Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Do you need a bath?

135 replies

Nowthereistwo · 25/02/2025 23:13

We (2 adults, 2 pre-teens girls) live in a 4 bed with a small bathroom and downstairs shower room. We're thinking about upgrading the upstairs bathroom - potentially without a bath.

Currently we have a power shower over the bath and considering whether to have a separate shower and smaller bath or a large shower unit.

Our neighbours have a separate shower and bath but it looks cramped in and they say noone uses the bath. They put the bath in for resale purposes.

Only our 9yr old actually likes a bath, the rest prefer a shower. Also we are committed to the house for 10 years whilst the kids go through secondary.

I want to have a statement shower and really use the space. Also my DH is 6ft3 so needs room to move in the cubicle.

WWYD

OP posts:
Manchesterbythesea · 26/02/2025 11:04

I was cleaning the bathroom here yesterday and was just thinking what a waste the bath is. It’s necessary when the kids were small but no one uses it now.

Chewbecca · 26/02/2025 11:06

If you're staying for the next 10 years+, do whatever suits your family.

Personally, a walk in shower is a must for me and a decent bath is a must for DH. But we aren't buying your house!

CocoPlum · 26/02/2025 11:10

I don't think I've had a bath since I was in labour with my now teenagers. I'm hoping to redo my bathroom and will lose the bath. My teens hated showers until about 3 years ago and now they never go in the bath either.

SquashPenguin · 26/02/2025 11:15

Keeping the bath because of what someone MIGHT want in a house sale 10+ years so down the line is pointless. You're living in it now, have the bathroom you want. Just because some people on MN can't live without a bath doesn't mean nobody can.

When we bought our house getting rid of the bath was a priority. We never had baths. Why would I keep something that was a pain in the ass to clean and frankly just got in the way? My dream bathroom was always a large walk in shower, which is exactly what we've done. Don't regret it for one second. Easy to clean, wonderful to use. The baby has a bath in her plastic tub on the shower tray, splashes everywhere and no harm done. We also have no intention of selling the house.

snotathing · 26/02/2025 11:15

Obviously if there's space to take out a bath and put in a shower, the space will still be there if anyone ever wants to put the bath back in. I'm surprised some would write off a house because they'd have to spend £5 or £10k to refit one. I'd pay at least that to have the bath already gone.

Rumoursofrain · 26/02/2025 11:16

I hate showers and always try to book a hotel room with a bath.It would definitely put me off buying a house if it didnt have a bath.

MagpiePi · 26/02/2025 11:20

The thought of having a bath at a hotel where probably the same cloth is used to clean the toilet and floor, and someone else's pubes are caught in the plug hole...ewww.

offmynut · 26/02/2025 11:22

I have a bath and shower i only use my shower i really dont like baths i want to wash the dirt of not lay and soak in it.
child hood baths put me off baths for life same water as my parents.
The above comment is a me problem i just dont like baths takes to much time as in a shower im washed dryed and getting on with other things with in 20 mins.
But if you like a bath good for you.

ohtowinthelottery · 26/02/2025 11:53

In a 4 bed house, I'd definitely keep the bath.

Kbroughton · 26/02/2025 11:55

snotathing · 26/02/2025 11:15

Obviously if there's space to take out a bath and put in a shower, the space will still be there if anyone ever wants to put the bath back in. I'm surprised some would write off a house because they'd have to spend £5 or £10k to refit one. I'd pay at least that to have the bath already gone.

Well because where I was buying a house there were plenty of houses, and so why would I buy one that needed 10k additional spent on it when there were those around that didn't. in two streets there were 7 houses for sale all similar. Incidentally, that house that has a shower and no bath is still on the market and all the others are not eight months on. I agree though that if you are staying in the house no need to worry about it now.

kirinm · 26/02/2025 12:21

I'd always want a bath. I'd prefer a shower over the bath to a shower room.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/02/2025 12:28

In principle removing the bath is fine. But then I developed back problems and a hot bath really eases the pain. I would not want to be without a bath.

@Nowthereistwo can you upgrade the downstairs shower and keep the bath with a shower over?

jellyfishperiwinkle · 26/02/2025 12:30

RosesAndHellebores · 26/02/2025 12:28

In principle removing the bath is fine. But then I developed back problems and a hot bath really eases the pain. I would not want to be without a bath.

@Nowthereistwo can you upgrade the downstairs shower and keep the bath with a shower over?

But then plenty of people can't get in or out of a bath and may see a shower as a positive feature.

AppleCelebration · 26/02/2025 12:31

We did the same with our preteens. I haven’t missed the bath.

MrsSkylerWhite · 26/02/2025 12:31

Bath is essential here. Back and arthritis issues, really helps.

Ihateslugs · 26/02/2025 12:38

Lots of people say not to rip out the bath in a family sized house as it’s harder to sell it but when we sold mums house last year ( three bed semi on a family type estate), no o viewers commented on the lack of a bath. In fact, we had quite a few viewings and offers so had no problem selling the house.

Maybe we were lucky! It was in a popular area in S Manchester, near a good school and a tram station so houses do tend to sell quickly.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/02/2025 12:42

jellyfishperiwinkle · 26/02/2025 12:30

But then plenty of people can't get in or out of a bath and may see a shower as a positive feature.

Show quote history

They may, but if you can have both, why not?

When we renovated our house, we had grip bars fitted, looking ahead. They were a godsend when I broke my sister and wedged a vertebrae. As was the bath for easing all the muscle damage.

ShodAndShadySenators · 26/02/2025 12:52

I really dislike baths and like other PPs, last time I had one was in hospital after having DS, now a teen. It's awful having to step into it to have a shower too, really hurts my knees. Really wishing I could get rid of it!

I don't think bath removal affects sale value at all, only reduces the number of people who would view/offer/buy - lots of people either don't want a bath or would be OK with there not being one as they plan to replace the bathroom and put one in then anyway. They are better for families with young children and do have their uses other than that, but if they only get very very occasional use - my DH has a foam bath maybe once a year - it's just a waste of space.

jellyfishperiwinkle · 26/02/2025 12:58

RosesAndHellebores · 26/02/2025 12:42

They may, but if you can have both, why not?

When we renovated our house, we had grip bars fitted, looking ahead. They were a godsend when I broke my sister and wedged a vertebrae. As was the bath for easing all the muscle damage.

Show quote history

But people have to make the house fit for them now, not have something which doesn't suit them thinking about what may or may not suit potential buyers in the future.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/02/2025 13:01

jellyfishperiwinkle · 26/02/2025 12:58

But people have to make the house fit for them now, not have something which doesn't suit them thinking about what may or may not suit potential buyers in the future.

Show quote history

Yes but I've said keep it if they can make the downstairs shower better. I haven't said they shouldn't do what suits them best, simply advised a little foresight.

mochimoons · 26/02/2025 13:08

I haven't had a bath for years but would love to have one - now that I'm looking to move and considering that as a factor but it's not a must have for me. Sounds like you'd get by fine without one.

Waterlilysunset · 26/02/2025 13:09

I wouldn’t buy a house with no bath unless we factored in a bathroom refit into the cost

Abracadabra12345 · 26/02/2025 13:17

MagpiePi · 26/02/2025 11:20

The thought of having a bath at a hotel where probably the same cloth is used to clean the toilet and floor, and someone else's pubes are caught in the plug hole...ewww.

I always clean the bath in a hotel before using it and have never seen any pube hairs in the plug hole! The mind is a powerful thing. Luxuriating in deep, hot bubble baths in Premier Inn hotels is one of my favourite treats as I listen to my audiobooks. Heaven. As an aside - I hate that the PI are renovating so many of their bathrooms and turning them into shower units.

In our own house, I have baths several times a week and our autistic YA son adores baths too. How will the OP's 9-year old feel? She might suddenly switch to preferring showers only in which case, I'd agree with those who suggest making the house fit for your own convenience and pleasure, without worrying about resale. 10 years is a long time. We do have a separate shower room with power shower in our loft conversion though.

Like other pps, I've stayed in hotels without baths and my body was yearning for one after 3 days. Even more so after long achey hikes!

SingingGoldfinch · 26/02/2025 13:22

We're just about to redo our bathroom and have decided to get rid of the bath and replace with a large shower on the same footprint as the bath. We're a family of 4 (two teens, one away at university) and I can't remember the last time any of us had a bath so it seems like a no-brainer for us. A large walk-in shower will be so much nicer than one over the bath and we honestly couldn't care less about it potentially putting people off buying our house one day when we have absolutely no plans to move! Do what works for your home and your family now I reckon - it seems silly to worry about what people might think if you should decide to sell it in over decades time (when the bathroom will need replacing again anyway!)

whatonearthisgoingonnow · 26/02/2025 13:26

I just got a wider deeper bath with a rainfall shower over it. It's no different size-wise to a cubicle or walk-in, less water everywhere, and less glass cleaning required. Plus it's easier to clean the shower head when you're short.

I agree standard size baths are too small for a nice shower.