a cupboard.

It's a really minor concern and hard to imagine why this would be a dealbreaker for you. Are you unsure about buying more generally? You seem very stressed.

Could it be the plumbing from the old bath? Is the right place for it. Kind of situation you find in this house.

Would want to see what's on the outside wall. (Here we still have the old drain pipes in-situ poking out the brickwork.)

You sound very much like me.

British houses are generally a bit 'botched' and old fashioned. But!! Every place has their quirks. I know it's frustrating, and one day it'l change but right now you need the world to work for you and your littlies.

Speak to the estate agent. Tell them you need a couple of plumbers to go look at the bathroom and provide quotes before going any further.

There will be lots of eye rolls and well we don't normallies but they do all the time and it might not be that big a deal.

At least then you will know and you might learn stuff from them about what to look for next time. Hope it works out for you.

It would not cost much to put a bath in, even if you had to remove the shower cubicle and have the shower over the bath.

Ffs get a plumber in to quote. He will work out what work needs doing and tell you how long it will take. You wouldn't put a new born in a bath anyway.

Woah, don't pull out over this! Not least without asking someone qualified to look at it. You'll never buy anywhere if you apply that logic.

I managed with no bath throughout my entire pregnancy and with a toddler to boot. We also had boxing and my DH refitted the whole bathroom to remove it and the disgusting suite and fittings. We're renovating a big house so do as much DIY as possible, but it would have taken a professional a week tops.

Newborns can be bathed in baby baths and my toddler absolutely loved the shower.

Oh and we have a 1500 bath. A freestanding and very wide egg shaped thing. This one: www.cphart.co.uk/cp-hart-leadon-freestanding-bath/?SKU=ZCPHLEFSBWMW&gsp=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4oD8oMzZ1QIVTbftCh03YQQREAQYDSABEgJZU_D_BwE

The width and height of the sides means my 6'1 DH is very comfortable in it. Go to a showroom and try things out, you might be surprised.

Oh good grief, we did not pay anywhere near that much.

There was an excellent sale on and the base price must have increased in the last 6 months.

I will not be posting links directly from my Pinterest pictures again without checking them out first .

Our bath is 1600 and 6ft 4 DH is happy in it.

However if you aren't 100% happy with this house then pull out. Yes it's a bit of a shitty thing to do but you don't owe anything to anyone else. You need to do what it right for you and your family. Not what some people online think. It's a pain for the vendor but that isn't your problem.

I do not want to move if the house needs major work doing (major meaning more than a 1-day bath installation). I'm going to be 8 months pregnant and already had complications so I would like as little stress as possible and for this to be a push-button move. I chose this house because, aside from the bath, I thought that it needed nothing doing to it. Now that we've seen the condition of the house again we've both decided it's not for us. Going to look at some new builds this weekend instead.

Op - have you considered a new build if you don't want any renovation work or maintenance? They are excellent for those circumstances.