Troubled Waters, The Bristol Cable, August 2016
Housing law doesn’t protect boat dwellers – as residents at Bristol’s Floating Harbour have found out. Words and photos: Carrie Hitchcock
Living on a boat might seem like an ideal choice for those looking for an alternative lifestyle, but boat dwellers can face hostility from all quarters, from public bodies to private marinas. The main issue is the lack of residential moorings, and it is a countrywide problem. There are an estimated 22,000 people who live on boats in the UK, but residential moorings are few and expensive. Most people live on leisure moorings, but there is no security of tenure, and they can be evicted on a whim.