Kensington at a glance
Kensington sits between Centennial Park, the racecourse and the University of New South Wales. Its older streets are lined with Federation and interwar cottages, bungalows and semis, many on narrow blocks. Along and near Anzac Parade there are 1960s and 1970s walk-ups, and a growing number of newer apartment buildings since the light rail arrived.
That mix produces two very different renovation clients: owner-occupiers who are staying put, and landlords renting to students, hospital staff and young professionals.
Owner-occupied cottages and semis
The typical Kensington cottage bathroom sits at the back of the house, often in a later addition. It may share a wall with the laundry, and in some homes the toilet is still in a separate room off the back verandah.
Renovation opportunities here often include:
- Bringing the toilet inside by combining a separate WC and bathroom into one larger room, or keeping them separate but updating both
- Converting a back verandah to add a powder room or European laundry
- Re-routing drainage under a timber floor to improve the layout
- Adding an ensuite in a larger rear bedroom where the drainage route allows
Pre-1990 additions are tested for asbestos before demolition, and floor framing near the old shower is inspected once exposed.
Rental and investment units
For owners of units rented near the university, the priorities are different: durability, maintenance and turnaround.
A well-specified rental bathroom:
- Uses porcelain tile with a suitable slip rating, grouted with epoxy in the shower
- Has a fixed shower screen rather than a sliding door, which fails early with heavy use
- Keeps tapware simple, with cartridges easily replaced
- Uses a compact laminate or robust laminate vanity rather than delicate timber or natural stone
- Installs a strong exhaust fan on a timer, since tenants may not run it
- Adds hooks and rails generously, so towels are not draped over doors
The result still looks contemporary — a clean white or light grey palette with a warm timber-look vanity reads well in rental listings — while standing up to years of use.
Timing around tenancies
A bathroom cannot be renovated with tenants living in a one-bathroom unit. The practical approach is to use the vacancy between leases.
To make that work:
- Measure and quote while the current tenancy is running
- Lodge strata approval and lock selections early
- Order materials so they arrive before the lease ends
- Start demolition the day after the unit is vacated
Planning a vacancy of roughly six weeks gives a margin for approvals or supply delays. See how a renovation runs.
Newer apartments along the light rail
Buildings from the last decade or two often have bathrooms in reasonable condition that simply feel generic. Owners here tend to want a targeted upgrade rather than a full strip-out — new vanity, tapware, mirror cabinet and lighting — unless the waterproofing has failed. We will say so if a partial refresh makes more sense.
Randwick City Council and heritage
Kensington is within Randwick City Council, and parts of the suburb sit within heritage conservation areas. Internal bathroom work is rarely affected. External changes — a new window, a vent on a street-facing wall — may need approval. We identify these early.
Getting materials in
Many Kensington cottages have no rear lane and a narrow side passage. Materials and waste come through the house, so floors and walls along the route are protected. Units along Anzac Parade may have loading restrictions and clearways; deliveries are timed accordingly.
What it costs
As a 2026 guide: unit bathrooms $26,000–$40,000, cottage or semi bathrooms $30,000–$50,000, combining a separate WC and bathroom toward the upper end. See the cost page.
Nearby
We also work in Randwick, Paddington, Maroubra and Kingsford.
Renovation work is carried out in partnership with Coastal Renovation Group, a licensed NSW builder — licence and insurance details are provided on request.
Call 02 5121 7922 or send the property details.