Canal side property - could you keep a barge behind your house?

NVP

NVP

NVP

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Howdy,

If you owned a property which backed on to a canal with gated access, could you purchase a barge a keep it docked behind your property?

Thanks
NVP x
 
Non-paid moorings normally have a two week maximum stay limit.

Best to check with the waterways authority that covers the area. You would also need to pay the yearly licence fees as well.

Great idea if you can though :)
 
Reading up, if it was to remain their permanently, rather than skip around every 2 weeks, then council tax for the area would be required (usually lowest band).
 
Not to live, but would be lovely quick holidays for the kids every now and then. Nice new adventures every time.

Saying this, I've never been on a canal boat... always wanted a boat of some sort though.
 
Sounds good, if my property backed on to a canal I'd definitely be thinking the same. Takes a long while to get anywhere mind you!
 
Here in Scotland they are available to keep boats on but definitely not free...very expensive actually....they charge per foot of boat up here...but then it is Scotland :)
 
If its directly on your property (not on a towpath or a slip of land between your boundary and the canal) then I believe you can ask to have a private mooring and pay for the privilege.

It will depend on how suitable the location is though, will it impede travel on the canal or be an obstruction. Also canals are very shallow, especially at the edge opposite the towpath so you might need to pay for an approved contractor to dredge the canal to make it suitable. If someone was to live on the boat it makes it even more complicated.

Would be lovely though, since lockdown started life on a canal boat seems more and more attractive. If someone starts coughing just move further away :p
 
Puzzled said:
If its directly on your property (not on a towpath or a slip of land between your boundary and the canal) then I believe you can ask to have a private mooring and pay for the privilege.

It will depend on how suitable the location is though, will it impede travel on the canal or be an obstruction. Also canals are very shallow, especially at the edge opposite the towpath so you might need to pay for an approved contractor to dredge the canal to make it suitable. If someone was to live on the boat it makes it even more complicated.

Would be lovely though, since lockdown started life on a canal boat seems more and more attractive. If someone starts coughing just move further away :p
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A canal boat has the same movement restrictions as the rest of us i.e. essentail travel only.

To keep a boat at the bottom of your garden just for occasional use will be a large expense, you need to factor in canal and river trust costs (around 1k a year), boat service and runing (blacking etc) and whatever the river trust want to charge you to setup moorings, you are looking at a couple of K per year and 20k plus to buy something worth having.

I almost ended up going halfs on a boat after trying to convince my parents it would be a good idea last year, for occasional use the costs are simply not worth it.
 
Hi,

I have a house that backs onto the Kennet and Avon canal. The deal with the Canal and River trust is this..


1) I rent the land between my house and the water (essentially the canal bank) from the Trust for a rent that is around £140 a year. When I moved into the house I entered into a Garden Land agreement with them. The rent rises each year by a fixed amount (I think 2% a year) in perpetuity. So it is a fixed agreement until I choose to cancel it. The agreement has a lot of rules associated with it. But in practical terms I can use the land as part of my garden and have been modifying as I want. Things like tree removal wood need their approval.
2) if I wanted to moor a boat on the bank attached to my house I would have to enter into a separate agreement with them to get mooring rights. This would let me keep a specified sized boat on the spot (size of boat determined by the size of the land seemingly). This is more expensive and I understand would cost around £600 plus per year. The mooring would be able to be used all year round.

As they are a charity, dont expect to get any services from them after you have paid the rent.

Hope that helps.
 
Thank you, thats very insightful. Have you considered owning and keeping a boat off your land? What puts you off?


All you the posts have been helpful and appreciated.


All in all, cost doesn't appear to be too significant other than the purchase of a narrowboat. I'm really hoping I can get this house *fingers crossed*

Thanks guys
 
Firestar_3x said:
A canal boat has the same movement restrictions as the rest of us i.e. essentail travel only.
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Bit different for liveaboards, just moving to next water point / pump out / elsan etc officer :p Some of the locks have been closed though so travel is limited, guess it depends where you were when lockdown started as to how stressful it is. Some will be stuck next to busy towpaths with the public walking by all the time while others will be in the middle of nowhere, the latter sounds lovely to me right now.

NVP said:
All in all, cost doesn't appear to be too significant other than the purchase of a narrowboat. I'm really hoping I can get this house *fingers crossed*

Thanks guys
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The dredging costs can be quite significant as you have to use approved contractors so something to consider if the area by the house looks pretty shallow with weeds / silt etc. Plus remember you can't have a boat bigger than the width of your land, but yeah some of the houses by canals are stunning. Good luck and if having a mooring is a big part of why you want the house then give the Canal and River Trust a call to check if its possible.

Edit: This thread is worth a read, they are asking about living on the boat but has some info on general private moorings

https://www.canalworld.net/forums/index.php?/topic/105825-legal-advice-on-moorings/
 
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NVP said:
Thank you, thats very insightful. Have you considered owning and keeping a boat off your land? What puts you off?


All you the posts have been helpful and appreciated.


All in all, cost doesn't appear to be too significant other than the purchase of a narrowboat. I'm really hoping I can get this house *fingers crossed*

Thanks guys
Click to expand...

No not really considered getting a boat as I would not really use it. Dont have the time at the moment and where I live you would not be able to get too far in a weekend due to the number of locks. Perhaps once I retire?
 
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