Can I Install A Bidet In My Apartment? (Find Out Now!)

Jessica Vaillancourt
by Jessica Vaillancourt

Nearly 45 million American households are rented instead of owned. That’s a lot of people navigating apartment living! Just because you rent your place instead of owning it doesn’t mean you don’t want your rental to truly feel like home.

The problem is, it can be tough to figure out what you can and can’t do to modify your apartment the way you’d like it. From painting walls to replacing light fixtures and bathroom features, it’s important to know what’s legal. Are you curious whether or not you can install a bidet in the bathroom of your apartment? Let’s find out.

You cannot install an entire bidet fixture in your apartment without the expressed consent of your landlord. As a renter, you should not alter the plumbing and flooring in your apartment. Despite this, you may be able to install a bidet seat, attachment, or sprayer to your current toilet, as these are not permanent modifications.

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What You Can and Cannot Change in a Rental

Before diving into what a bidet is and if you can install one, it’s important to know your responsibilities as a renter. Any acceptable modifications to your apartment will be explicitly stated in the lease agreement. If they are not explicitly stated, your landlord or property manager must offer you some form of expressed consent.

Want a good rule of thumb when making apartment changes? If a project causes structural changes to the apartment, it should not be done. Projects that do not permanently alter the apartment, or can be undone before the lease is up, are generally okay.

Here are changes you can make to your apartment (with or without landlord consent):

  • Add bidet attachments to the toilet bowl. 
  • Paint walls (with landlord approval).  
  • Put up a fence (with landlord approval).
  • Replace smaller appliances.
  • Change out light fixtures.
  • Replace handles and doorknobs.
  • Add your own storage features.

And here are things you generally should not change in your apartment:

  • The plumbing, HVAC, or pipe lines.
  • Major appliances like washing machines or stoves.
  • Electrical wiring.
  • Flooring.
  • Any modification that alters the floor plans. 

What is a Bidet?

A bidet will be well-known to Europeans, Asians, and many others around the world. But a lot of US citizens might still not have a clue what it is. So what is a bidet? A bidet is a special bathroom fixture — typically a bowl or seat — designed to clean your lower half with fresh water after going to the bathroom.

A French toilet invention, they are often considered more hygienic and sustainable than the toilet paper cleaning method. While they have been common in Europe for a few hundred years, they are starting to gain popularity in the US.

Types of Bidets

The most traditional version of a bidet is what you will find in Europe. This is a porcelain bowl, almost like a small bathtub, placed next to a toilet bowl. After using the bathroom, you move over to sit or squat over the bidet bowl and turn on the water nozzle to clean your bottom.

But a bidet is not always a separate bowl. It can also come as a separate hand-held sprayer, a toilet bowl attachment, or a toilet seat. Each of these come with their own unique benefits, and don’t require a permanent modification of the bathroom. That’s why these are your best options as a renter if you’d like to install a bidet.

The Best Bidets for Apartments

It’s not likely that you will be allowed to install a traditional bidet bowl, as this will require plumbing and flooring alterations. Luckily, there are a few other options to transform your current toilet bowl into a bidet. These options are affordable, easy to install, and can be removed before your move-out date.

Bidet Toilet Seat

A bidet toilet seat is the most customizable and full-range bidet option. A bidet toilet seat is an electronic seat that attaches to the toilet bowl, replacing the original toilet seat. It consists of a seat, an electronic panel or remote to control settings, and a wash nozzle.

Some models also come with various temperature settings, a timer, and heated seating. Bidet toilet seats range in price depending on the extent of their features. But you can expect to pay between $300 and $600 for one. Installation can be completed yourself, and should take less than an hour.

Bidet Attachment

A bidet attachment is a fixture that attaches to the side of your toilet bowl. It consists of a dial to turn on the water sprayer and adjust water temperature, and a retractable nozzle. Bidet attachments are really affordable and very easy to install yourself. They pull fresh water from your existing water supply, so you don’t have to worry about any plumbing changes. A quality bidet attachment will cost anywhere from $30 to $50.

Handheld Bidet Sprayer

A handheld bidet sprayer is another good option. Similar to a mini shower head attachment, these sprayers hook up to a valve on your toilet. The sprayer head mounts on the wall beside the toilet. Many models come in sleek stainless steel designs, are quick and easy to install, and are very affordable at anywhere from $25 to $70.

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Related Questions

Why are bidets not popular in America?

Bidets are a European invention, originating centuries ago in France. While their popularity spread fast in the upper societies of Europe, it didn’t stick in the US. Over the next couple hundred years, American homes and plumbing systems adopted the single toilet and toilet paper practices that are still prominent today. But in recent years, more Americans are considering the environmental and hygienic benefits of washing with water instead of paper.


Where does bidet water come from?

Bidet water is safe, sanitary, and does not come from your toilet tank. It is pulled from a connection to the water line that’s generally located behind your toilet. This is the same water that supplies your sinks, showers, and refrigerator. 

Jessica Vaillancourt
Jessica Vaillancourt

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