HayleyD

Thanks for your help all. My budget won't be huge - £35k tops really because I'll be needing to spend quite a lot to moor within commuting distance of central London, whether it be in West London, Surrey, or Oxfordshire at a push. In terms of what I'm looking for, well hopefully I'll know it when I see it! I'll consider anything that's ready to inhabit. So if the boat or houseboat comes attached to a residential mooring then I'll be one happy welsh woman I'm looking at a houseboat next week and am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it's not sold in the meantime, but if that doesn't come off then my search will continue. I just want to be somewhere where I can launch a kayak from my doorstep, that is my dream. Melodramatic I know but hey ho.

Hello all, having come to the conclusion that there are very few houseboats and narrowboats out there to rent long term, I'm taking the plunge and looking to buy earlier than I'd intended. Apart from the obvious costs like mortgage, mooring fees, and council tax, what other costs will I have to consider? Hayley

Thanks for your advice everyone. Basically I'm looking to rent on a trial basis before going down the mortgage route. I've started walking along tow paths and looking for the 'To Rent' signs, and had considered posting flyers but thought that I might get a name for myself as a bit of a nutter if I started trying too hard However, I'm from South Wales originally and have no pride, so flyers it shall be. Of course, please feel free to contact me if you do hear of anything in the Greater London, Surrey, possibly Oxford area - think of it as networking! Hayley

Many thanks for the welcome :-) I know that most boat owners choose to sell rather than rent their boats, but I'd rather rent for a wee while to begin with, not least so that I've got some time to raise the capital for a deposit. I'm planning on taking an inland waterways helmsman's course early next year, and I will persevere until I find a boat :-) It doesn't have to be a 70 footer - just something big enough for me to live on in comfort. Hayley

I'd like to rent a boat to live on for at least a year, within commuting distance of London because I work in the centre. I can't really afford to pay more than £650 pcm maximum - is this being realistic? I want to do this alone and so have to stick to a budget. My partner is in the process of buying a house and so can't afford to join me in this venture, or adventure, unfortunately. Do you think I'd be able to find something for this sort of money, or should I wait until I win the lottery?! Incidentally, if anyone does know of anything that might be out there then please do get in touch. I'm a professional female who enjoys the outdoors life - one of my goals is to be able to keep a kayak on a boat, and eventually on my boat, but I need to be able to try the lifestyle out for size before I take the plunge and buy.