The leader of the Green Party, Zack Polanski, has found himself in murky waters over unpaid council tax on his east London-docked houseboat. Polanski claimed he had failed to pay the annual tax because he only 'occasionally' resided in the vintage-style narrowboat, which was briefly put on the market for £100,000 before being withdrawn. Despite having post delivered there and laundry collected from it, the 43-year-old Left-wing leader has since said he has 'immediately taken steps to pay any council tax' he might owe.
Green Party Statement
A spokesman for the Green Party issued a statement saying: 'Until relatively recently, Zack was living on a houseboat, which came with its own unique practical circumstances and considerations. He has immediately taken steps to pay any council tax he may be found to owe. Zack apologises sincerely for the unintentional mistake.'
Houseboat Living: Rules and Realities
While permanently residing on the water is still perceived by many as an off-grid way of life, those who call a boat their main home are often bound by the same rules as regular property owners, and often face even more admin for their floating home. Rowan Joyce, chair of Thistleworth Marine, a residential Thames marina with around 35 boats and 60 residents near Isleworth in Middlesex, told the Daily Mail that riverside communities are like any other community. 'It's like living in a large, dysfunctional family but things have definitely become more structured over the decades. We have a marina meeting every two months and people bring issues from health and safety to pontoon maintenance to noise. We had one owner who didn't pay his mooring fees, and eventually his boat was towed out midstream because he wasn't wanted on the marina.'
Council Tax Obligations
Joyce expressed surprise that Polanski was unaware of monies owed. 'Most houseboats are in Band A – the cheapest tier, and you can still have single-person occupancy too. Paying council tax might seem easier to swerve because you're slightly under the radar – but you're definitely not off-grid and everyone who owns a houseboat generally knows they have to pay it.'
Expert Insights on Houseboat Living
The Daily Mail spoke to Ben Ironmonger, a partner at Scott Bailey, a marine law firm based in Hampshire, about how easy it is to make a houseboat your home and why he's seeing more professionals heading for life on England's rivers.
Mortgages for Houseboats
While canal boats and houseboats tend to be cheaper than traditional housing, marine mortgages often require larger deposits, have shorter repayment terms, and some have higher interest rates. Ironmonger says: 'You can get loans to buy a houseboat but there's not as many lenders, and not as many brokers to find those lenders, so the cost of the finance can differ. Buyers will generally find that it will be slightly higher in cost to secure a mortgage, in terms of APR. It's often more akin to a personal loan as there is a slightly complicated process to secure against the vessel due to registration requirements.'
Council Tax on Houseboats
Ironmonger clarifies: 'If it's a primary residence and if you're living there, then it generally goes without saying that there'll be some form of council tax to pay. If it's a leisure mooring – you're cruising around, or you're only there certain periods of time, then that's a different kettle of fish. But if it's a primary residence, I think most houseboat owners know that if they are actively permanently moored, then they would expect to pay council tax.'
Other Bills and Costs
Mooring costs and additional fees 'can be a bit of a minefield', says Ironmonger, because there's a huge variation across the country. 'Depending on where you're moored, there may either be Environmental Agency licences and/or Canal and River Trust licences to pay. There can also be a Port of London Authority fee, depending on which bit of the Thames you're on.' When it comes to bills traditional homeowners pay, sometimes it will be included in the marina/mooring fees as an all-inclusive price. If your houseboat is attached to a freehold piece of land, then you might have an electric hook-up that you pay extra for. Internet access is fairly standard too, thanks to SpaceX's Starlink. 'Price-wise, it's very much akin to running a small house, particularly when you add your maintenance costs,' says Ironmonger.
Safety Checks
Even if a houseboat is permanently tied up, it can face checks every few years to ensure it doesn't endanger people or passing traffic. 'If it's a houseboat, you need the Boat Safety Scheme certificate – effectively the same as a car MOT. It's every four years and costs about £150 plus any costs of repairs.'
Changing Demographics and Exclusive Enclaves
Ironmonger notes: 'What's quite interesting at the moment is the number of professionals, including CEOs and high earners who are looking at houseboats as an alternative way of life – as opposed to those people who are maybe doing it because they can't afford to get onto the property ladder.' At the top end of the market, there are exclusive enclaves including Tagg's Island, a six-acre non-tidal Thames island near Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, and Wandsworth Marina in central London. Properties can go for around £1.5 million. 'There's a lot of camaraderie with people who live on the water. Everyone we speak to, whatever background they come from, say it's a nice, quiet way of living – and it gets you into some brilliant areas.'
