UK Landlord Forum / Life

Good Morning,

My Tenant is looking to have our bathroom ripped out and a wet room added due to them struggling with arthritis and unable to enter the current shower cubicle.
This would mean a completely new wet room which I am ok with the only problem being is that there would no longer be a bath in the property, I am thinking to the future when we go to eventually sell the house that this may go against us as some people would like to have a bath in the bathroom. Current bath we have in the property is a good one it is a jacuzzi bath FYI.

The tenant has already contacted Occupational Therapy and they have offered to completely oversee the project and won't cost us anything apparently so no issues from that point of view.

What's people thoughts on this and does anyone know if i am obliged to get this done and accommodate the tenant or can i refuse ?

Thanks in advance.

You can of course refuse as things stand at present. Only you can say whether you would prefer to hang onto this tenant. I would have no problem myself if doing this enables a good tenant to remain. 

The issue of selling in the future is impossible to judge.  Different people have different tastes.   

IMO, it will be a plus point when selling in the future to have got rid of the jacuzzi bath. Having owned one in the past, my view is that they are more trouble than they are worth.


Keep your good tenant, who clearly cares for your property. Their rent over the coming years and the costs you will save by not having to find new tenant(s) will outweigh any 'loss' that you feel you might suffer by not having a bath when you eventually sell.

There are variables here that affect the advice...

- how long has the Tenant been resident?
- how old are they?
- when is "eventually"?

I would probably go for this if the Tenant has been there some time, is a regular rent payer, will possibly stay longer because of it and my "eventually" is five years or further out.

In fact, I did.

The bathroom they ended up with apparently had some of their personal choices included, but I've seen it as I would describe it as basic but functional. There's no bells-and-whistles. That said the Tenants in my property are very likely to expire there - so, it not being in a bath, or even the bathroom, is a great thing.

Older Tenants are generally better Tenants. The old school don't mess you about, they just pay up and do plenty themselves. It's a generational thing, obviously.

Ok guys some good advice here, thank you for all of your help. 

Your tenant's request for a wet room due to their arthritis makes sense and could really help them out. Since Occupational Therapy is willing to handle the project at no cost to you, that's a big plus.

As for whether you have to do it, it depends on local laws about disability accommodations. Generally, if a tenant has a disability, you might need to make reasonable changes to help them. Since your tenant has already involved Occupational Therapy, they have a strong case.

I get that you're worried about losing the bath when selling the house, as some buyers might want one. It could be worth talking to your tenant to see if there's a way to meet their needs while keeping a bath in the house or finding another compromise.

100% Yes for me

Your tenants are more likely to remain and in future you will get a premium in either rent or sale figure as so many older people will be attracted by the wet room.

My only issue would be if the property is 3-bed as its then a family unit rather than for single/couple occupancy