I bought a narrowboat to save £1,000s-a-month but I have three major warnings to anyone considering the move
A WOMAN who now lives on a narrowboat to save thousands of pounds each month has given three major warnings to people looking to start living on waterways.
Nesha, who vlogs her life while living on her dream boat, revealed how starting a life on narrowboats may be as easy as it looks.
The expert, who posts her video on her YouTube channel Driftwood Folk, has now revealed a few tips that could help anyone ditch their homes and start a life on boats.
Nesha said that people should have a good budget before they plan to buy a narrowboat and renovate it as it may not always be cheap.
She then revealed how it could cost a lot of money just to maintain it over time.
Her advice was to be prepared to spend at least £35,000 to start a life on a boat.
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Furthermore, Nesha explained why painting boats can cost a fortune.
She said: "Every work that you get done on a boat counts as a specialist job. You'll be more likely to get work done on the boat at a boatyard.
"The problem is that it tends to be quite pricey, especially if you're getting work done like welding."
"And when you live in a metal tube, it's very likely that you will get some welding done at some point."
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Nesha's next tip for anyone looking to live on a canal boat was to be prepared to live in a tight space, especially if someone is moving out from a traditional hopping structure.
She advised: "If you are someone who really likes their own space and you live with a partner or you have children, you might find living on a canal boat a bit difficult because space is very limited."
She also emphasised how maintaining boats can be a difficult job - but an extremely important one.
The expert said: "Even though it's portrayed as a simple life - which it can be to some degree - there is a lot of maintenance involved
"It isn't just a case of living a slow, simple life and never having to do much. There is always something to do on a boat."
It comes after a woman who lives on a 20ft micro narrowboat said she's terrified it might tip over, but revealed a hidden compartment that keeps her safe.
Kat, known as Gentil Lentil's Green Life on YouTube, shared an insight with her viewers about what it's like to live on a small boat.
The content creator explained that she fears storms could tip over her 20ft micro narrowboat.
Fortunately, in the video, she revealed two compartments designed to help prevent it from tipping.
One of the compartments, located beneath her bed, contains a water pump that removes excess water from the bottom of the hull.
These are found on most boats and are an essential piece of equipment.
Pros and cons of living on a house boat
Houseboats can be cheaper than buying a home on dry land but doesn't come without risks.
You may be able to get a special type of mortgage for a boat, but it can be more difficult than getting a traditional home loan and have higher rates of interest.
You won't pay stamp duty when buying a boat to live on, and you can move to a different location whenever you want without having to sell up.
You might even be able to live in a location where you wouldn't be able to afford a bricks and mortar house.
But space can be more limited, and the value of houseboats can generally go down over time, like a car or motorbike.
A licence which you need from the canal and river trust can cost anywhere between £510 and £1,100 a year depending on the size of the boat.
There are likely to be ongoing costs for maintenance and mooring as well as fuel, a boat safety certificate and, of course, insurance.
There’s always something that needs to be done on a boat – from engine servicing to treating rust spots, not to mention emptying the toilet and filling the water tank.
Energy bills could be higher on the boat than a home as they are generally harder to insulate.
If your boat is moored permanently, it will typically be in the lowest tax band, with single occupants benefiting from a 25% reduction.
However, if you’re happy to move every two weeks as a ‘continuous cruiser,’ you won’t have to pay this
It comes after an artist shared what it's like to live off-grid in a canal boat where she can save £600 a month.
Shannon Lane, 29, ditched her room in Clapham for a 30ft narrowboat which she cruises in with her pug, Gilbert.
She decided to move on the water after learning her landlord was raising the price of her rent to £1,000 a month.
The freelance artist and video producer took out a loan to buy a £24,000 narrowboat and now spends just £300 a month paying it off.
Ever since Shanon moved, her mental health has improved and she no longer suffers from "bad anxiety and depression".
Nonetheless, the transition from bricks to a floating home takes adjusting to.
She told The Sun: "The first night I moved in I thought what the hell have I done."
She couldn't figure out how to get her electrics to work and at one point ended up blindly making her way through a 20-minute tunnel because her headlights didn't switch on.
She added: "There have been incredibly stressful moments. I moved in in January and I had to learn how to use the stove fire.
"I'd envisioned this amazing life and suddenly everything was actually really hard."
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But Shannon was saving thousands.
She said: "My electricity all comes from solar panels and then everything else is normal household spending like food and toiletries."