Canal Boat Living in the UK: Laws, Licences and Lifestyle – Thinking Ahead of Linslade Canal Festival

Canal Boat Living

Getting a traditional mortgage to buy a canal boat to live on is very difficult in the UK, because canal boats are classed as chattels (moveable property) rather than fixed property like a house or flat. Mortgages are typically secured against land or bricks-and-mortar homes, so lenders won't offer standard home loans for boats.

However, you can still get finance for a liveaboard boat but through different routes.  This also means our conveyancing team don’t really get involved.  You can get marine mortgages, or boat loans or a personal loan.  Some people sell a house and use the equity to buy a canal boat outright. This is often the simplest way to make the move.

Important considerations if you're considering living aboard

• Residential mooring: You’ll need a residential mooring (not just a leisure mooring) if you plan to live on the boat full-time, which can be hard to find and expensive.

• Licensing and insurance: The boat must be licensed (e.g. with the Canal & River Trust), insured, and have a Boat Safety Scheme certificate.

• Ongoing costs: Factor in fuel, maintenance, repairs, licence fees, mooring fees, and council tax (if on a residential mooring).

You can’t get a traditional mortgage for a canal boat, but marine finance, personal loans, or savings are viable options. It’s a lifestyle change with pros and cons, so doing a full cost breakdown and speaking to current liveaboard boaters can really help with your decision.

Rules and Regulations

Living on a canal or UK inland waterway is legal, but it's subject to specific rules and regulations that differ from living in a house. Here’s an overview of the key laws and requirements you need to understand if you're considering living aboard a canal boat in the UK:

1. Boat Licensing

To live on a canal or river, your boat must be licensed through the appropriate navigation authority, depending on where you are:

• Canal & River Trust (CRT) – for most canals and some rivers in England and Wales

• Environment Agency (EA) – for rivers like the Thames, Medway and East Anglian waterways

• Scottish Canals – in Scotland

• Broads Authority – for the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads

You must have:

• A valid boat licence (e.g. 12-month continuous cruising or home mooring licence)

• A Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) certificate (like an MOT for boats) – renewed every 4 years

• Valid insurance, including third-party liability cover (usually at least £2 million)

2. Mooring Laws: Residential vs Continuous Cruising

There are two main legal options for living aboard:

A. Residential Mooring

• These are legal, permanent moorings where you can officially live full-time.

• You usually pay mooring fees and council tax (Band A) to the local authority.

• They're scarce and often expensive, especially near cities.

• Many marinas and private landowners don't allow full-time residency, so always check the mooring's terms.

  
  

B. Continuous Cruising

• If you don’t have a home mooring, CRT allows you to live aboard as a “continuous cruiser”.

• Legally, you must move your boat regularly and cover a range (generally interpreted as at least 20 miles over the course of your licence).

• You can’t just shuffle back and forth a short distance.

• CRT requires you to move every 14 days (or sooner if directed) and not return to the same area too frequently.

Important legal note: CRT has the power under the British Waterways Act 1995 to revoke your licence if you don’t comply with continuous cruising requirements.

3. Planning Laws

• If you're on a residential mooring, it should have planning permission for full-time residential use. Some moorings are only for leisure/holiday use and living aboard would be a breach of planning law.

• On land next to the water, you can’t just live in a boat on a trailer or parked without planning permission – it would be classed as a change of use.

4. Council Tax

• Residential moorings usually pay Council Tax (Band A).

• Continuous cruisers usually do not pay council tax (though this can vary in fringe cases), but still contribute through licence fees.

5. Mail and Voting

Living aboard can make access to services tricky:

• You may need to use a mail forwarding service or family address.

• You can register to vote using a "declaration of local connection" with your local electoral office.

6. Other Legal Considerations

• You are responsible for waste disposal (toilets and rubbish). Dumping waste is illegal and heavily fined.

• Boats with wood burners must comply with safety guidance.

• You must comply with any additional navigation authority bye-laws, especially on rivers with strong currents or special navigation rules.

If you are interested in canal boat living, why not head down to the Linslade Canal Festival on Saturday 26th July 2025.

Resources for More Info

• Canal & River Trust: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk

• National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA): https://www.bargee-traveller.org.uk

• Environment Agency – Waterways: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency