Houseboats are in high demand as Australians look for short-term accommodation and holiday homes amid a tight housing market.
Michael Jones runs Luxury Afloat, a houseboat rental service in Brooklyn, north of Sydney, and recently acquired the nearby Dolphin Boatshed Marina.
Demand for houseboat moorings has been so great that he is increasing the number of berths at the marina from 30 to 80, adding bathrooms, laundry and parking facilities.
Michael Jones said houseboats were growing in popularity as a holiday accommodation option. Credit: Jessica Hromas
“There’s a huge interest in houseboats because it’s more comfortable than a sailing boat, and you have access to all these sensational places along the waterways,” he said.
“There’s certainly a culture starting to develop where people are thinking of it as a lifestyle choice.”
For those looking to buy rather than rent, Jones said a 45-foot houseboat in reasonable condition could cost $150,000. Buyers also had to consider marina fees, which can cost $900 a month, along with fuel and energy costs.
“It can be a cheap way to holiday – like living in a caravan but floating, and with no lawn to mow,” he said.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data show that in 2021 there were nearly 30,000 houseboats and cabins, an 11.5 per cent increase from 2016.
Director of Murray River Houseboats Ken Montgomery said his Echuca marina was nearly fully booked out during the warmer months with holidaymakers.
He said the number of inquiries from people wanting to live on houseboats long-term was also growing, but warned it was not as idyllic as people thought.
Houseboats need to be pulled out of the water to be inspected for damage and corrosion, sewage needs to be pumped out and fresh water pumped in, and boats need plenty of fuel storage to travel and operate the water pumps.
“There are a whole heap of issues running boats for permanency on the river … it’s not for the inexperienced,” Jones said.
“It’s not something you couldn’t do, but a boat is a lot dearer to maintain than a house, and a lot are powered by expensive petrol.”
In NSW, living on a houseboat permanently is illegal. Vessels cannot be anchored for more than 90 days in NSW waters in any calendar year, or for more than 28 days in one place per year.
Victoria, Queensland and South Australia allow a capped number of houseboat licences. Some houseboat owners travel through NSW across their 90-day allotments, before heading to other waters for long-term mooring.
Despite the tight housing market, a Transport for NSW spokesperson said there were no plans to change laws allowing houseboats as a place of permanent residence or rental accommodation.
“The use of vessels as a place of accommodation is not supported due to the heightened safety risks, environmental pollution concerns and impacts on the local community, such as increased noise or antisocial behaviour,” the spokesperson said.
Boat Industry Association general manager Neil Patchett warned those looking for cheaper housing alternatives needed to be aware of the risks of buying older houseboats.
“Boats near the end of their life are unsafe, at risk of breakages, and can be a danger, especially among people who do not come from a boating background and don’t know about the long list of factors that can expose them to risk,” he said.
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