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Original poster

Would you rent a 2 bed flat with only a shower, no bath?

121 replies

HeadFairy · 01/02/2026 17:20

I’m doing up a flat my mum has, it’s been derelict for years so it’s a full refit. I’ve been mulling over the bathroom, it’s long and skinny, with the loo at one end and the bath and sink at the other. It all needs to come out and I was thinking it might just put a walk in shower, no bath. The flat has a double room and a single room. I don’t want to limit who might want to rent it, but so few people have baths these days I did wonder if it was a waste of space. I could have an over bath shower of course, but I thought what’s the point? Opinions please?

OP posts:
IpsyUpsyDaisyDoos · 02/02/2026 07:13

VegQueen · 02/02/2026 06:57

I like a bath but still bought a 3 bed house without one as other factors were much more important

Thing with buying though is you can change it. We bought without a bath and put one in. I wouldn't have rented without a bath because I have a small child and a dog who loves a muddy puddle, so a bath is essential for us, and you can't change a rental.

user1497787065 · 02/02/2026 07:14

Definitely a walk in shower. An over bath shower is a very poor compromise.

PithyViewer · 02/02/2026 07:14

I wouldn't, as I love a bath. I'm not sure why baths have gone so out of fashion. They're very good for you, physically and mentally.

I've always lived in flats and most have a shower over a bath. Can't remember the last time I was in a shower cubicle. I think I'd find it restrictive now! There's a lot more room showering in the bath.

user1497787065 · 02/02/2026 07:15

Definitely a walk in shower. I wouldn’t rent or buy a property with an over bath shower. They just never work well with slopes of bath etc

TenuousTed · 02/02/2026 07:18

SoDamnTiredddd · 02/02/2026 02:30

I rent a 2 bed flat currently (and have lived in similar places most of my adult life, albeit they were flat shares when I was younger). A bath is a must for me, and I've ruled out places without them when looking to buy.

(Fwiw I'm in my late 30s, live alone and my second bedroom is my office.)

It's not just a kids thing. Baths are absolutely invaluable for pain management, particularly period pain - I wonder why more women don't say that-? As well as a general relax. Yes you can have a hot shower but you don't get that proper pain relief from wallowing in the warm water. I'm also a hiker, so they're great after a long, cold day on the hill.

In recent years I've become disabled and baths are useful for all kinds of other aches and pains - including migraines - and I wouldn't be without them now. Plus I have slightly reduced mobility (can't stand still for very long, although I can walk up steps) - so baths are actually much MORE accessible for me because I can lie down rather than getting all light-headed.

I think you could quite easily make that bathroom look less murdery once you've done it up and maybe put a mirror over the sink. The only reason to take the bath out, for me, would be a) if you're expecting people with more limited mobility (in which case, you might want to think about how easily you can actually manoeuvre into the room full stop) and b) dependent on the location of the toilet - personally I hate having to trek to another room to go to the loo before my bath/shower.

And yes, definitely a shower over the top. Very useful for rinsing your hair, having a quick shower in hot weather, and tbh I clean my bin by putting it in the tub and giving it a quick shower :D

I appreciate not everyone will agree though. None of my male friends seemed to ever use baths (though after I banged on about how great they were, some occasionally asked to come round and use mine!). I guess men don't get so much pain...

Edited

I am disabled and I have chronic pain issues including from periods and personally I don’t find baths at all helpful. Painkillers and hot water bottle if necessary, plus PT work a bit better for me. Plus I find baths tedious and annoying. We’re all different though and I’m glad that they help you so much.

I do have a bath at the moment but only because I bought a new build home and it came with one. It’ll be removed at the first opportunity and replaced with a second shower cubicle.

PrincessofWells · 02/02/2026 07:25

With rentals always keep your target market as large as possible. You are ruling out mums with small children and people who prefer a bath.

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/02/2026 07:34

It may be worth asking the opinion of a letting agent in your area. They will tell you what needs doing, and tell you what will be most popular in your area.

HairyToity · 02/02/2026 07:53

I would without hesitation. I very rarely have a bath.

Themagicclaw · 02/02/2026 08:05

I'd much prefer a walk in shower.
We recently bought a 3 bed house that doesn't have a bath, with kids age 2 and 7. It's absolutely fine. The little ones cope no problem and it has a rainfall shower head plus a small flexible one - when we had friends with a small baby stay I just filled the portable baby bath from the shower head.

boobot1 · 02/02/2026 08:10

I would never rent or buy a house without a bath.

ChurchWindows · 02/02/2026 08:11

Peacefullbliss · 01/02/2026 18:00

Im a shower person, hate baths washing in the dirt im trying to wash off.

Same.

Danikm151 · 02/02/2026 08:41

I turned down a house when looking as it had a shower only.
I frequently shower but sometimes you just need a bath to relax.

When my son was small the bath was essential.

JontyGentooey · 02/02/2026 08:46

I would if it was just me and I was totally fine mobility wise. As long as it was a big decent shower that was nice to use, I would not rent a place that only had a crappy electric one in a tiny plastic cubicle.

Absolutely not if I had young kids or I was getting older, or struggling with showering safely for whatever reason.

ProfessionalPirate · 02/02/2026 08:54

Peacefullbliss · 01/02/2026 18:00

Im a shower person, hate baths washing in the dirt im trying to wash off.

I see this argument trotted out a lot. It grates because it obviously implies that people who have baths are dirty. But I, like many people I imagine who have them, use baths partly for relaxation rather than purely for washing. I have a shower every morning, but also have evening baths a couple of nights a week as a way to unwind, soothe aches and pains and improve my skin.

Anyway, I know lots of people who never ever have baths, but I think OP would be significantly limiting the market for her flat by not having one in. Most people with young children will want a bath for a start.

caringcarer · 02/02/2026 19:10

Yes, I don't like baths.

plumpunnet · 02/02/2026 19:26

Wouldn’t have anywhere without a bath

mondaytosunday · 02/02/2026 19:33

No. My DD loves a bath. You will stop anyone with a young child (or couple planning on having a child before then upsizing) as I don’t know any parent who doesn’t use a bath. But if your market is adults then a shower only would be fine for most. Depends.

CheeseWisely · 02/02/2026 20:19

Something to note given the picture OP, we had a similar very narrow bathroom and when we changed to a large shower cubicle didn’t think through that the glass screen would restrict space even more. Hard to wash your face at the sink with a glass wall immediately to the left to bang your elbow on. When we had a bath we had a shower curtain and obviously it could be pulled out of the way and still give a bit of width to move your arms.

NerdyBird · 02/02/2026 20:23

I think a shower over bath is going to give you the widest market (I am not an estate agent though!). Just having a shower will put off more people than having both would, and if your aim is to rent it out and possibly sell it rather than live there, you surely want to appeal to a wide range of people. For me, I like having both. Bath was brilliant when my daughter was small, and she still has a bath often now. I used to mainly have showers but recently personal circumstances have meant a bath is easier for me than a shower.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 02/02/2026 20:26

Yes, hate baths

EllenWest · 02/02/2026 20:37

Energy costs - baths take so much hot water.

AgentPidge · 02/02/2026 20:46

That bathroom would look much better with a nice shower. I like a bath, but DS has rented out his flat with no problems (he had 40 people interested!) after he took out the bath and put a nice shower in.

EllenWest · 02/02/2026 20:54

@AgentPidge agree, such a no brainer really. Something like this

Would you rent a 2 bed flat with only a shower, no bath?
bickering · 02/02/2026 21:09

This is interesting - to the bath lovers - what if the choice is between a tiny bath 1.2m long instead of 1.8m?

If it were a family home I’d definitely say have a bath but I don’t think that always works

Im refurbishing a 1 bed flat so there won’t be children and probably no pets (that need outside space as there isn’t any). I’ve decided that a large luxury shower is better than the mini bath… does my situation change anything?

ZaZathecat · 02/02/2026 21:10

Yes I hate baths