Rising costs for boat dwellers are set to overshadow the bank holiday weekend celebrations of life on the water in Little Venice.
The Canal & River Trust (CRT) introduced a divisive 4% rise in boat licence fees on 1 April, while continuous cruisers who live aboard without a permanent mooring have been hit with a 10% surcharge on top of this, escalating from the 5% surcharge implemented last year.
These increases are part of a wider pricing strategy due to continue incrementally until 2028, but for the likes of full-time student Joe Boultwood, a continuous cruiser who lives on his narrowboat named Mirrlees with partner Eve Brazil, the changes feel like a direct threat to their lifestyle.
Boultwood said: “Living on the canal has given us a wonderful opportunity to be close to nature in the heart of London, and to explore the city I grew up in in a completely new way.”
But he worries the CRT’s current direction risks pushing people like them out by making London’s canal network less accessible.
Boultwood is particularly concerned about the expansion of eco-moorings and pre-bookable moorings, which can cost £25–£35 per night in north London.
While intended to manage congestion and reduce emissions, critics argue these reduce access to traditional mooring spots, especially in high-demand areas like Islington.
Continuous cruisers, who typically move every 14 days to comply with CRT regulations, have historically relied on these free short-stay moorings.
Boultwood said: “They’re just crazy expensive, they feel unsafe at night because you’d likely be mooring alone and, trust me, you don’t want to do that.
“They’re trying to introduce more and more of these along the canals and no one’s using them.
“[The CRT] are completely out of touch with the needs of the community.”
The CRT, which manages over 2,000 miles of navigable waterways, defended the changes to licence fees as necessary for financial sustainability.
A CRT spokesperson said: “London’s historic canals are enjoying a renaissance.
“Today there are more boats on them than at the height of the Industrial Revolution and the number of boats in London has more than doubled in the last decade.
“The cost of keeping the city’s ageing canals open and safe is increasing, so we have asked boaters to contribute more.”
However, the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA), which advocates for liveaboard boaters without permanent moorings, has fiercely criticised the changes.
An NBTA spokesperson said: “Boater satisfaction ratings with CRT are at an all-time low.
“Boaters are really fearful for the future – scared that they’ll lose their community, their way of life, and their home.
The NBTA claimed rising licence fees are already making it difficult for some to afford to heat their boats in winter or carry out essential maintenance.
They accused the CRT of using continuous cruisers as scapegoats for wider financial mismanagement, and warned further changes to the licensing structure could push low-income boaters into homelessness.
Adding to the uncertainty, the CRT is conducting an independent review of its licensing structure and boater facilities, and many fear further restrictions or charges when the outcome is announced later this year.
The concerns are set to cast a pall over The Inland Waterways Association (IWA)’s Canal Cavalcade this weekend and although IWA campaigns and public affairs director Charlie Norman acknowledged the tensions, he encouraged positivity ahead of the festival.
Norman said: “Living afloat has unique challenges but also untold rewards, part of which is a strong community.
“Cavalcade aims to reflect and celebrate this spirit.”
Feature image: Rachael Cooper
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