Houseboat Owners Demand Security

2.26.38pm GMT Mon 13th Mar 2006

Public consultation ended this week on a government paper looking at options for providing greater security of tenure for Thames houseboat owners. Vincent Cable MP visited the houseboat owners this week in Hampton Wick to discuss the way forward and met the national body representing an estimated 2,500 houseboat dwellers on British rivers and canals (there are probably 200 on the Twickenham stretch of the Thames: Swan Island; Burgoine Quay, Hampton Wick; Taggs Island; Thistlewaite Marina among others).

Vincent Cable said: "It has become clear that there is a big anomaly in the law on security of tenure. Every other group of residents now has security, including travellers. But boat dwellers can be evicted from their moorings with no notice and on a whim. They contribute greatly to improving the environment on the rivers - well recognised in France and Holland but not here - and provide affordable accommodation which could otherwise be provided by building on green land. I have made a commitment to pressing for new legislation if this is what is required to achieve greater security of tenure."