How Wet Room Bathrooms Can Add Value to UK Investment Properties

For buy-to-let investors, keeping abreast of the latest trends in residential design could have a direct impact on both the appeal to tenants and the sustainable level of rental income received over time.

One such upgrade that has gained traction over the years is the wet room bathroom. A wet room is effectively a shower room that allows the entire floor to get wet because there is no traditional raised shower tray or cubicle. The shower area itself is “built in” to the rest of the room in a way that is fully waterproof. The contemporary look and clean lines of a wet room are likely to attract tenants who have an appetite for luxury modern living. But the advantages may go beyond merely attractiveness. A wet room can help boost the value of an investment property in a practical as well as aesthetic sense.

Technical Foundations: Choosing the Right Wet Room Shower Tray

The success of a wet room installation can be determined by the technical build. Choosing the right wet room shower tray will ensure correct waterproofing, flow towards the drains and also the longevity of the room. A well-designed tray will channel the water correctly to drain with no risk of water escaping from the wet room floors, leading to extra costs from wear and tear and potential building faults in the future. For investors, this means minimal ongoing costs and a good sales point for the building.

A typical contemporary wet room shower tray (or former), is usually manufactured from XPS (extruded polystyrene), providing a material that is both lightweight but strong (structurally) and completely watertight. The tray formers are specifically manufactured to be installed into the floor, creating an integral level access finish. They are tileable unlike conventional trays and the integrated fall built into the former ensures that the water is efficiently channeled to the waste outlet. When installed correctly with other waterproofing components and subfloor drainage, the assembled system delivers a long-lasting and reliable solution, perfectly suited to the multi-user bathroom scenario in rental properties.

Layout, Usability, and the Impact of Shower Screens

At the heart of every good wet room is the fixing and finishing, when trade skill and product choice combine for a finished space that’s attractive and durable. A big factor for the liveability of a wet room, along with its design appeal, is the shower screen. Good screens stop the water from showering the entire bathroom, leaving it safe and dry, while still delivering the on-trend, open-plan look that is a big hit with tenants. For this reason, frameless screens, or ones without frames around all sides, are a far more popular option than fully framed designs, as they help the space feel less enclosed. Glass makes a huge contribution to the appeal of a wet room as it reflects light for a brighter space while offering up clear, clean lines befitting a contemporary bathroom space.

Bundles of style, every decision on the bathroom layout should make life easier. The use of hanging vanities and wall-installed cupboards helps create an open space that will make a bathroom feel much bigger. If you choose open cabins, where do you hide all the toiletries? With built-in cabinets, you can store everything out of sight. Another detail that looks good and is useful is the LED ceilings and acrylic skirting. Mood options and the feeling that you’re in a luxury hotel are always a big plus. Not only does it mean a good return on investment. The value of the house increases if the bathroom is beautiful. And if renting is an option, it is important that the bathroom is more attractive than those in other homes in the area.

Tenant Appeal and Future-Proofing

Wet rooms should appeal to tenants across the generations — from young professional renters who take their style cues from the latest Instagram trend, to older residents who seek (or will require) a home that is easy to move around and has level access — really reducing the risk of trips and falls. This makes them a sensible option for anyone trying to accommodate different age groups within one household, or let properties be marketed as homes with accessible liveability. Offering a wet room could not only increase the pool of potential renters, but it might also allow landlords to reduce or eliminate voids between tenancies.

Supporting Higher-Value Refurbishments

Property investors looking to add value to their real estate properties and make a statement with their fit-outs should consider adding wet rooms. When installed with premium-quality materials and designed with attractive fittings and finishes, these wet and dry zones represent both style and substance. Fit out one or more bathrooms to add value and appeal to the marketing campaign, as well as attract a higher rental for the fully updated living experience.

Furthermore, because wet rooms save space, they can provide the appearance of more space and better utility in confined residential settings. By virtue of their space-saving design, investors fitting out a rental property with one or more wet rooms can have a more useful and more presentable floor plan. In this way, wet rooms can help investors make rental properties more competitive.

Conclusion

Planning to incorporate a wet room bathroom into their UK investment property enables investors to benefit from a combination of aesthetic, practical and financial advantages. By focusing attention on important elements such as wet room shower tray and shower screen options, investors can create a wet room bathroom that is long-lasting, functional and great-looking. This, in turn, creates a space where great tenants expect to pay more to live in. In the longer term, wet room bathrooms enable investors to create a sense of modernity and forward-thinking for the home, creating a desirable place that is comfortable to live in, both now and for years to come.