WHILST most Londoners are blowing their wages on shoebox-sized flats and sky-high bills, one savvy woman has found a genius way to dodge the capital’s rental chaos.
Shannon Roselane, an artist and video producer in her twenties, lives on a 30ft narrowboat moored in one of the capital’s poshest postcodes.
Shannon Roselane lives on a narrowboat in Notting Hill[/caption]
And instead of handing over thousands a month like her mates, she keeps her total living costs to a jaw-dropping £500 per month.
She’s managed to bag one of the most enviable addresses in London’s Notting Hill without shelling out for rent because she doesn’t pay any.
Shannon owns her boat outright after snapping it up for £24,000 with help from a bank loan, and now her only regular payments are the loan repayments and day-to-day essentials like gas.
The boat is solar-powered so she also doesn’t have to pay any electricity bills.
She told @joinrently “we’re basically in Notting Hill and I’m paying £500 a month you’d never be able to do that”.
And although her entire home is barely wider than a hallway, it’s bursting with charm – from a galley kitchen with a tiny gas cooker to solar-powered lights and a self-made mini version of the boat itself.
She even has an open hatch where she waves at ducks and nosy passers-by.
But life on the water isn’t all sunsets and swans and Shannon doesn’t shy away from showing the gritty side.
On TikTok, where she shares her off-grid adventures under the name @thatweirdboatgirl, she’s built a loyal following who tune in to watch her tackle the ups and downs of boat life.
And it seems there has been plenty.
From a toilet explosion to an incident where the entire boat “nearly sank”, Shannon’s had more than her fair share of drama.
One mooring disaster left her in tears after a fellow boater shouted at her just for tying up.
On another occasion, she returned from a short holiday to find someone had nicked part of her battery system, leaving her without electricity for weeks.
And the bathroom situation isn’t exactly glamorous.
With no plumbing, she relies on a cassette toilet, which is essentially a glorified bucket that has to be emptied by hand.
She’s not shy in admitting it’s “the worst part” of boat life.
Her narrowboat doesn’t have a proper bathroom or running water, and storage is so tight that clothes are crammed into every corner, often spilling onto her bed.
Her fridge runs on 12 volts, powered by solar panels, and she heats her home the old-school way, with layers and hot water bottles.
Still, for all the chaos and cramped quarters, there’s one thing her floating lifestyle gives her that city flats never could and it’s freedom.
Because she doesn’t have a permanent mooring, Shannon’s required to move every two weeks – a rule that’s actually become one of her favourite parts of the lifestyle.
If she ends up next to nightmare neighbours or gets bored of a location, she simply casts off and finds a new view.
And even with no garden or balcony, Shannon makes the most of the canal towpath, turning it into a performance space for her Tiny Boat Sessions – a project where she invites musicians aboard to film live gigs as they gently cruise through London’s waterways.
The Pros and Cons of Living on a narrowboat
It might seem an idyllic lifestyle living on a narrowboat and taking this at a slower pace but it’s not always plain sailing.
The Pros
Freedom – you get to choose where you stay and can move from the countryside to a city in possibly a few hours. If you don’t like your neighbours you can simply move.
Work anywhere – remote working has shot up with the Covid-19 pandemic and what could be better than working from a barge.
Declutter your lifestyle – There’s not a lot of space on a narrowboat but this can be an advantage as it forces your to get rid of things you don’t actually really need. Decluttering your life can do wonders for your wellbeing.
Life at a slower pace – anyone fed up of the 9-5 rat race and the pressure to earn money to pay for high-cost living can benefit from the easy-going life on a barge.
More environmentally friendly – while not entirely carbon neutral, living on a narrowboat can help the environment as you use less electricity, gas and fuel.
Improve fitness – living on a narrowboat doesn’t suit a sedentary lifestyle. There are endless tasks that will keep you active, such as operating locks, carrying coal and gas canisters, toilets to empty, wood to chop and weed hatches to clear.
Sense of community – many boaters feel a strong sense of community as they are with like-minded people to share tips and advice.
Saving money – one big advantage is the amount of money you can save. Big savings can be made on monthly living costs not only from using less gas and electricity but you don’t have any costly mortgage or rent payments to cover.
The Cons
Having to plan ahead – if you have a cruising licence you will need to move every 14 days, so you have to think about the future, where to next, do you have enough supplies to get there?
Limited space – narrowboats are restricted in space and you may find you feel claustrophobic living in a confined space. Plus, you may have to chuck out some prized possessions to fit everything you need in.
Lack of security – criminals may see a narrowboat as an easy target and you may need to invest in some quality security to keep your things safe.
Maintenance – Beware that you will need to learn about engine maintenance, such as how to repair a bilge pump or water pump. You will also need to ensure it is properly insulated and ventilated or you could be battling dampness and condensation.
The cost – while living on a boat is certainly cheaper than living in a property, it is not cost free. You have to pay for things like: a Canal and River Trust licence, insurance, engine and pump maintenance, blacking the hull, as well as running costs such as fuel and a TV licence.
Her followers are obsessed with the quirky lifestyle, although many admit they had no idea quite how tough it could be.
Shannon keeps it real, showing both the dreamy moments and the difficult ones.
It may be wobbly and cold at times, but for Shannon, it’s home and she wouldn’t trade it for a pricey flat or a life stuck paying someone else’s mortgage.
Before now, Shannon was living in a shared house with two friends – originally paying £900-a-month until her landlord upped her rent to £1,000-a-month.
The 29-year-old was having a stroll the Kings Cross canal in October 2022 when she came across a narrowboat for sale.
Shannon said it was a “no-brainer” to move onto a boat and is now saving thousands a year.
She said: “I saw the boat and thought ‘what if?’.
“I texted the owner and we set up a viewing for the following week.
“As soon as I saw the boat itself I saw it was £24k and I worked out that paying my loan from the bank to afford it would be £300-a-month.
“That is a massive saving from what I was paying in my house share.”
Meanwhile, Shannon’s not the only one who’s swapped a home for a life on the canal.
Robbie Cumming has been living on a narrowboat for a decade and has revealed everything about his life on the new series of Canal Boat Diaries.
He claims it’s the best way to holiday in the UK.
