2nd September 2017
Q: Could you share some tips on replacing my BTL bathroom please?
A: If you need to replace the bathroom in your property, you are probably already prepared to spend a bit of money doing so. However, there are ways to save money whilst protecting your investment in the long term.
There’s a difference between a cheap bathroom and one that’s good value. The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is true to a point, as you might spend less on a cheap bath in the short term but if the material is thin, it’ll crack more easily and you may end up paying out for another much sooner than you’d like. If your bathroom is small, a shower is preferable to a bath. However, there are lots of bathroom suites designed for small spaces, so see if you can fit a bath in with a shower over it, before writing the idea off completely. On the subject of showers, a powerful shower is something many prospective tenants will check for before agreeing to let the property, so opt for the best one your budget will allow.
Without a doubt, one of the biggest threats to any bathroom is mould, the spread of which is something every landlord dreads. Simple steps, such as the effective application of sealant, mould-protect paint, tiled walls and floors and a good extractor fan should help prevent damp and mould – but your tenants will need to play their part too by wiping up any wet areas, regular cleaning and opening a window when using the bath and/or shower.
In terms of colours, neutrals are always best as they don’t date as quickly. White is a must for a bathroom suite for the same reason. One part of a bathroom that’s almost guaranteed to look past its best quickly is the grout – which can be hard to get back to pristine white. Consider a darker grout if you don’t want to have to tackle the white once your tenants leave. An alternative would be to have aqua panels, these are large sheets of PVC that look like tiles. Having these in place will remove the need of regrouting, they are a little more to buy, however, what you are spending on the cost of the panels you will be saving on the labour of having tiles fitted.
Once the suite is fitted and the tiles/aqua panels and flooring are in place, consider adding some storage space (if there isn’t some already), a nice blind at the window and a decent-sized mirror – if your budget allows. These little touches could make all the difference when marketing your property to prospective tenants.
Richard Bond
