Rented property - bathroom query

Duds555

Hi

I am due to begin renting a flat with my friend. The flat has two bathrooms - one is an en-suite shower and the second is a family bathroom. The family bathroom although advertised as bathroom with shower is only tiled a quarter of the way up the wall, has no curtain rail/shower curtain and the shower head is not located on the wall.

As I'm moving in with a friend it isn't ideal for us both to be sharing the en-suite shower. I have asked the estate agents and understandably the landlord is not prepared to tile the bathroom to be used as a shower.

Obviously I will ask the estate agents when we move in but do you think the estate agents/landlord would be happy if i suggested putting up a shower curtain either side of the bath so covering the untiled wall or would this still damage the wall? Just trying to come up with solutions so that the bathroom can still be used as a shower room, but without tiles. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

BitterAndTwisted

If you ask for permission to put up a shower rail/curtain then you should fully expect to either make good at the end of your tenancy or be charged for it out of your deposit.

Not asking for permission is a no-no and will most likely get your tenancy brought to an end after the fixed-term expires.

The property is let "as is" and if the bathroom arrangements don't suit you should look for another.

BobQ

If its important to you why sign up to the property in the present condition? Best to sort out before rather than afterwards, but having two curtains seems a reasonable solution to me.

That said why even mention the part tiling issue? Ask the LA to confirm its a bathroom with shower and that the fixing will be attached to the wall before you move in.

Duds555

Thanks for the replies - if I'm being honest I didn't really think about it until someone mentioned it to me and I looked into it further. This is the first time I have had my own place so not entirely sure what to be looking out for and probably slightly ignorant didn't think not having tiles would be a problem.

As I mentioned will be speaking to estate agents to see if can find a solution so fingers crossed. Waited for a property in this popular area for the last six months so will share en-suite if I have to!

monty-doggy

Not all LL are unwilling to let you change something. If the bathroom isn't practical, try offering a solution, even if you have to pay for it, but negotiate leaving it like that when you leave the property. If you get any authorisation from the LL, make sure it's in writing and keep a copy of it!

My LL let me re decorate the house I have now, and I'm moving out in four weeks. I am not changing it back because I used Laura Ashley wall paper and a decent paint, if anything it makes the property more rentable to the next tenant!

Lifeforms

If it's advertised with shower, the shower should be fixed to the wall, and appropriate measures done to ensure that damage can't happen from that. Is it a mixer tap shower, or a power shower?

As it's your first, if they give you a copy of current conditions without you being in on the inspection at the start, make sure you go over that flat with a fine tooth comb and correct the list appropriately and return a copy to them. Also take photos upon receiving the keys to document it's condition, even if the paint is a little raggedy in one corner, or a teeny stain in the cupboard. Document everything that's not otherwise perfect as this protects your deposit when you come to the end and want to move.

xylophone

I can't understand why the owner of the house has refused to fully tile the wall - it hardly costs a king's ransom?

[Deleted User]

If the shower is advertised as a shower then you would expect to be able to use it. Were there previous tenants that have used the shower, or is this a brand new property? If the previous tenants have used the shower that may be an indication it's usable, maybe the wall is made of a magic material or something.

You could always ask the landlord for written confirmation that the shower is a shower and can be used as such, then if it comes down to damage done to the wall at the end of the tenancy you may be able to present that as evidence it was "okay" to do so. Although that sounds like it wouldn't work, just an idea though.

System

I read it as the en-suite has the shower but the other one is just a BATHroom with a shower attachment for hair washing so advertising appears (from the info given) to be correct

[Deleted User]

!!!!!! wrote: »

I read it as the en-suite has the shower but the other one is just a BATHroom with a shower attachment for hair washing so advertising appears (from the info given) to be correct

oh that makes a lot more sense, I was imagining something that made no sense:

ash28

!!!!!! wrote: »

I read it as the en-suite has the shower but the other one is just a BATHroom with a shower attachment for hair washing so advertising appears (from the info given) to be correct

Our main bathroom has a shower attachment for hair washing and the bathroom isn't fully tiled either......it looks like a normal shower but located in a corner, above and to one side of the taps.