Dla canal boat

colligpip

My friend has just recieved an inheritance and is desperate to move. Would she still be able to recieve dla even though she lived on a canal boat.

Thanks

marliepanda

colligpip wrote: »

My friend has just recieved an inheritance and is desperate to move. Would she still be able to recieve dla even though she lived on a canal boat.

Thanks

I would assume so, as long as living on a canal boat didnt somehow contradict why she received DLA.

Mojisola

There are a lot of annual costs when you live on a canal boat - will her income cover those?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

You can get Housing Benefit to cover mooring fees. If she owns the houseboat and moves out the capital value of the houseboat might be taken into account.

DLA isn't means tested.

colligpip

Thanks for your replies shes looking into the costs etc

The_ICT_Engineer

The average running cost for a narrowboat is around £5000 per year depending where you are based, There is a national shortage of Residential Moorings.


Mooring Fees Around £2,500 per year (In the London area upwards of 15k)

Electricity10p - 18p per unit. 1 unit = 1000 watts of power used for 1 hour

LPG Gas 13KG Propane refill around £28 (Gas heating would use a bottle a week in winter. Just for cooking, need to be replaced twice a year.

Water Normally included in Mooring fees

Diesel Approx 90p- £1.20 per litre. Heating would use around 0.6 liters per hour. Engine around 1.5 liters per hour.

Coal £8-£12 per 25kg smokless


Pump out of waste holding tank £18

Council Tax Local council rates at the lowest Band A rate

Boat Licenses Around £950 per year

Insurance Residential, around £450 per year

Maintenance Costs Craneage around £200 per lift)
Hull scrub & Blacking around £8.50 per foot, every 2 years
Engine maintenance £45 per hour plus parts


Boat Safety Certificate Around £200 every 4 years

Survey Costs

Hull Survey £220
Full Survey £450

Prices will vary according to the size of your boat and the location. The bigger the boat the more it will cost to moor and maintain and the more popular the area the higher the prices.


There are so many variables that it is impossible to give an accurate guide. You will need to phone the relevant marinas directly to get an accurate quote for your boat or intended boat.


So now you have an idea of the costs involved

Cyclamen

If she has mobility needs
would the boat be adapted? If not this might raise queries.
Will she move it alone to pump out loo, collect water and do the necessary maintenace stuff? this looks pretty physical to me
how far is a road from mooring for transport, shpping deliveries etc..? this could be evidence of walking

Care needs?
Washing facilities on the boat..? would they be adapted if necessary etc?


It is possible to get DLA whilst based on a canal boat. My Parents used to live on one and had DLA but had to move into a flat as it became too hard to manage the lifestyle although they loved it.

You do have to explain carefully how you still meet the DLA/PIP guidelines and the fact you are on a boat which can be a physical lifestyle may raise some extra questions.

But yes it is possible

teddysmum

If the disability involves sight, balance, joints or any nervousness, a boat is not a good idea.


My blind brother-in-law lived on a boat, briefly, until he fell into the canal. Narrow boats usually have steep steps and are prone to movement when boats pass too quickly. There is also the chance of being rammed by novice hirers, so not for the nervous.