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Moorings : Residential moorings If you have struck upon the idea of a houseboat as being a cheap and easy way to find somewhere to live in London, then you are likely to be disappointed. There are a few places where residential moorings have been established. Some, such as the houseboats at Chelsea, are very obvious, others you might never find unless you knew where to look. However demand always exceeds supply, and when moorings do become available from time to time, they often change hands by word of mouth without being advertised. If you are determined to live afloat (and it can be well worth it if you are so inclined) then you ought to join the Residential Boat Owners Association. The RBOA campaigns for rights for residential boaters, and offers advice on moorings. It might also be worth contacting Virginia Currer, who is a broker specialising in residential boats and moorings in and around London. One alternative to finding an official residential mooring is to live aboard your boat in one of London's marinas. Most of them do not officially allow full time residence, but may be happy to tolerate it. Depending on the attitude of the management you may have to sneak about to a greater or lesser extent! Don't forget that living afloat in London doesn't necessarily mean the Thames. You might want to have a look at the canals too. In summary, if you really want to live on a boat in London you'll probably find a way. If you just think you've found a cheap and convenient alternative to a flat then you should think again! |
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The Tideway pages are maintained by John Kennett |