A Brisbane couple have found a creative way to beat the city’s soaring rental prices, saving more than $10,000 a year by swapping their apartment for a houseboat.
Grant and Louise Cause never imagined living on a boat, but the couple decided to make the move about 18 months ago after facing a 200 per cent rent increase in the city.
“We were renting for a number of years, and then the market changed, and prices just went through the roof,” Grant told Sunrise on Tuesday.
“We had to look for alternatives to find a rental in Queensland that suited us, so we looked at maybe investing in an asset, and houseboats were affordable at that time. So, we looked at doing that, and, you know, we have been living here for about 14 months now.”
The couple purchased a $250,000 houseboat on the Brisbane River and are now based at Dockside Marina in the heart of the city. They only pay mooring fees, insurance, and maintenance, which works out cheaper than renting a two-bedroom apartment.
“We only pay around $500 a week on mooring fees, which includes electricity and water. A comparable apartment in the city would cost around $700 per week,” Grant said, adding the savings amount to roughly $10,400 a year.
Despite living on a boat, the couple say they have all the comforts of a regular home, including a laundry, and find the lifestyle surprisingly similar to apartment living.
“You (sometimes) find yourself rocking occasionally back and forth (on the boat),” Grant said. “We have got all the creature comforts, too. Our houseboat is the equivalent of a two-bedroom apartment.”
Louise said the move has created a strong sense of community.
“We have got lots of room on the houseboat, and we are close to public transport, you have got ferry and buses, and you get to meet all your neighbours,” she said.
“It is like a little community. Great views of Riverfire (Brisbane’s large-scale fireworks display). What more could you want?”
Images: Seven
