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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 specializing 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. Again there are moorings here with small boatyards and marina's that may take you if you keep a low profile.
If you are lucky enough to find a suitable mooring then you will find that the mooring fee's you pay are quite high reflecting the fact you are in London. Do your sums well as you may find that it could be cheaper or around the same cost of a flat !!
If you are prepared to commute into London then you will not have much trouble finding suitable moorings and at a lot cheaper price. Look around at Rivers and Canals out of London and you could find somewhere that suits you.
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!
Reproduced from www.thames-tideway.co.uk with thanks to John Kennett
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