Houseboat residents face hefty rent hike

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Port of London Authority seeks to substantially raise mooring fees

With the annual boat race upon us once again and tales of errant 4x4's still fresh in our memories, it is apt time to spare a thought for for local residents for whom the Thames is much more than a visitor's attraction, it's their home.

This water based community is currently facing financial ruin due to Port of London Authority plans to raise mooring fees by more than 600%.

The Port of London, a public trust established in 1908 to "administer, preserve and improve the Port of London", is financed from revenue from the river with no outside support. Finance for capital works comes from internally generated funds supplemented by commercial loans and leasing. 

The authority is planning to increase the fees they charge to companies who operate mooring sites along the Thames. Such companies currently pay the PLA annual fees of £5,000 which could rise to more than £38,000 if the plans go ahead.  The extra costs would be passed onto the houseboat owners.

One river resident, who was involved with trying to save the adventurous Range Rover couple, believes that the rent hike will price out a number of long term houseboat dwellers.  He said "A lot of people will have to leave their homes if fees are increased this dramatically.  It will be crushing for this close knit community."

The PLA remain unrepentant claiming that the current fees charged to mooring operators are "extremely modest" for a London business.  A spokesperson for the PLA stated that if the rise is distributed amongst the residents by the operator "I don't see how it could have a drastic effect on the houseboat owners."

 

March 29, 2006