Houseboat on the River Thames can be yours for just $63K

By Imogen Howse

Here's how you could live on a private island on the River Thames - for just $63,534.

Seller Oliver Couchman, 49, believes his three-bedroom houseboat is the "most affordable" property on the Thames.

Located on the idyllic two-acre D'Oyly Carte Island, near Weybridge, Surrey, the "tardis-like" home sleeps four people and offers a kitchen, lounge, and windows throughout.

It is fully equipped with water and electrics and has been placed on a private pontoon, with fully residential mooring.

Oliver, a business coach who lives on the other side of D'Oyly Carte Island, says the houseboat offers a great opportunity to live on the Thames for a fraction of the usual price.

He said: "It's a stunning houseboat. Anyone would fall in love with how beautiful she is.

"What's really unique is that she's been placed on a private pontoon with fully residential mooring.

"Other marinas have restrictions which mean you can only stay overnight for a few nights a month or something - so you can't make it a fully residential home.

"She also has full electrics and water - you wouldn't have that if you just pulled up anywhere on the Thames - and she's really spacious.

"She's like the Doctor Who tardis.

"I think it's safe to say this is the most affordable three-bedroom property on the Thames."

Oliver understands the appeal of riverside living - after moving into his own houseboat on the south side of D'Oyly Carte just under a year ago.

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He previously owned a flat in Croydon but got drawn into renting a home in Weybridge after falling in love with the area.

He said: "I was on the island one day and I saw this ridiculously lovely houseboat. I said to a guy I was standing next to, 'Wow, who lives there?'

"And he said, 'I think she's for sale next month.' So I made an offer."

Oliver moved in in November and that April was in Yorkshire when he came across another houseboat - which had been built over a seven-year period inspired by the designs of the catamarans of Antigua.

He bought the houseboat and then set about moving it down south - which proved rather tricky.

He said: "A mooring space had come up on a private pontoon on the north east side of the island and I knew I wanted to get her there.

"But in terms of transportation the maximum width on a B-road is 3.5m and she's 4.8m so I had to look into haulage options.

"Initially they quoted me $17,000 to transport her by sea but I asked if there was anything else we could do.

"The company said they could ask if we could get a police escort - which seemed unlikely - but the police said yes.

"That cost $3,600.

"It was like in the movies. We had blue lights flashing and everything and then had to get her through seven locks around midnight in complete darkness.

"But we got her to D'Oyly in the end."

Oliver says he is currently in the process of installing a bathroom but otherwise the boat is "ready to live on".

He claims experts have told him the houseboat is worth £60,000 but says he stuck to £49,000 as he was excited to be able to offer an affordable property on the Thames.