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

[HeadFairy]

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?

I personally never take baths and absolutely prefer shower. Unfortunately, where I live, bath tubs are much more common.

I would want a bath even though I usually shower. My first flat didn't have a bath and I used to go to my mum's to have one. I missed the option so much! I would never rent or buy somewhere with just a shower.

If you have a bath and a shower you can still get clean if the shower breaks I'd have a shower over the bath.

I love a bath as a “leisure activity” and would never move somewhere without one. I like a shower in the morning to get clean, and then a bath is for relaxing in the evening. DP has had probably one bath in the ten years we’ve lived in this house though, so he wouldn’t care.

I have a bath every day except on the rare summer days it’s boiling hot. I hate it when you go on holiday and there’s only a shower . So def a bath with overhead shower as I do use that to wash my hair .

It all depends on space. As a landlord, all flats that I’ve refurbished in the last 15 years I have installed showers as this keeps the already small space optimised.

in a larger property - house/bungalow I have kept the bath with a shower above. I tend to find that families will usually rent these type of properties so having that option makes the property more ‘rentable’

I rent out a flat with a shower, no bath. I’d say make sure you re seal the shower regularly to avoid leaks, if you go bath free. My flat rents out ok as the rest is well presented. Maybe it’s not coincidental that tenants have been non British. I think Brits tend to like a bath.

i rent out a modernish flat to a young couple in their twenties who are great tenants. He is British she is from a European country. No kids. Recently the bath had to be resealed and I actually gave them the option of removing it altogether and installing a brand new large walk in shower. They said they’d rather keep the old bath!

I have a shower over a bath but cant remember when I last used the bath. I have mobility issues so getting up and down would be a problem. I have one of those bath seats so I can slide my legs in one at a time. I get out the same way.

I would speak to a few local estate agents. They will know the local demographic for renting and who the flat is likely to appeal to. If its common for them to rent to single people and professional couples then a shower and nicer appearance is likely to be better (if the rest of the flat is being done up to a nice standard to match).
If its likely to be a small family then a bath is better. Also if the rest of the flat isn't very modern or appealing then a bath makes more sense in my opinion as its going for functional over appearance overall.

As you are renting it I would go with shower over bath. There is a reason every portfolio landlord and property flipper installs an over bath shower - it increases your potential market.

A 2 bed ground floor flat (with 1 double and 1 small bedroom) will likely attract: single professional or single person, a couple, couple with small baby, couple with 1 young child and 1 baby, young family with 2 small children, desperate family with 2 children same sex and can still manage to fit in bunk beds, single parent with young children who can share, single parent whose children come EOW or EW.

Anyone with young children will prefer a property with a bath over just a shower. Older children and teens will be fine with a shower. Even adults and teens often like the option of a bath or a shower. It will make it a more attractive rental to a wider market.

As for finishing, I would go clean, functional and easy to maintain/replace. Don't go for fancy high end fittings - when they go wrong they can be expensive to replace. Working and clean is much more appealing to tenants than fancy and in need of repair.

I would definitely. It would be a bonus for me if there was a nice walk in shower instead of one over the bath. It doesn't look like you have room for both so I would prioritise the shower. So many rentals just have a rubbish electric shower over a bath so a decent walk-in might well attract people other than those with very small children.

Couldn’t cope without a bath!

Definitely! I have only had showers for past 37 years!

I haven’t had a bath for over twenty years.

In a rental property a bath with shower over is probably the best bet, but I am firmly in Team Shower. Not only do I not want to spend time waiting for a bath to fill, I also don't want to wash in hairy water nor try to wash hair in sudsy water. And with my crappy knees, I have knocked my toes trying to step in and out of the bath (we have shower over). I haven't had an actual bath this century and I do not miss it at all!

But if I was preparing a rental property of more than one bedroom, I'd do shower over bath as the best of both worlds. Although that's an awkward bathroom shape to fit out for sure...

I would get a small bath tub and fit it width ways with a hinged glass shower screen and shower over it. This bath should fit. Based on the tiles I think you have 130-140cm width. Putting the bath widthways would transform the shape of the bathroom.

https://www.bathroomcity.co.uk/product/petite-1300-x-700-straight-bath?srsltid=AfmBOorTNAMYz_lQ14uWeim7qFR3nEUxOpmYNtJqROciJos4bhv8nm8l

Not IMO unless you’re old and doddery, or disabled. We still have 2 showers over the baths, and although I’m pretty ancient they have never (yet) posed a problem.

We have a shower over the bath in our 2 bed rental, and have never had any trouble attracting excellent tenants for over 10 years. But that is probably also down to the fact that it’s nicer than most -often a lot nicer - and we’ve kept the rent low for the type and area.

I got rid of my bath when I did up the bathroom due to its size. No regrets.

I would rent a property with a shower and no bath, but I wouldn't buy it. Ideally I would like a house with a bathroom (with a bath, toilet, and sink, and shower over the bath,) and also an en suite in the master bedroom with a shower, toilet, and sink.) So I've got both IYSWIM.