On 14th May 2025 the House of Lords debated amendments to the Renters Rights Bill. These included amendments 206A, 262 and 271, proposed by Lord Cashman (Non-affiliated) to extend the rights in the Bill to boat dwellers. Amendment 206A stated:
“Residential boat fees to be classified as rent
The rights set out in Part 1 of this Act extend to any individual—
(a) for whom a boat is their only home, and
(b) who is liable to pay a boat licence fee, boat registration fee, boat rental fee or mooring charges.”
Lord Cashman expressed his thanks to “… University of York; Pamela Smith of the National Bargee Travellers Association; and houseboat residents around the country.”
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer and Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (both Liberal Democrats) then spoke in support of the amendments and in support of boat dwellers and the itinerant boater community.
Baroness Miller said “… people living on boats continually fall through the cracks between housing and what is now known as Defra . I am especially concerned with those who do not have a permanent mooring … nowhere is [Canal & River Trust] tasked with looking after the rights of boat dwellers to a safe and secure home situation”.
Baroness Bakewell said “Over the years, I have had several meetings with the National Bargee Travellers Association. These are a group of people within our community who have had a difficult time … Boat dwellers should have the same protection as those living on dry land: a safe and secure home”.
The amendments were withdrawn during the debate; however, the outcome of the is an offer by the Minister to have further discussions with parliamentarians and stakeholders. The NBTA will hold the Government to this, and so will the peers who spoke in support of our community.
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, the Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, said “The Government will, however, continue to engage with parliamentarians and stakeholders on the complex issues about houseboats that the noble Lord has rightly and powerfully helped to highlight. The issues and history raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, illustrated some of the complications in resolving these issues. I will add that providing additional security of tenure to houseboat owners would require engagement with a range of stakeholders, including more than 20 navigation authorities and the owners of land adjoining waterways, and that is just part of the complication here”.
In July 2024 Baroness Miller submitted a Private Members Bill on the Recognition of Rights of and Protection for Boat Dwellers but it was not chosen in the ballot. The amendments put forward by Lord Cashman were partly based on Baroness Miller’s draft Bill.
For the full debate, see https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2025-05-14/debates/03922F3C-B536-485D-9B9E-432DF1745A8E/Renters’RightsBill from 4.04pm to 5.15pm or watch the debate here https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/47d84fad-5041-4340-8ebd-7b4e216800b3?in=16:04:40