If you’re currently in a rented apartment and wondering how you can install a bidet, you’ve come to the right place. It’s no secret that landlords can be a fussy bunch, especially when it comes to any installation works on their property.
You may have been told that you’re not allowed for ‘insurance purposes’. Or maybe the landlord doesn’t understand the simplicity of installing a simple bidet attachment.
So, what’s the best bidet for an apartment? The best bidet for an apartment is the Luxe Neo 185. It’s a bidet attachment and comes with dual self-cleaning nozzles. No-Installation options include a portable bidet that feeds from a bucket of water or a bidet hose that you attach to your sink.
Easy installation
The luxe bidet is easy to install and uninstall without leaving a trace. It has dual self-cleaning wands and adjustable pressure.
Overall Choice
This no installation bidet fits onto your faucet and features adjustable water temperature.
Portable Bidet
Powerful, rechargeable and requires absolutely no installation. Needs a bucket of water to feed from.
No Installation Bidets
These bidets are the most simple solution if you want to completely avoid touching the plumbing in your apartment.
What’s great about all these bidets is that, unlike some of the more expensive options, they’ll spray warm water. If you live somewhere cold, don’t underestimate how much better a warm water bidet feels!
Some can also double up as portable units that you can use when camping or spending the night in an RV.
Rechargeable Battery Powered Bidet Attachment
This MyPortaWash bidet hose is a great choice if you’re not able to add a more permanent option onto your toilet’s T-valve. The unit is powered by rechargeable batteries and includes a USB cable for charging when required.
You’ll need a water source, such as a bucket filled with water, to use as the bidet’s water supply. For a warm water experience, you can simply fill the bucket with warm water.
I’ve had luck with this unit when using my sink, but for a more seamless experience, a medium-sized bucket that you can keep topped up is a better option.
Because this option is totally portable, it’s a great bidet for camping or traveling too. I pair mine with a collapsible bucket so it doesn’t take up too much room in my luggage. These buckets are also useful at home if you don’t have much space.
Another great addition to this unit is the suction cup used instead of screws or adhesive as seen on more permanent solutions. The suction itself is strong and doesn’t feel flimsy at all.
The spray is powerful and is on-par with most traditional bidet hoses.
SmarterFresh Faucet Bidet Sprayer
Note: this unit is only compatible with sinks that have a removable aerator
This SmarterFresh bidet hose attaches to your faucet’s removable aerator. The benefits of this are twofold. First, you have the benefit of a warm bidet spray which of course is adjustable. Secondly, there are no tools needed to install the unit and no need to play around with your toilet plumbing.
Even the holder which attaches to your toilet doesn’t require any tools. It simply clips in between the toilet’s tank and tank lid.
The stainless steel hose is 86-inches long so should reach just about anything in your bathroom, however depending on how your sink and toilet are positioned the loose hose could become a trip hazard. Just be careful to store it properly when not in use.
The spray head itself comes with two different spray modes, a strong targetted stream, and a winder angle gentler stream.
The SmarterFresh bidet hose is a solid choice if you want a bidet and can’t make any modifications in your house. Just be sure you have the correct sink fitting to use it.
TOTO Battery Operated Travel Bidet
Toto is famous for its premium washlets. This battery-operated unit is Toto’s first foray into portable bidets and is surprisingly powerful for its compact size.
I love this model as it is fully portable, meaning it’s a great option for short term renters that may not want the added inconvenience of a larger more static model. It’s also small enough that you can fit it in your bag and carry it around with you for on-the-go use.
This TOTO bidet has two different spray settings, soft and regular so you can choose which one is more comfortable for you. The regular setting should be pressurised enough for most cleaning needs.
TOTO suggest filling the bidet with warm water for an even more comfortable experience.
The nozzle’s angle is adjustable as with other electric travel bidets, and it comes with a carry case.
Easy Installation Bidets
If you don’t mind a quick 10-minute installation, then these easy to install bidet might be a good compromise.
Most bidet hoses and toilet seats require minimum effort to install, usually only requiring a simple connection at your toilet’s T-valve.
At the end of your tenancy, they can be uninstalled so you can take them with you to your next house, and leave the toilet exactly the way you found it.
Purrfectzone Handheld Bidet Toilet Sprayer
This handheld bidet sprayer from Purrfect zone is a great choice if you don’t mind attaching something to your toilet’s T-valve but don’t want to mess with the toilet seat.
I’ve previously included this model in my top-rated handheld bidet sprayers article due to its high build quality and ease of installation.
The package includes a T-valve adaptor, an easy-fit (no drilling required) bidet clip for your toilet, and even Teflon tape to ensure a seamless installation.
The hose is 48″ long, but if you need a longer one Purrfect sells bidet hoses up to 98″ that you can buy separately.
The spray head has a full range of pressures from a gentle flow to a jet stream. The thumb lever is easy to control, so you can get the pressure just right.
Luxe Bidet Neo 185
The luxe bidet attachment is probably one of the most popular bidet options for both apartment dwellers and house owners.
The attachment fits under your toilet seat and the 185 model comes with two self-cleaning nozzles. When the nozzles aren’t in use they retract behind a guard gate to keep them clean.
The bidet also offers on-demand wad cleaning and adjustable pressure.
Everything you need for installation is included, but if your current toilet seat doesn’t have bumpers you might want to buy some.
Installing the bidet can create a bit of a gap between the seat and the toilet. Sticking bumpers (link to amazon) on the toilet will prevent any extra strain from being put on the seat. I’d advise this for any bidet attachment.
How much installation do you want to do?
The main issue with having a bidet in an apartment is the installation. Most tenancy agreements will have a clause that you’re not allowed to install anything without the landlord’s permission. Fitting a t-valve may not seem like a major plumbing change, but it’s still a change. My advice would be to stick to your contract.
If any problems do occur due to you installing the bidet without permission, you risk having to shell out for damages. And even if there aren’t problems, your landlord could choose to end your lease if they find out you’ve broken the terms of the contract.
None of that is likely. Lots of people have installed a bidet in their apartment without asking for permission and it’s been fine. But it’s not without risk.
Of course, you can always ask for the landlord’s permission. Ensure you know which bidet you want and exactly how you’d need to install it before you ask the landlord. That way, you can explain to them exactly what you’d be doing. In my experience, if you sound like you know what you’re talking about, they’re more likely to say yes.
If your landlord is wary you could even offer to pay for a professional plumber to install it. That way, the landlord can be sure the installation will be done properly.
Some installation
If your landlord agrees or you want to risk it, go for a handheld bidet or a bidet attachment. These are the best type of bidets for apartments.
No installation
Luckily, even if your landlord says no you still have options. The ones I outlined above are the camping bidet, the portable bidet, and the sink bidet.
How to install a bidet in an apartment
These aren’t complete instructions, but they will give you an idea of how involved installing a bidet is (it’s not very involved).
- Turn your toilet’s water supply off and empty the toilet tank. You can do this by flushing the toilet a few times.
- Take the toilet seat off, attach the bidet, and put the toilet seat back on. If you’re installing a bidet sprayer, you can skip this step.
- If you currently have a rigid water pipe connecting your toilet to the mains, you’ll need to swap this for a flexible one. This may or may not come included with the bidet. If it’s not, you can pick one up at a local hardware store. If there’s already a flexible pipe installed you can skip this step.
- Attach the t-apdater to the toilet tank
- Attache the bidet to the t-adapter
- Turn the water back on and check for leaks. Most leaks are due to loose connections, so can be fixed by tightening the connection.
As you can see, you’re not making any major changes to your plumbing. You’re just adding in an extra connection. Most people will be able to do this in half an hour or less. There’s plenty of YouTube videos online to guide you.
Can I install a bidet seat in an apartment?
Bidet seats can be installed in an apartment, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
The installation process is basically the same as with an attachment so that’s not an issue. The only difference is that since the seats completely replace the toilet seat, you’ll need to store the original seat and put it back when you move out.
The reason I wouldn’t choose to install an bidet seat is because there are two different types – round and elongated. If your rental apartment has a round toilet and then you move to a house with an elongated toilet, your bidet won’t fit the new toilet.
Electric bidet seats are more tricky than non-electric seats because you need an outlet near the toilet. If you don’t have one it can be an involved job to install one. If you’re really intent on an electric seat, you could use extension cords, but you’d still have the issue of round vs elongated toilets.
