Would you consider living in a floating apartment?

[Bladed]

I need to downsize at some point, probably within the next couple of years, and I’m looking into this as an option. I’m in my late 50’s, widowed and have 4 adult dc (although youngest is only 18).

There are lots of things to consider, and I need to do a lot of research still. I have a whole load of questions but I’m wondering if people could suggest things to me I may have overlooked/forgotten to take into account?

Thank you :)

Do you mean a boat?

I would need more information about what exactly a floating apartment is...

Like a narrow boat?
or a floating home?
Do you have a link?

What on earth is a floating apartment?

When I visited Lake Las Vegas, I really fancied it

in England, less so.

Narrowboats are a cheap sustainable way to live, providing you have a woodburner, pump out or composting toilet and a large water tank (water is free at the locks!) No council tax, just £880 a year for a licence. Propane gas to cook, at £29 a bottle which lasts us 3 months at least.

Laundry is an issue, and you need bikes to fetch your shopping.

Common in Netherlands I believe.

@LoveHamble

"Propane gas to cook, at £29 a bottle which lasts us 3 months at least."

And that price will apply for how long?

My only concern is this by going to be too much hard work and uncomfortable when you’re older?

maybe test them out? Seasickness and all that.

Not sure they are as cheap as you think tbh. Plus the mooring charges can be high. You also have to keep moving if you're a CCer..money pit comes to mind.

This would be my concern, too - are you going to find yourself priced out of being able to returning to living on dry land? I've known a couple of people who lived on houseboats while quite young for a couple of years and liked it, but that's quite different to it being a permanent decision that you're locked into in your older years.

@Bladed Are you talking about one of those cruise ships that is basically a floating 'time share'? If so, tread carefully. This is a new concept and far from ideal especially as your life expectancy is 25+ years and boats rust.

Also, whatever form of power they are running on now will need upgrading by 2030. That is a major cost for these types of vessels - $2 to $4 million.

Not sure what you mean but I have read about the floating houses in the Netherlands and am intrigued

This sort of thing? www.waterlodge.co.uk Prices start at c£86k
Saw a tv programme a few months ago where a family lived in one, mum and 3 kids I think. The base it sits on had to be replaced, looked an expensive job to me as towing away, lifted by crane etc involved.

Maintenance is expensive. Floating apartments are not boats - they have no means of propulsion or generating their own power via fossil fuels (only solar and not for propulsion) Floating apartments cannot be moved easily - they can but it’s very difficult and costly. If you fall out with the marina owner or operator, you are stuck. Mooring rates and rules in marinas can go up unchecked and changed in challenged. To live in one you will require a residential mooring (expensive) and will incur council tax, although this would be band a.
As for living on a narrowboat - it is neither cheap nor easy to do compared to a house.
(have lived on one for 23 years and used every type of mooring there is, and having continuously cruised.).
Please do a lot of research. It can be a fab lifestyle - I will miss it greatly as it is, in many ways better than being bankside, but it isn’t easy, cheap or for every personality or individual.

No, not as a late life option. Not good for mobility. If you need to reduce costs look for an over 60s flat. With a garden area.

Also.. it would like like living in a car park if you were in an actual Marina..

This reminds me of when my Mum had a boat on the Norfolk broads but couldn’t afford the charges so left the boat there & it leaked oil in the water🙄 she got in massive trouble.

it’s so expensive to live this way & the rules & & costs are quite high, unless you get cheap mooring.

Mal de debarquement syndrome, could you cope with the constant movement? It’s worse in menopausal women!

Do you know the name of the programme? I'd be interested to see it.

www.boatinternational.com/showcase/the-world-largest-yacht/inside-yacht-the-world

maybe this one

Sorry - unexpected visitors. But yes, the sort of thing in the link in @Xpologog’s post.

If its the same one I'm thinking of @EmmaH2022 the mum was the jewellery designer Anna Lou and was on Big House Clearout

Thank you