--72.188.xxx.xxx

If you are putting in shower doors then there should be one on the door otherwise I would just put it on the wall as there would be a less likelihood of damage. --73.120.xx.xxx

First, I would not install the tile surround in a rental. Second, I would not put a towel bar inside of a tile surround in the shower. When the tenants decide to do gymnastics or chin-ups or whatever else they do in the shower and hold onto that bar, it's going to come ripping down along with your tile and you're going to have a nightmare to fix it. Especially if you can't match up the tile. --70.44.xxx.xx

I didn't think of that. Sadly I could see a tenant damaging the towel bar if it's in the shower. --72.188.xxx.xxx

I haven't had any problems with a towel bar in the tub myself-- but I haven't had many for it to become a problem. --137.118.xx.xxx

At this point in my real estate career I am trying to make my units tenant proof - that is impossible. When I do up towel racks, I first mount a board up to studs and then mount the rack on the board --24.101.xxx.xx

Is it acceptable to have one end of a towel rack mounted to a stud and the other end attached to drywall using a toggle anchor? --72.188.xxx.xxx

I’ve moved towards solid wooden towel bars that are cut-to-length, so they’ll be mounted directly into the stud (and they don’t have the chincey brackets that always break). --73.12.xx.xx

I do as Ray does. Mount a board to the studs and the bar to the board. --70.178.x.xx

I've started removing them entirely - they can't break it if it isn't there. They can hang the towel on the bath shower screen pole or door frame. --174.65.x.xxx

I would not put it in the shower. If you have a solid wood door, you could mount to the back side of the door. If not, I like Ray n Pa's idea....we do that a lot with various wall-mounted items like coat racks. --99.92.xxx.xxx

It is better to install a grab bar which can be used a towel bar. Once into the stud then the grab bar can not be torn out. European towel bars can mounted in the stud which are different then North American. Ikea sells that type of towel bar where mount higher up. In rental units or houses always have to think about abuse where installing better products seems expensive but over time have to be fool proof. --147.194.xxx.xx

I would rather put one up high & one below it, if wall space is that tight. Adults can reach the higher bar. Just make sure there is enough space between them that the top towel won't hang on the bottom towel, and so the bottom towel won't hang on the floor. --70.160.xxx.xxx

I did away with towel bars and installed huge aluminum Gothic looking HOOKS. Hard to describe but they really work well. They look like a coat hook chunky and about 1 foot long with raised back plate, very decorative. Hang bath towels, hand towels, wash rags, bath mats, and can be used for bathrobes, or anything else that hangs. Saves space, nobody tries to hang on them. I bought a bunch of them years ago at Home Depot but I'm not sure if anyone sells them now. --72.199.xx.xxx

Found some on eBay advertised as Jumbo Hook for Bed and Bath. I paid 2 bucks for each, They are now 20 something. Tenants love them. --72.199.xx.xxx

Alternatively, hooks are used by many people for towels. They say the towels dry better, but that logic just seems to fail me. Keep in mind that our rods are thick, so more air gets into the layers of towel. --70.16.xxx.xxx

I'd get one of the 3m command strip rods if I were putting it on the tile. Won't make holes and will come off if they get to pulling on it too hard. --64.130.xx.xxx

You can get grab bars in all kinds of length, and they will work as towel bars just fine. --67.43.xxx.xxx

Thanks. Unfortunately I have already hung the drywall sheets and don't want to take them out to put in the extra plywood...I'm going to use one of the other ideas on here. --72.188.xxx.xxx

We've had luck with behind the door. And on side of vanity. If over the toilet they will remove them to put up an over the toliet space saving floor standing shelf thingy. And hook for towels work well. So does a strong attached shower rod. Don't get cheap there. --172.56.xx.xxx

If you put the towel bar in the shower the tenant may well use it as a grab bar. A towel bar is not designed to be a grab bar and it may well give way,causing injury. You would be liable because you set a trap for the tenant by installing a "grab bar" that was not the correct product. Having something perceived to be a safety aid that gives way is worse than not having anything at all. --73.141.xxx.xx