Re-tiling the shower/tub area: need advice on best tenant tile?

[Roderick McCleary]

Hi All -

I bought my first rental property 3yrs ago and have come to notice lots of "bandaids" around the two units I purchased which has led me to having to renovate more than originally anticipated.

The good news is, the new reno projects I've been doing look great and bring the units back into the 21st century which has allowed me to increase my rents over time. The latest project I am about to embark on is pulling out the existing vinyl tile on the shower/tub wall and replacing it with new tile.

Question for BP: as a Landlord, what is the best type of backsplash material for a shower/tub project? I originally was going to do a tile but then someone mentioned to me Vinyl would work well since it is a rental.

Any guidance here? Ideally I'd like whatever material looks the best/is the most durable/affordable! Thank you in advance.