Long-term renting a canal boat in St Neots, Cambridgeshire

[Iaonna Evans]

Hi everyone,

 

I am moving to St Neots in January and would like to rent a canal boat on a minimum 6-month lease. I have checked out some sites but have not had much luck.

Does anyone know of a website or anyone who would be good to speak to about this? 

 

Thank you in advance for your answers. 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Welcome to the forum. There is a reason why you've had trouble finding a website on this. Renting canal boats for a long term lease is not something that many do while complying with the rules the navigation authority make. It's not like renting a flat, or house.The river through St Neots is under Environment Agency control for navigation and they will have their own rules, likely different from the Canal River Trust ones I'm familiar with. Escape the Rat Race may be able to help. https://www.etrr.co.uk/

Beware of private, under the radar hires. Your legal protections in such arrangements are zero. Rivers can go in to flood and can be dangerous places to be if you are not on a mooring able to cope with flooding when it happens.

[pearley]

2 hours ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Rivers can go in to flood and can be dangerous places to be if you are not on a mooring able to cope with flooding when it happens.

The river has been in flood or caution for more days this year than it's been navigable. 

 

There are no companies on the Bedford Ouse that I know of that rent boats.

 

 

Edited November 30 by pearley

[Iaonna Evans]

Hello Jen, it's lovely to meet you all. Thank you for the advice and link. Thank you, Pearley, also. I have seen the flooding in this area. It seems. Right now, I don't live in the UK, and it has been over 10 years since returning. much has changed, including rental availability for housing, which has drastically reduced, not only the increase in rising costs. I am moving for work and need to be in St Neots by Mid-January. I think I may have to look at renting a static caravan for a short-term lease. 

[Tony Brooks]

39 minutes ago, Iaonna Evans said:

Hello Jen, it's lovely to meet you all. Thank you for the advice and link. Thank you, Pearley, also. I have seen the flooding in this area. It seems. Right now, I don't live in the UK, and it has been over 10 years since returning. much has changed, including rental availability for housing, which has drastically reduced, not only the increase in rising costs. I am moving for work and need to be in St Neots by Mid-January. I think I may have to look at renting a static caravan for a short-term lease. 

 

I think that depends upon what you mean by short term because often static caravan sites have conditions attached that preclude living on the 365 days a year or even 12 months of the year, many shut down for (say) January. However, a relative who had to move out while having massive house improvements done ended up living in a series of holiday lets, some of which were caravans, but I expect that would be fairly expensive. Certainly worth ringing a few site operators o see if a deal can be struck.

[MtB]

43 minutes ago, Iaonna Evans said:

I think I may have to look at renting a static caravan for a short-term lease. 

 

Why not rent a flat or small house? You can have a lease as short as six months here in the UK.

 

[pearley]

There are several of these floating homes for sale at Hartford Marina that have been on the market for several months. It might pay to approach the agents to see if you can rent one short term. 6 months money in the vendors pocket better than nothing.

[LadyG]

  I was unable to get past the idiot rental agency when i wanted to rent because i had no previous rental record.

I  wasted no more of my time dealing with this fool. I think the same flat was still available three months later. 

Edited November 30 by LadyG

[Crewcut]

I spent 3 years out of the UK & it was the devil's own job getting a rental after I got back. As per Lady G no rental record so ended up having to pay 6 months rent up front & 2 x deposit after a phone call with the landlord during which I reassured him that I was a responsible 40 something year old not a party animal & more likely to leave the flat in a better state than I found it than vice versa. If I was less confident/articulate I would have failed, as would I if I didn't have the funds of course. I think he thought I'd just come out of prison. That was in 2009, it's much worse now.

 

To the OP if you have a valid driving license and can provide an address (friend/relative?) I'd suggest getting a van...

[Iaonna Evans]

Thanks, everyone. At this point, I am looking for anything.  I don't have a UK driver's licence or any UK ID, apart from a passport, since I have been living in Asia for over 15 years. I have only been back once to the UK, and that was about 10 years ago.  It's going to be a bit of a culture shock for me. I am used to fast, cheap internet, excellent cheap transportation, and living in a hot country. I don't even possess a coat. 

 

However,  I am looking forward to some cool weather and to enjoying  British culture again. I miss the snow. I lived in Cambridge years ago and am very fond of this area. Due to not having a car, I will need to be cycling distance from work. The company I am working with have offered to help me out if I get stuck. I love all of those options. I didn't know about the houseboats. Will check them out. Thanks, everyone.

 

It will be an adventure to reintegrate again. I am looking forward to being able to buy cheese and decent Indian food and sit in a cosy pub by the fire wrapped up in a jumper! 

 

On another note, I noticed that different houses had different council tax bands, I guess that is something to watch out for.  I have seen properties listed under A or B. I need to do some research. Back in the day it was Poll Tax, I wonder if anyone remembers that?  

13 hours ago, Crewcut said:

I spent 3 years out of the UK & it was the devil's own job getting a rental after I got back. As per Lady G no rental record so ended up having to pay 6 months rent up front & 2 x deposit after a phone call with the landlord during which I reassured him that I was a responsible 40 something year old not a party animal & more likely to leave the flat in a better state than I found it than vice versa. If I was less confident/articulate I would have failed, as would I if I didn't have the funds of course. I think he thought I'd just come out of prison. That was in 2009, it's much worse now.

 

To the OP if you have a valid driving license and can provide an address (friend/relative?) I'd suggest getting a van...

Wow, that's mad!  Maybe by claiming to be an illegal immigrant, I will get a phone and a place to stay for free (Joking). 

[Bod]

Houseboats in Hartford marina, won't be cycling distance to St Neots.  Ok for train from Huntingdon to St Neots, but cycle need at both ends.

 

Bod

PS, Rather than a rental, a long term B&B arangement, would allow you time to settle in and discover what has changed.

Edited December 1 by Bod

[Rod Stewart]

Happy days of mooring at St Neots (Eaton Socon) at the Rivermill. The problem was not so much flooding, though this did happen, but getting past the pub evey day to get to the boat without popping in. Still, thats what happens when you live in a pub car park.