Fourteen boat owners were fined following a hearing at Staines magistrates court on Tuesday the 22nd of October, after it was found that they hadn’t paid their annual registration fee. The fee is determined by the length and width of the boat.
In a quote from MyLondon News, Colin Chiverton, manager of the Environment Agency, said that “this was a great day for the majority of Thames boat owners who register their vessel with us every year. Just like us, they’re fed up with seeing this unlawful behaviour take place on the river every year. We’re pleased with this outcome, and it sends a clear warning to all unregistered boat owners – it’s just not worth the risk.”
Despite this, one houseboat resident wasn’t convinced that the fines would deter people from avoiding the annual fees- ‘from my experience, lots of people I’ve met will just have a boat, don’t renew their license, don’t do anything and they get away with it for 6 or 7 years. I don’t think the fines really do a lot’.
According to floatinghomes.org, there are now over 4000 residential boats on London’s waterways, an 86% increase over the past 10 years.
So why are so many more people choosing to live on a houseboat? And do the benefits outweigh the potentially high costs?
We interviewed several houseboat residents who continuously voiced the sense of community on the river.
Kim, who lives in Hermitage Community Moorings in Tower Bridge said, ‘it’s a brilliant community, living on a boat somehow changes how you treat your neighbours because you need each other’ describing her home as ‘a village in the heart of London’.
Similarly, Kimon, a continuous cruiser across London, said ‘people always tend to share things, it’s a bit like living in a moving village in London, which is kind of surreal’.
Whilst houseboating was once seen as a cheaper alternative to conventional housing, the combination of licensing and mooring fees as well as complex maintenance issues have meant that it can be extremely costly.
Amber, a former houseboat resident who now works on the dock as a painter, emphasised the need for practical skills when living on the water, stating ‘you’ve either got to be quite handy or have a lot of money to pay handy people’.
As river life continues to attract new residents with its flexibility and vibrant atmosphere, the practicalities of houseboat living remain a challenge.
For Kim, the lifestyle is worth the upkeep and the hefty fees- ‘it’s going to wipe me out, financially and spiritually, but somehow it’s still worth it, I suppose it’s like a child.’
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HeadlineThames Houseboat owners fined thousands for not registering their boats-but do the benefits outweigh the costs?
Short HeadlineThames Houseboat owners fined thousands for not registering their boats
StandfirstBoat owners in Richmond have been hit with over £18,000 worth of fines for not registering their boats on the River Thames.
Fourteen boat owners were fined following a hearing at Staines magistrates court on Tuesday the 22nd of October, after it was found that they hadn’t paid their annual registration fee. The fee is determined by the length and width of the boat.
In a quote from MyLondon News, Colin Chiverton, manager of the Environment Agency, said that “this was a great day for the majority of Thames boat owners who register their vessel with us every year. Just like us, they’re fed up with seeing this unlawful behaviour take place on the river every year. We’re pleased with this outcome, and it sends a clear warning to all unregistered boat owners – it’s just not worth the risk.”
Despite this, one houseboat resident wasn’t convinced that the fines would deter people from avoiding the annual fees- ‘from my experience, lots of people I’ve met will just have a boat, don’t renew their license, don’t do anything and they get away with it for 6 or 7 years. I don’t think the fines really do a lot’.
According to floatinghomes.org, there are now over 4000 residential boats on London’s waterways, an 86% increase over the past 10 years.
So why are so many more people choosing to live on a houseboat? And do the benefits outweigh the potentially high costs?
We interviewed several houseboat residents who continuously voiced the sense of community on the river.
Kim, who lives in Hermitage Community Moorings in Tower Bridge said, ‘it’s a brilliant community, living on a boat somehow changes how you treat your neighbours because you need each other’ describing her home as ‘a village in the heart of London’.
Similarly, Kimon, a continuous cruiser across London, said ‘people always tend to share things, it’s a bit like living in a moving village in London, which is kind of surreal’.
Whilst houseboating was once seen as a cheaper alternative to conventional housing, the combination of licensing and mooring fees as well as complex maintenance issues have meant that it can be extremely costly.
Amber, a former houseboat resident who now works on the dock as a painter, emphasised the need for practical skills when living on the water, stating ‘you’ve either got to be quite handy or have a lot of money to pay handy people’.
As river life continues to attract new residents with its flexibility and vibrant atmosphere, the practicalities of houseboat living remain a challenge.
For Kim, the lifestyle is worth the upkeep and the hefty fees- ‘it’s going to wipe me out, financially and spiritually, but somehow it’s still worth it, I suppose it’s like a child.’
