the little island of Three Millslocated on the banks of the Lea River in eastern Londonis a small oasis of tranquillity in the hectic British capital. It is Sunday afternoon and an unusually blue sky fills the riverside promenade, whose waters slowly descend towards the Thames. The good temperature has attracted this part of the city to dozens of peoplewho take advantage of their day off to tour the island by bike or on a pleasant walk, while others lie on the grass in search of the coveted Sun rays.
The tranquility of this area has made it a listed place for the hundreds of boat owners who ply the London canals. And they don’t just sail: many of them have turned the city’s aqueducts into their backyards. flouting houses. Half a dozen long, narrow ships, known as ‘narrow boats’, are part of the permanent stamp of this island. Among them is that of Oscar Serranoa man from Madrid who has lived in the United Kingdom for eight years who got tired of the constant disputes with his landlord and decided to look for a alternative to your rental house.
alternative housing
“I started looking at all the options and a boat like this was the cheapest with the space that I was looking for. Finding a home is one of the most difficult things in this country, apartments have prohibitive prices& rdquor ;, he explains sitting on the deck of the boat. Oscar’s boat is made of fiberglass, is about 12 meters long and was manufactured in the eighties for holiday use in the North of England. Despite its old appearance, its owner has managed to build a home with all amenities.
The interior has three small cabinsa kitchen with just enough space for the stove and sink, and a common area with maroon leather benches that surround a folding table, right in front of a small television and a coal stove. “I brought this stove in a suitcase from Spain. In winter I put four or five coals in it and this becomes in an ovenI even have to open the windows with four or five degrees below zero,” he says while showing the insulation layers that he added to the boat shortly after purchasing it.
Soaring rents
Boats like Óscar’s have become an increasingly attractive option for hundreds of people who are looking for an alternative to the high prices of rents in London. Something that is spreading to the boats. I bought mine for 28,500 pounds [unos 32.000 euros] two years ago and now he could sell it for around 45,000”, he says. Other newer boats with more resistant materials can range between 60,000 and 100,000 pounds, prices that, despite being higher than a few years ago, are still far below of the amounts required by a living place In mainland.
In the case of rentals of houses and apartments, the city has registered figures that had not been seen until now. According to the real estate portal Rightmovethe average rent in the first quarter of 2023 has reached £2,500 per month in the capital, a record attributed to the rise in inflation and a considerable reduction in the offer: the number of rental homes available in 2023 has been half reduced in the last four years. In the case of the purchase, the significant rises in interest rates have put a significant brake on families when it comes to getting a mortgage.
Natural environment
Economic reasons were the main reason why Óscar decided to change his home, but two years later only see advantages and has even begun to draw comic strips related to life on the ship, which he shares on his Instagram account. Sitting on the deck in the late afternoon sun, the man from Madrid was light up the eyes when he turns his head in the direction of the promenade. “Look at my garden & rdquor ;, she says proudly. “I wake up with the sound of water and with the noise of the ducks every morning. My daughter knows all the species of birds, we played fish and even went out with an inflatable kayak through the canal.”
In the upper part of the boat, next to the solar panels, Óscar keeps various objects fastened with a green plastic net. Among them, a small barbecue stands out.
Do you use it from time to time?
Related news
-Yesterday. We gathered some friends and spent the whole day sailing. When we got here we put the barbecue on the promenade and we prepared dinner so richly,” she explains while showing photos of the day on his mobile phone.
Óscar does not know how long he will continue in the United Kingdom, but one thing is clear to him: at his next destination will also live on a boat. “It’s another way of life, I no longer want to go back to a house & rdquor ;.