RENOVATE A WRECK
A ready-made home by the water
may be out of your price range, in
which case a doer-upper may be the perfect
solution. Before you start, set a budget for
both the purchase and renovation costs and
stick to it. Look for properties at local estate
agents, online search sites and auctions. Put
word out as to what you’re looking for and
you may even get first dibs. You can also drive
around areas you’re interested in and look for
anything suitable that may be up for sale. If you
think you’ll want to extend or significantly alter
the building, check how easy it will be to get
planning permission. Get a full buildings survey
done and the surveyor should be able to tell you
roughly how much the works will cost.RETIRE IN STYLE
If you’re thinking long-term or looking for a family member, many of the latest retirement
complexes are being built close to the water for peace, tranquillity and luxury in one. Choose
from riverside apartments, retirement villages overlooking a loch or even bungalows by the sea.
McCarthy & Stone and Retirement Villages are just a couple of companies who can offer this way of
living but a good Google search will bring up a wide variety of options. As with any new search, make
sure you are happy with the range of amenities, quality of build and activities on offer before you buy.5
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Fenja Scarisbrick Jones, commercial
manager at Gpad London
(www.gpadlondonltd.com), has just bought a
narrow boat and this is now her permanent home.
‘My boat is 14 sq m and with such a restricted floor
area, layering the space is crucial. Something as simple
as installing a shelf above a bin doubles the useable
space. Ceiling hooks are great for extra storage. Opt
for warmer materials such as woods and fabrics
to reduce condensation as this builds on cold
surfaces. Creating open storage where air can
circulate is key. Bring storage away from
the boat’s outer edges to avoid
damp build-up.’nwww.riverhomes.co.uk is a waterside
property specialist with sales, lettings and
houseboats too.
n Find a specialist buildings surveyor at
http://www.rics.org/uk.
nSearch for the perfect summer retreat
at http://www.uniquehomestays.com,
http://www.lakelovers.co.uk or
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk.
n You’ll need a British Waterways Licence if you
intend to use UK canals or rivers and you can
find one at http://www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.Useful contacts
Top tips for
narrow boat livingIf you fancy living on the edge of the River Thames in
Windsor, Thameside by Shanly Homes has properties
starting from £1,195,000, http://www.shanlyhomes.comDaydreamer is a self-catering beach
hut complete with hot tub and views
over Whitsand Bay, Cornwall,
http://www.uniquehomestays.comAuchlochan Garden Village is a retirement complex in
Lanarkshire with a mix of bungalows and apartments,
many of which overlook one of the lochs in the village,
http://www.nethanvaleretirementliving.org.ukPhoto
Mark Watts Photography
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