council bathroom has no tiles

achrnysh

Hiya,

I'm considering swapping homes with a council tenant - my place is all done up to a very high standard, whilst his place is very large 2 bed maisonette, but is a pretty bad standard. I don't mind doing the DIY in the form of flooring and painting, but my one major concern is the bathroom. It is just a small bathroom with simply a bath tub, sink and toilet - very outdated, and there is No tiling at all in the bathroom. I was wondering if I were to ask him to enquire to his landlord about getting the bathroom tiled, would it be possible for it to happen. Is there a certain standard as to how a bathroom should be, as I have never before come across a bathroom that has no toiling whatsoever in it. I know that the tiling itself would be pretty costly if done ourselves and I have to accept the property as it is seen when signing the paperwork, and will also not be able to get any repairs done by the council for half a year from the moving in point.
There is also the aspect of a very old kitchen, but it seemed to be in an ok standard and I have accepted the fact that I will simply have to deal with it as nothing will probably be done about it.
Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

Thanks. Anna

custardy

what would the reason be for asking the council to tile the bathroom?

achrnysh

shouldn't a bathroom already have tiling to begin with? it just seems strange that there isn't any. All of the bathrooms I have ever seen, shower or just a bath rub, have all had tiling on the walls.

david29dpo

My (mortgaged) house has no tiles in the bathroom, do YOU think the taxpayer should pay?

Old_Git

councils dont have to tile anything .
They usually put one row off white tiles around the edge off a bath thats it .No reason you cant do your own in time.

Fire_Fox

Tiling is not that difficult if you can find someone to show you the basics or watch YouTube videos and read DIY books, and it is inexpensive if you use the cheapest square white tiles.

Actually sticking the tiles up level and flush just takes patience, butter the individual tiles not the wall as a speedy professional would, that gives you more time and is less waste. Cutting is more of a PITA, hire an electric cutter if you have many to do, or try to position the tiles so little to no cutting is needed. For grouting push it into the lines with a wet finger don't butter the entire wall - slower at the time but neater, less waste of product, much less clean up.

The whole thing is actually quite therapeutic, I went on to lay a patio single handedly on the basis that is just tiling sans gravity (I was a very petite twenty something female! ).

eliviajen

It might be worthwhile googling your council's planned maintenance programme to see whether there is any intention to update the bathroom and kitchen in the near future

we have just been rehoused in a place with a pretty dire bathroom (the bath holds about 6-7 inches of water at full capacity, amongst many other problems including no tiles) but thankfully there are plans to fit new bathrooms this year (according to the internet) so hopefully we wont have to live like this for long!

shonzyd

i would suggest tiling it yourself. Water splashing up the walls can cause all sorts of problems. You should fit splashback tiles at the very least. But when i say you i mean you, your responsibility not the council.

and Tiling? Costly? Unless your having gold plated ones encrusted with diamonds its not going to break the bank.

Tiresias

Write to council asking them to tile it.. keep copy of letter... then if they don't & there's later water damage their problem...

arbroath_lass

Tile it yourself. No idea why you think it would be expensive. Unless you pick expensive tiles and, let's be honest, you won't get them from the council, anyway.

I had several council flats when I was younger. OH tiled them all himself.

ETA wouldn't a council use wet wall now? Rather than tiles?

G_M

Well I don't want to pay for your tiling! Why should I? I'd far rather the council spent the money filling potholes, or delivering meals to people in real need.

Is this question real? Get down to B&Q and do some shopping or stay in the nicely tiled property you already have.