A WOMAN has opened up about the honest reality of living on a houseboat in London – including the gross reason she nearly quit.
Carla Cresswell, 29, and her son Crue loved watching glorious sunsets from their home on the water, but realised that life on land was better in some ways.
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On her TikTok account @ccresswell95, she shared how she was left horrified when she had to deal with the boat’s sewage system.
Single mum Carla said she hadn’t been told that the sewage tank needed to be emptied every two weeks.
One day the waste started coming back up the toilet at 1am and she was forced to scoop sewage out for seven hours using a plastic bowl.
While some people move onto boats to save money on bills, Carla paid £1,800 a month for hers on the River Thames.
Another reason she started to rethink boat life was due to the maintenance the boat required.
Showing a slow-dripping shower, she explained: “When I forgot to refill my water and had to shower in this before work.”
The mum also said creepy crawlies were a huge negative and she would be infested by green flies at 9pm every evening.
However, she argued that the swarms of spiders helped to catch them.
In addition to this, a flock of loud Egyptian geese once took up residence on her roof.
The single mum was also worried about their safety while they lived on the boat.
She explained: “When my child and I saw the lights switch off and somebody run through our boat as we arrived home. Had to get the neighbour and police, turns out it was just a reflection!
“And when a rescue boat whizzed past her houseboat, the current of the river was so forceful that her mirror smashed.”
Carla stated that on the whole, the pros of boat life “outweigh the cons” and in one video she said: “I love my life and wouldn’t change it for the world!”
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In another video, she added: “One minute you’re a single mum left to raise a toddler alone in London, the next you’re living in a houseboat with your (now) 6 year old and puppy living your best life. It gets better.”
Despite Carla recently leaving the boat to travel in Australia, she insisted she wouldn’t change it for the world.
Many people were impressed at the floating home, with one writing: “Can I get a tour? Always wanted to live on the canal.”
Another added: “Oh wow! Sounds challenging.”
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
