Living in London can often be very expensive - but just because you live in the capital doesn't mean you should pay extortionate prices every month.
That's why some people have taken the bold decision to live on a boat.
It's believed there are more than 5,000 registered houseboats in London, with many seemingly choosing life on water instead of land.
Russ McDonagh is one of many boatowners currently living on Regent's Canal, with the 40-year-old admitting he hasn't looked back since taking the plunge in October 2021.
Speaking to MyLondon he said: "Me and my partner, Cal, were travelling around Europe for two and a half years and decided we wanted to come back to the UK. We aren't originally from London so buying a boat in London was a curious decision but we are really happy with it.
"Traveling in a small van with two dogs gets really tight. Living in a boat feels like a mansion compared to it. Once we came back we were working on our businesses and Cal thought, 'should we get a boat?' At first, I was like 'no chance' but the more we looked into it, the more it felt right."
He added: "We're not into houses and the whole idea of a mortgage, being in debt or renting and paying someone else's mortgage. There are no real overheads and we get to live in London without paying the astronomical fees - it really feels like we are winning in a way.
"Of course, there are a few more challenges living on a boat than a house but we enjoy it. You are more aware of waste and have to be conscious of how much water we use. When it gets cold, we'd get a fire going - these are all things we wouldn't think about in a house and I enjoy that aspect of living on a boat."
Paul Lietar, originally from France, has lived in London for the last six years and started living on his boat three years ago. The 25-year-old software engineer said: "While studying and going through university, I lived in nine different places in six years. After uni, I couldn't afford a place to live by myself and living with flatmates started to get too much. I wanted a change so I decided to buy a boat.
"I've had the boat for three years and it's the longest I've been in the same place for that long. I get to invest in making the boat better and that's not something I'd want to do if I was renting and it wasn't my own property. I get to fix up the boat and build stuff and if you're someone who enjoys that, then it's perfect."
Newer London boaters often start on a “continuous cruiser” licence — considerably cheaper than a permanent mooring. Under the terms of the licence, the boat must not remain in any one spot for more than two weeks, meaning owners get to see different areas of the city every year.
Paul added: "Once you get through the initial costs of getting the boat and licenses, it's so much cheaper than renting in London. I get to see different parts of London and that is an option I wouldn't get if I had to get a mortgage or sign a contract. I've stayed in Hackney, Islington, Paddington and Orpington."
However, as most boats' electricity comes via solar panels, sunlight is an essential part of their running, and this can sometimes be a problem when living in the UK.
"When I first got the boat, I had one small solar panel that powered the electrics and I was nervous about charging my laptop. I'd usually charge it in the office and that would be enough," Paul said.
"When Covid hit, however, it was really stressful. Having to work from home and constantly using electricity, there were times I was worried I wouldn't be able to work.
"Nobody could have seen this coming but I may have waited till after Covid to initially get a boat. During lockdown and not having any flatmates, it was tough being stuck in a 12sqm box but other than that, I’d do it again in a heartbeat."
Helen Brice, 55, has more experience of living on a boat having first started doing so 13 years ago. Throughout her time mooring on London's waterways, she has seen a lot.
Helen said: "The reason I decided to live on a boat was that I like to be unconventional. You have a sense of freedom of being able to move the boat whenever you want but it is also infuriating because it’s like living in an old car, there are always things to worry about like dampness and condensation. It gets into everything."
Dhruv Kumar, 31 and his partner moved into their boat last year and said they have been able to save up more money than if they had bought a house.
Dhruv: "We definitely save money living on a boat compared to being in a house. The only big expenses are usually if something goes wrong but apart from that, it's pretty manageable.
"I’ve always been fascinated by boats and remember visiting one of our friends who lived on a boat and we said 'let's do it'. If at any point you feel like it’s not for you, you can just sell it and move on.
"The big difference from living on a boat is the toilet situation. We have a compost toilet and someone comes every two weeks and collects it and then gives us a new bag - it’s not ideal but it makes you think about how much waste we have in everyday life."
