We live on cramped boats to save on soaring rents - the highs & lows for Brits living on water

THEY can endure a constant battle with damp and mould, freezing temperatures at night and having to up sticks to move every two weeks.
But increasing numbers of Brits in UK cities, including London and Bristol, are rejecting sky-high rents and shoddy landlords to live on houseboats instead.
Canal-based liveaboards are mooring two-deep across London, where the cost of living has become unbearable.
Spiritual life coach Rhiannon Faulkner snapped up hers in a bid to save money so she could pay for her talented teenage son’s golf lessons.
Mum-of-five Rhiannon, 51, said: “It was literally the cost of renting that forced me to do this.
“We were in Berkshire before, paying £1,200 a month for a two-bedroom house.
“It’s ridiculous money and you double your outgoings with all the bills.
“So I’ve gone up the river. My children think I’m completely mad because I don’t know what I’m doing. Also, I’ve had a lifelong fear of water since falling into a canal when I was a child.
“But I’m just learning as I go along.”
Rhiannon's son Dan Faulker, 17, is an apprentice at Windlesham Golf Club in Surrey and his proud mum called her boat ‘The 19th Hole’ in honour of his late father.
The term refers to the clubhouse where golfers gather for the obligatory drink after a round.
But, having bought her London-based narrowboat two-and-a-half years ago, life has been far from smooth sailing.
Earlier this month, she developed a serious infection that required emergency treatment.
But after a seven hour battle to moor, she only made it to hospital thanks to the calm thinking of her daughter Steph Faulker, 28, who lives in a house in Hertfordshire.
Rhiannon added: "I developed an infection from a biopsy and the GP said, ‘Get yourself to A&E.’
“But I couldn’t find anywhere to moor the boat - I still need to learn how to manoeuvre this thing. I ended up driving around for seven hours. I have never cried so much.
“We went through two tunnels, one of which was dark and took 20 minutes to navigate. I bashed the side into a wall.
“We ended up in the middle of a protest at one point.
“I did get to hospital but I couldn’t have done it without Steph, who calmed me down and called an uber once I reached dry land."
Rhiannon says moving to a boat was a huge decision but makes financial sense.
“I bought this for £43,000 using a 10-year marine mortgage, which costs £500 a month as the interest is extortionate.
“My gas bill for the year is £90 and I don’t use electricity as my dad put on solar panels the other week.
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[@Whosetheworst]

Shame on the English and Australian Governments for not doing nearly enough to solve the housing crisis.

[@JimTimber]

I concur !!

[@user-hs9ep7jx4s]

Immigration

[@lucylane7397]

There isn’t an English government. Just a uk government with devolved governments in Scotland wales and northern Ireland

[@user-hs9ep7jx4s]

@@lucylane7397 Ohhhh...get lost

[@scdhl4]

Maybe you should get lost​@@user-hs9ep7jx4s- because there comment is 100 percent correct.

[@BIBIWCICC]

Wait for the new water taxes!

[@Geezuznotcomingforu]

Not being able to leave your boat unattended would suck.

[@TheBillaro]

this surprised me, then didn't. sad state of affairs, and she doesn't feel safe.

[@brianferguson7840]

Here in France there are no river licences to pay for or mooring charges in the canals. Locks have pontoons with free electricity and water, as do most towns and villages to attract visitors.

[@leegarrett5469]

Do you get people living at and hogging the facilities? What's the incentive to keep people moving? In London it's a real problem of overcrowding and there are not enough facilities?

[@MidnightHero64]

In France it will end up like motorhome parking, it used to be great and when it Became very popular some aires were closed and some very restricted, I understand why they became strict as wee seen people take over trash the place leave rubbish lying around which upsets the locals and the municipal police

[@carlteacherman194]

The VNF does charge (except 'bateaux verts) for navigation but nothing like the UK. In Paris I found the mooring charges were on average about half that of London. I very nearly brought my narrowboat to France.

[@elelegidosf9707]

But you're surrounded by the French, though. Swings and roundabouts.

[@carlteacherman194]

@@elelegidosf9707 A few swing bridges but no roundabouts that I know of.

[@chrisaddlesee4664]

I live on a 45ft Narrowboat in Lincoln on a CRT Residential mooring, Have a electric hook-up, gas bottle and tap outside the boat to fill water tank up. It really is a great way of life and the biggest and best benefit of this lifestyle is Community!! We all get on great, well 95%, Just like anywhere you get bad people. On my boat called Rosie I have everything i need, Full size lpg cooker, Log burner, Full size shower and fridge, Wifi etc! and the world is my garden!!!

[@GeremySidebeak]

Is there any resource for people thinking about doing this like any good Reddit pages or sites.

[@Storm.Z.4u]

You sound like you're trying to convince yourself

[@cornishhh]

Way to go!

[@TerryTerryTerry]

Sounds great.

[@davidbrettle4547]

@@Storm.Z.4u We don't need to convince ourselves. I live on a boat on the river. My home is 55m2 , I have a gas bill of £49.50 every 6 months, the fuel for my wood burner floats down the river and I stock pile it, cut it up with my cordless chainsaw, and burn it! Perfect recycling. My water is included in my mooring fee and no standing charge. I have solar, and shore power for my electric, free car parking and gated security! What's not to like, I hardly think I need to convince myself, do you? I guess envy hurts though and that chip on your shoulder must really be getting you down?

[@JimTimber]

Sounds like a tough but rewarding life on the water.. I expect that the community is strong !!

[@SteveJones-gz4vd]

This is the new underclass, when canals were used for transport, hundreds of thousands of canal people lived and worked on boats like this

[@mikewingert5521]

‘Underclass’???? These are all trendy middle class posh types ……..it’s only temporary for these types….

[@SteveJones-gz4vd]

@@mikewingert5521 ooo errr

[@petewood5097]

No you are wrong , hundreds of thousands did not live and work on boats. There are more boats on the canals now than in the height of the working boat days. Easy to look up and get your facts right.

[@mikewingert5521]

@@petewood5097 You’re absolutely correct. The usual modern silly exaggeration.

[@SteveJones-gz4vd]

@@petewood5097 lol, I live next to a canal , your a deluded foolz

[@user-vk8nb4ck8n]

Bloody marvelous. Well done to everyone 😊

[@salad7776]

how moisture will affect the body in 20 years? 🤔

[@edwardteach5917]

I've been living on my boat for 6 years now. Best thing I ever did.

[@ablamill8357]

14 year old son building a bathroom from youtube is what's great about this generation!

[@user-tu4qg1hq1i]

Maybe the way you raised him is what's great, 👍

[@georgethompson453]

The sad thing is many of these are not boat savvy they just live on boats and don’t move much so the hulls don’t get properly maintained. The boats are only 6mm steel plate on the sides and they rust and suffer from electrolytic attack from poorly maintained electrical systems. City centres such as London have no facilities to maintain these boats and there are increasing sightings of sunken craft.

[@Yo-Two]

Yep, and these guys are not moving or taking their boat out of the canal for maintenance because they will lose their space instantly. So instead, they will just stay there until the boat rusts away.

[@Yo-Two]

Yep, and these guys are not moving or taking their boat out of the canal for maintenance because they will lose their space instantly. So instead, they will just stay there until the boat rusts away.

[@QAYWSXEDCCXYDSAEWQ]

I looked into this 40 years ago, they mentioned all the real challenges, it's cold, damp and insecure. OK if your 20-40, ideally work from home, beyond that I imagine the environment really doesn't work well for you. I know mosquito's love these sort of environments too, so as the world warms up, they might be an issue.

[@joshiewhite]

Lots of old boaters. Have you ever been on the river? Its all gray!

[@TheBillaro]

@@joshiewhite i wonder how they deal with the issues raised.

[@shoedesigner]

It’s only cold, damp and insecure if you’re new to it and don’t know what you’re doing. 18 years onboard for us this year. Absolutely love my boat.

[@angelalayton5111]

Don't forget about the rats!!!

[@wmtrader]

This type of thing is happening in every country with high immigration. UK, Aus, USA, Canada.

[@danielcunningham6727]

I think you mean greedy landlords?

[@moosky7344]

People are being displaced and replaced by millions arriving

[@moosky7344]

​@@danielcunningham6727greedy because they can whilst there's supply and demand severe problems. Even with a rent cap, still won't be enough accommodation for the millions arriving, unless people each take someone in, maybe let them live in their loft or spare room. Or put a small shed in their garden for the new arrivals, they'll be able to get rich from the rents

[@salad7776]

newcomers from pontoons live in four-star hotels 😂

[@svans6725]

Many of us do it also for the lifestyle, not just for lack of alternatives

[@kobrapromotions]

Im in the process of purchasing a largesail boat with out partner. We plan on working the next year or two renovating it then sailing away for as long as possible with our children and trying to give them the best life, see the world, learn language and culture. It's not just cost of living, its policies, the woke, politics and the state of the west in general, its the overall decline of the west. Im Australian.

[@stormywindmill]

-------- Good Luck.

[@livenotonevil8279]

Fascinating interview!

[@hughgrection5674]

It won’t be long until the government find ways to stitch these poor people up 🤔

[@user-xn7mi2gb3d]

I wonder who lives in all the flats around the marina?... people arrive on a boat=free accommodation & food.. irony?

[@karenlouisefletcher5719]

Gosh when I see this I realise how lucky we are on our boat. We have a widebeam so it’s much more spacious. We have a multi fuel stove that makes the boat so hot in winter we have to open the window. Plus radiators if we don’t want to make a fire. And electric blankets. We sit in the wheelhouse in summer watching birdlife and fish jumping out the water. We have every gadget in the kitchen from a high speed blender to an airfryer. I wouldn’t want to live in a house unless I had to.

[@stevenchan3822]

I lived in a narrow boat for 1.5 years. The winter is absolutely brutal.

[@Filkersons]

Only if you’re a worm

[@lynnalexander9674]

I love my boat in winter. So cosy!

[@patriciavandevelde5469]

Everybody on a boat! Boycott the landlord!

[@tomjones8715]

Are you having a laugh?

[@Storm.Z.4u]

Pay for your own house boycotts the landlord

[@tomjones8715]

@@Storm.Z.4u boycott section 24 you mean?

[@Storm.Z.4u]

@@tomjones8715 Stick to singing

[@tomjones8715]

@@Storm.Z.4u 😂 not my fault my parents had a sense of humour! I’d strongly suggest taking note of what I’m saying though. Section 24 of the finance act…2015. The Tory’s are screwing renters …and the poor. Guess that’s hard to believe hey!

[@stormywindmill]

Cold and damp? not if you get a Webasto or Ebaspacer diesel powered heating system installed, cheap to run (legally ) on red diesel, no more polluting than wood or LPG.

[@TobyCostaDunkin]

As a ven dweller, we dont half think that a boat would be a nice upgrade

[@DavideoSolar]

I live in my slide on camper/truck camper during the week and on my 50yo fibreglass yacht over the weekend. I love it. Renting in Australia is impossible.

[@richardmeo2503]

Same problem in the states.

[@greg_thomson]

Problem is the uk revolves around London when it should be better distributed

[@pleasantville4529]

The levelling up secretary is Michael Gove, and he has done quite a sh*tty job, and has announced his retirement from politics after the election.

[@andreflavell3453]

the western world dosnt want us on boats . i live on a yacht with my dog . the only thing missing is a free spirit woman

[@nativestrong7253]

Suitable for people that work from home.

[@gazman2626]

Nobody is talking about the lack of marina's and moorings 🤷‍♀️

[@claudethibaudeau2714]

They should call that... Longboat Lane lol. Canada is becoming ridiculous with housing costs as well.

[@nightjarflying]

They're called narrow boats, longboats are for Vikings

[@RayzrBlazer]

@2:10 if his prop was that fire, surely he could afford a house?

[@ichibanmanekineko]

And ive just seen a video of a new arrival complaining that her council house didnt have parking........

[@TerryTerryTerry]

Volume too low.

[@michaelhoran407]

The problem is sewage pollution from all of these sailing yachts, narrow boats and barges. It’s especially bad on San Francisco Bay at Sausalito, California. Add to the sewage feces condoms and syringes. This also wipes out marine wildlife.

[@adamaitken1228]

Sewage is disposed off on shore at set points. Never pumped into the water.

[@user-ow3xu3go1g]

Thet are freer on their own, wish I could do this

[@icooper5236]

I wanted a multi fuel burner but have a diesel much easier

[@Sugarmountaincondo]

Otherwise known as "Canal Boats".

[@GeremySidebeak]

Us english need to return to the water in more ways than one anyway and redominate the oceans

[@coldpotatoes2556]

Its not a housing crisis, its the collapse of the dollar. Recession. They just don't wanna sell it as that. A 200 gram pack of chips/crisps in Australia is as high as $8 dollars in the supermarket.

[@aleksklochko]

Have you ever visited Australia?

[@johnfranks9271]

What about the sanitary arrangements is it just dumped over the side of the boat.

[@alanjennings3584]

No its not there are pump out facilities all around the canal network

[@Storm.Z.4u]

@@alanjennings3584 And they then dump it into the canal

[@Storm.Z.4u]

Of course, saves going to pump out stations that charge money

[@mikehurley5052]

@@Storm.Z.4u Water companys do it every day.

[@margaretwilliams3504]

@@Storm.Z.4u It goes into the main drain. Same as the waste from houses.

[@sqiggle]

Absolutely crazy

[@123gazs]

if i could afford to buy and live on a narrowboat i would do the same thing as these people have,

[@anthony-1357]

That would be a cool way to live and would allow you to save for a deposit. I had to work a second job in a hostel to get accomodation so I could save up. Think I would have preferred the boat. Not sure its legal in Australia. We have enough problems with vagrants living in vans without extending the problem to the waterways.

[@RobWright1981]

Awful sound quality in this package.

[@mrmeldrew693]

Yay. Progress. Another million or so more people in the next 12 months will help.....

[@patriciaprevost7356]

Where does the waste go?

[@Storm.Z.4u]

Into the canal

[@Slowly_traveling]

There are points along the canal provided by the canal & river trust/canal company (depending which area you’re in) where you can get rid of rubbish, empty toilets, top up water etc

[@Acto22]

Excuses !What about those free hotels?

[@tricia4900]

To they pay to moor?

[@nb.silverfern1]

You have to have a licence to be on the water, around £1200 a year depending on length, as well as insurance. If you don't have a registered mooring (costs vary according to length again but average £3000 a year) you are supposed to move every 2 weeks. You don't pay an additional amount for just mooring on the towpath.

[@charlie125125uk]

Where are they pumping out there toilet? That’s the only negative thing

[@Clan501-Scotland]

MY son has chosen a career as a golfer 😂😂😂😂

[@merkeet]

This is all according the plan of some not to mention three letter organisations.

[@DanMan-we9qf]

Spiritual life coach ......? Celine Dion top?

[@everythingeverywhereanyone]

All would be best moving to towns

[@thewaywardgrape3838]

Always remember: These people, the people in vehciles, caravans, living with their folks - all essentially homeless.

[@maddyg3208]

Houseless does not equal homeless

[@micbite]

Save money ? The initial costs Involved with living on a boat means you've had a good life good enough to afford the lifestyle. These stories are about middle class people with a pocket full of coins

[@vagabund6778]

fascinating tattoo this lad

[@gaty5074]

junk newspaper

[@markbaker8894]

The issue with posts like this are that they paint a picture whereby it is assumed that you simply buy a boat and move onboard. As a continuous cruiser you are bound by the terms of your license, you are required to move every 14 days (maximum duration or as per the stipulated length of time per mooring). Many especially in and around London seem to think moving a 100 metres or so is acceptable. If you have to be in place for work or school then options are to have a residential mooring which will incur additional costs on top of the annual license fee (which is different if you are a CCer or have a home mooring). One of the main reasons CRT are hiking the CC license fee is due to the continuous moorers who clog popular moorings persistently. I am a CCer and abide to the terms, it is a great way of life but should not be seen as simply an alternative form of cheap housing. Many will find that life on the waterways can be hard especially in winter, it is not for the feint hearted. If you want water, fuel, gas or coal or to dispose of sewage then you move to get these (With the exception of the fantastic fuel boats that service some of the network)

[@dallassukerkin6878]

Just a cautionary note, given some of the prices that were mentioned in this piece, a decent new boat can easily cost you a quarter of a million. The prices exploded with the problems around COVID - easily a fifty percent price hike for older second-hand boats. And living on a boat is no romantic idyll - essentially imagine it as being camping and think if you want to do that, on water, for the rest of your life.

[@wonderingworld119]

LOL a quarter of a million for a decent boat. I just got mine had a great survey done on her, £28k It depends what you want to start out with. If you are like the couple in this video, started with an oven and nothing else, then you ain't paying a quarter of a million,

[@philelliott5327]

Spoken like someone who has never stepped on or owned a narrowboat. If it is not in your sphere of knowledge why comment??

[@dallassukerkin6878]

@@philelliott5327 What an odd thing to comment. There's nothing factually incorrect in what I said. Away with you now before I call the police, weirdo.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

@@wonderingworld119 Well that is, of course, true. I erred on the side of too much brevity and neglected to cover the broad spectrum that there is from Barely-Afloat to Fitted-Out-New-build.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

@@philelliott5327 I tried to reply, Phil, but apparently the KZbinz doesn't get humorous banter. Sorry - no funny exchanges allowed today :( In the OP I was just putting forward the other side of the Life-is-cheap-on-the-water story. Those top end prices are legitimate for new, fitted out, builds and the inflation in the prices of second hand boats is likewise real. There's a good reason why I haven't bought one ... I missed the boat :D

[@mikewingert5521]

Middle class ‘uni’ kids…..’spiritual life coach’……’costume maker’….’fire prop maker’…….so convenient to attend a pro Palestine march too…😂😂😂. Not the lot of the working classes. No sympathy.

[@everythingeverywhereanyone]

No money for rent but can afford expensive boat

[@funnyfaces3849]

Move out of London then ridiculous… People want to be edgy live the London life…move any other city these people would be affording a nice apartment

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

That’s not a lot. I pay $1800 for a two bedroom.

[@ooloncolluphid5299]

Salaries are lower in the U.K. compared to the USA.

[@tricia4900]

Peopoe pay to moor their boat in a nice area..that place looks like a migrant camp

[@nb.silverfern1]

Sadly nimbys in nice areas don't want boats spoiling their view.

[@JT-es8tw]

Just get on benefits everything free.

[@dewetmaartens359]

Refugees welcome, lol.

[@bid84]

“lol” 🤡

[@DMBall]

Why choose to live in an expensive city that is beyond your means? Do you really think the law of supply and demand is going to make an exception for you?

[@Yo-Two]

Because salaries are better there. Obviously.

[@eddyrunip]

For average or below average pay incomes and students everywhere is expensive. People live where they live for numerous reasons. There’s some seriously ignorant people making seriously ignorant comments when it comes to the housing crisis. But as long as they’re alright …..

[@malcolmdeboo3794]

Too many foreigners

[@kamilrejman1724]

buehehehehehehe more more migrants