Homeowners replacing their only bath with a walk-in shower risk reducing the appeal of their property to buyers according to research from bathroom retailer Drench.
Its survey of estate agents and prospective homebuyers suggests the absence of a bath could reduce a property’s value by between 3% and 4% – equivalent to approximately £11,155 when applied to the house price used in the company’s calculations.
Almost half of the agents questioned (47%) estimated that removing the only bath could result in a reduction within that range. A further 25% believed the effect could reach between 5% and 6%.
Buyer research also found that 45% regarded the presence of a bath as essential when searching for a home, demonstrating its continuing importance despite growing demand for walk-in showers and wet rooms.
FAMILY MARKET APPEAL
The impact is likely to be most noticeable in family homes, where baths remain practical for households with babies and young children.
Some 34% of agents said family-sized properties without a bath typically took three to four weeks longer to sell than comparable homes containing one. Another 20% reported delays of between one and two months.
Meanwhile, 29% of property professionals estimated that offering only walk-in showers could alienate between 21% and 40% of prospective buyers.
The findings do not mean every property requires a bath. Space constraints, accessibility requirements and the likely target market will all influence the most appropriate bathroom configuration.
However, sellers considering removing the only bath may want to seek advice from a local agent before undertaking the work.
RESALE CALCULATION
The survey found 80% of respondents with a bath still used it regularly, while 27% who did not use theirs had retained it because of concerns about resale value.
Liv Conlon, property and staging expert, says: “While walk-in showers have become the ‘quick and convenient’ choice, we’re seeing buyers lean back towards bathtubs as both a lifestyle and resale feature.
“Buyers are increasingly thinking long-term about how a home evolves with them – and a bathtub delivers both the wow factor and day-to-day function.”
Samantha Lawson, senior bathroom designer at Drench, says demand was growing for compact freestanding baths that provide a focal point without requiring a large bathroom.
She recommends balancing appearance with practicality and ensuring the bath feels like an intentional part of the room rather than an afterthought.
