Deposit Disputes Are Rising – Are Baths to Blame?
Interior Designers Say Acrylic Baths Are the Hidden Culprit in Family Rentals
Deposit disputes over bathroom damage are rising, and acrylic bath surfaces are the overlooked culprit.
Acrylic baths are often marketed as lasting 10 to 15 years or more, yet designers say many start to look tired in busy family homes within just a few years. That is starting to matter more for anyone renting with a family.
Interior designers now steer people away from acrylic as it starts showing scratches and cloudy patches sooner than you can expect. Renters might need to lose more of the deposit for extra cleaning or repairs.
It gets worse if your home has children who love bath bombs and colourful soaps. You’ll need to scrub harder to lift the colour and end up damaging the finish of the acrylic. Most of the time, renters notice this only during the deep cleaning before moving out.
The material gets tainted with a faint pink or blue tint around the plug and along textured bases that remain there permanently; the bath never becomes white again, leading to issues with deposit deduction.
“Families love the look of acrylic, but it needs a bit of protection in real life,” says Ant Langston, expert in the bathroom industry and Marketing Manager at Heat and Plumb.
“We suggest a simple renter safe rule: stick to lighter bath products, rinse the tub within ten minutes, and use a soft cloth rather than a scouring pad,” he adds.
Renters should keep in mind that acrylic is high maintenance and deteriorates quickly if neglected.
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