Resourceful Londoners faced with insurmountable barriers to homeownership are finding increasingly offbeat ways to carve out a life in the capital, with the most adventurous moving into renovated vans, buses and even a skip.
But there is one tight-knit community that has long provided an alternative to the traditional housing market – though potential converts may need to take a generous view of compost toilets and capsule wardrobes.
Few of us who have strolled down a canal on a sunny day have not wondered about life aboard a houseboat, surely an endless loop of sunbathing, sailing and tending to a pretty towpath garden.
Houseboats are exempt from stamp duty, but are not mortgageable through traditional channels – which means they often change hands between boaters.
Monthly bills are likely to be far lower once on board, but there are also hidden costs involved, including marina fees that can rival the ground rent on a luxury new build.
Dwindling permanent moorings meaning those sold with a residential lease can command tens of thousands of pounds more, with those lacking such a lease restricted to ‘continuous cruising’.
Would-be buyers should read terms carefully, as some agreements – like leisure licenses – restrict the number of days a week that an owner can live aboard.
Not dissuaded? We’ve rounded up 20 of the best houseboats for sale now, from bijou fishing boats to floating mansions with all the mod cons.
Paddington, W10
£15,200
A compact river cruiser with a resourceful layout, including a fully fitted kitchen, shower room and chemical toilet, plus ‘winter proof’ bedroom with powerful heating. Currently based near Paddington, ‘Charlie V’ is being sold without a mooring.
Apollo Duck
Nr Hampton Court, KT8
£65,000
A classic Dutch barge with an eye-catching exterior and new wood flooring, though in need of some cosmetic improvements. Sold without a mooring, the boat features an Aga and a second stove, plus a generator ‘ideal for off-grid and extended cruising’.
eBay
Limehouse Marina, E14
£75,000
This neutrally-decorated narrow boat has a galley-style kitchen, small rear deck and fully transferable residential mooring at Limehouse Marina. As a sweetener, the wall-mounted television and Dyson vacuum cleaner is included in the sale.
Aquavista, 0207 308 9930
St Katharine Docks, E1W
£80,000
Available furnished or unfurnished, this recently refurbished houseboat is moored on an annual rolling contract at St Katharine Docks, near Tower Bridge. A former owner, the filmmaker and artist David Buckland, sailed her around the Mediterranean.
Gumtree
Swan Island Harbour, Twickenham, TW1
£80,000
Sold with a residential mooring, ‘Coriander’ has ‘unrestricted views’ across the river to Ham Lands Nature Reserve. As the bed, sofa and storage are built in, the boat effectively comes furnished, and there’s a woodburning stove as well as mains electricity.
Apollo Duck
Limehouse Marina, E14
£149,000
This ‘virtually new’ two-year-old widebeam cruiser has been subject to a stylish contemporary fit out, including woodburning stove, breakfast bar and a bedroom with built-in storage that’s a better size than most. It’s docked in Limehouse, but is being sold without a mooring.
Aquavista, 0207 308 9930
Cheyne Walk Moorings, Chelsea, SW10
£150,000
Split over two levels without enough space to carve out a permanent second bedroom, bright ‘Chelsea Muse’ has a front garden, balcony and generous sun deck. Residents at Cheyne Walk are covered by a night watchman, CCTV and an on-site maintenance team.
River Homes, 020 7407 6000
Palmers Wharf, Kingston, KT1
£156,500
A bijou Scottish fishing boat with full residential mooring licence in perpetuity on this tranquil stretch of the Thames, plus precious access to a gym, bike shed and roof terrace at the nearby Charter Quays building. The wood-paneled interior is charming, if compact.
River Homes, 020 7407 6000
Regents Canal, Little Venice, W9
£160,000
This slender narrow boat is arranged as a studio, with the built-in seating area doubling as the bed – but the real selling point is its location beside a private tow path in Little Venice, with white stucco villas on all sides. The mooring is fully transferable.
Braithwait, 020 7289 8889
Poplar Dock Marina, E14
£215,000
A seven-year-old bespoke widebeam with an appealing outdoor seating area, partially covered by a canopy. As well as the main bedroom, there’s a sofa bed and pull out bed. It’s being brought into Poplar Dock Marina for viewings, but there’s no mooring available.
Aquavista, 0207 308 9930
Chelsea Harbour, SW10
£245,000
This attractive two-bedroom Humber Keel barge, moored two minutes from Imperial Wharf station, has a large canopied deck and solid wood flooring. It’s available with a leisure license, which limits the amount of days per week that you can live on the boat.
River Homes, 020 7407 6000
Regents Canal, Little Venice, W9
£250,000
This idyllically located two-bedroom narrow boat, dubbed the Lady Venice, has successive assignability with the Canal and River Trust – meaning it can be sold with the mooring – plus an usual clause that stipulates no other boats can berth adjoining the vessel.
Braithwait, 020 7289 8889
Kensal Green Moorings, W10
£250,000
A wide beam barge which is moored on a private, gated towpath on the Grand Union Canal for added peace of mind. As well as two bedrooms and a good-size living area, it comes with a sweet stretch of garden on the towpath, which the current owner has kept in good nick.
River Homes, 020 7407 6000
Greenland Dock, Surrey Quays, SE16
£275,000
This open-plan barge comes with a residential mooring in Surrey Quays, which is well-placed for the interchange at Canada Water. The bathroom is unusually large – and comes with a full-size bath – plus there’s potential to add a second bedroom.
Peach Properties, 020 7739 6969
Albion Quay, Battersea, SW11
£425,000
This one bedroom restored Dutch barge has a contemporary birch plywood clad interior, courtesy of the current owners. They’ve also installed a woodburning stove, a reclaimed floor and a kitchen with concrete worktops. It comes with a residential mooring.
River Homes, 020 7407 6000
Blackwall Basin, Canary Wharf, E14
£475,000
A two-level Dutch barge with an impressive 1,800 sq ft of living space, which includes three bedrooms and a large roof terrace accessed from the open plan kitchen. A recent renovation has seen the exterior painted anthracite grey and slick copper and brass panels installed.
Peach Properties, 020 7739 6969
Plantation Wharf, Battersea, SW11
£650,000
This clearly well-loved barge, dubbed ‘Jannette’, has an enviable 120-year residential lease on Battersea’s Plantation Wharf, which has a 24-hour concierge service. Inside are two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a living space, plus a smaller room that could be used as a study.
River Homes, 020 7407 6000
Prospect Moorings, Wandsworth, SW18
£1.75 million
A luxurious five bedroom, four bathroom houseboat with more than 3,000 square feet of living space, plus access to a pool, gym and parking at nearby Prospect Quay. Available with a residential mooring, its interior includes traditional trimmings like dark wood paneling.
Sothebys, 020 4586 7137
St Katharine Docks, E1W
£2.5 million
This 1920s coal barge has 5,000 square feet of bright, contemporary interiors, including five bedrooms, a sauna and a striking sunken seating area arranged around a suspended woodburner. There is a large open deck with a glazed atrium-style area for socialising.
Dexters, 020 7650 5350
Clove Hitch Quay, Battersea, SW11
£2.5 million
A remarkable converted barge with glamorous, high spec interiors, including inlaid wood flooring, ornate cornicing and a curved staircase, plus four bedrooms and three bathrooms. It’s being sold with a 117-year mooring agreement for this sought-after Battersea quay.
