Finding an affordable place to live on land is hard enough. Now, those who call canals and rivers home face being priced out of the water after plans came into effect to start increasing licence fees by up to 75%.
Houseboats have long been the reserve of those living alternative lifestyles, but in recent years young people and families have flocked to them as rents across the country, especially in London, have soared.
“In London, people just can’t afford to live in houses any more,” said Max Granger, 30, who has lived on a narrowboat by Victoria Park for two years. “There is a lot more young families and people on boats than you would think. Some made the move because they were interested in boats, others because of high rents.”
The Canal & River Trust (CRT) is introducing a surcharge for “continuous cruisers” of up to 75% above the standard fee over the next five years for the largest boats. These are people who can temporarily moor along canals and rivers as long as they move every two weeks. All boat licence fees will increase above inflation year on year, with surcharges for continuous cruisers and wider boats.
Granger said the increase would not massively affect him, but for others it will be devastating. Andrea, 41, a psychotherapist, has lived on boats for 10 years. She is a single parent to a seven-year-old son. “It’s his home, he loves it. It’s what he’s known his whole life,” she said.
About two and a half years ago, she had a stroke. “I was still able to have a roof over my head because I lived on a boat,” she said. In the years since, she has had to work part-time due to post-stroke fatigue, which has hit her income.
On its website, the CRT recommends continuous cruising licences for those with no geographical ties, excluding those with children attending school. Andrea said the CRT had told her to permanently moor her boat, the cost of which can creep into the thousands of pounds every month. A continuous cruising licence costs on average under £200 a month. “I can’t afford a home mooring because there aren’t any affordable ones available,” she said.
She said it was “terrifying” to think about what she would do when the rising fees came into effect. “Am I someone who could afford to live in accommodation as a single parent? No. I can’t imagine being able to rent somewhere for me and my child. Not with prices in London.”
Toby Osmond, an actor, bought a boat five years ago after receiving an inheritance payment. At first, his yearly costs came in at under £1,000. “Now a six-month licence costs about a grand,” he said. “The CRT keeps changing the goalpost, it’s like having a cowboy landlord!” He previously lived in house shares and, most recently, in an east London warehouse.
The CRT is responsible for maintaining rivers and canals in England and Wales. “They haven’t done the requisite maintenance,” said Osmond. “We get rid of trees floating in the river. Earlier today I was fishing out plastic.”
Those who live along canals and rivers also act as a watchful eye for people passing by, especially at night. “We’ve stopped crime. About 20 to 30 years ago, when there were less boats here, you wouldn’t think of stepping foot on a towpath. Now, because there’s people here, it’s a lot safer,” he said.
Osmond said that those working in the arts who are yet to find their feet will be losing another form of housing that enables them to be in the country’s cultural capitals. As for his own plans, he is retraining to work in construction to keep up with the costs. “I’m hoping I can keep on acting, and compared to other people I know I’m doing pretty well, but it’s just becoming untenable,” he said.
The CRT said: “As the cost of looking after the canal network spirals, we must raise money from all sources. Boats are central to the network and we try to keep their contribution affordable – the average licence costs around £850 a year.
“We are, however, asking those with wider boats and those who use the network most to pay slightly more. We will do all we can to support those struggling wherever possible and have a welfare support team who can help boaters who are facing financial difficulties or other challenges.”
• The headline and text of this article were amended on 19 April 2024. An earlier version referred to “mooring fees”, when the article relates to licence fees.
