UK Landlord Forum / Life

I recently bought a very modest 2 bed flat with the intention of letting it. However there is only a shower in the bathroom and no bath. Other flats in the block have a bath with an over-bath shower. So space-wise it's possible to do the same but it would mean moving the toilet and hand basin, and re-tiling floor to ceiling. It is not the most modern of bathrooms but it is serviceable.
I'm living in the flat at the moment while I'm purchasing a house and I dislike not having a bath.
I am very tempted to rip out the bathroom and replace with a fresh white suite. But maybe having a bath isn't that important to a potential tenant as it is to me.
Any advice would be welcome.

I reckon it's a personal preference thing: I haven't had a bath (on my own) for decades and I'd much rather have a proper cubicle shower than mess about with clambering over the side of a bath and wrestling with a curtain and/or screen, especially if it means everything else in the bathroom is cramped as result.

It's just a question of whether there are enough potential tenants in your area who feel the same as me or whether spending a grand or two on a new bathroom will wash its face (if you'll pardon the pun) in the longer term by enabling you to charge a significantly higher rent. Families generally want a bath, but I'm guessing they're not the sort of market you're looking at with a two bed flat.

One assumes Georgia is a girl and that Simon is a boy. Georgia dislikes not having a bath. Simon doesn't mind so much. This fits in pretty well with gender norms.

Now... Hippo (who knows?) does like a bath. Every now and again, not daily. With bubbles. Some music (maybe Sleeper or Jake Bugg or even ABBA). A glass of Baileys. Hippo gets to scrub properly between the toes.

Still no clues.

The answer to the question is - who knows? The suggestion is - try to let it and see what happens. If it doesn't go easily, reduce the price a bit. If it still doesn't go - see if the bath saves you.

Quote from: Georgia on July 17, 2018, 10:45:15 AMI recently bought a very modest 2 bed flat with the intention of letting it.

Methinks it is not as very modest as is claimed... what is "very modest" anyway? It's already less modest than some 1 bedroom flats, for sure.

Quote from: Simon Pambin on July 17, 2018, 11:53:48 AMI haven't had a bath (on my own) for decades...

And the mental imagery just went nuts.

Hippos need to wallow. In Georgia's position, I would say faced with a choice,more people would opt for a shower.I would not go to the expense of fitting a new bathroom.I like both,but I do also have a small sauna for when I crave heat.

Yes Georgia is a girl and conforms with gender norms in preferring to wallow.
Previously I tried to let the flat out for a maximum term of 6 months but wasn't successful. I think that was more to do with the short rental period because no one mentioned a lack of bath.
I'll do a bit more homework on the costs involved but think the final answer maybe to leave as is and sort out other minor issues.

A maximum rent period of six months is a bit of a niche market: there are people who specifically need a short-term let but most people don't want the hassle of knowing they'll definitely have to move again within six months. Now that you're aiming for the mainstream I reckon you'll do better.

Is there space in the bathroom for the sort of tub that facilitates wallowing (and/or soapy funtimes) with a decent flat base at the shower end, or would you end up with a narrow, mean-spirited canoe of a bath, in which case you'd be going to a fair bit of expense and effort for no real gain on the marketability front.

I let a property with no bath.  Had enough interest to find a God tenant.  As long as the description and pictures show there isn't one and those not interested won't bother.

I let a 2 bed terrace with no bath. No problems finding tenants.   And anyway, a 10 minute shower (who showers for that long) is still 50% of the cost of a 200L bath 

What an interesting question!

Just my tuppeneth, but I reckon it may depend on the age of the tenant and whether they have young children - young kids generally have bath time - which is a hell of a challenge without a bath.

Likewise I suspect that in general (and this is definitely my preconception and not based on any fact other than a survey of my two teenage kids), more younger people prefer showering most of the time and oldies prefer a bath most of the time.

In any event it will all be fine, you will find a tenant who will be very happy. Very probably millennial without kids.

Good luck 😀

Thank you for all the advice. I decided to keep the shower because it's serviceable and I'd forgotten that most people prefer a shower before work.