Floating houses for sale

Floating house and houseboat

If you want to live on the water, a floating house is a great choice. But just like with any boat, there are a few things to keep in mind with the "living on board" version.

Floating house

Unlike a houseboat, a floating house lies at a fixed berth on the water (alongside moles, quay walls or jetties) and is towed or moved, for example to a shipyard, only for repair work. To gain additional living space, the engine is often removed from large floating houses (such as converted inland barges or similar).

Buying a floating house – what to look out for

• When buying used floating houses abroad: Where is the boat going to be berthed? Note: Is VAT stated or not? Does the boat have a CE certificate?
• Make sure the living space is large enough. Think first and foremost about your living comfort.
• With the living area, galley and wet rooms – similar to a camper van – pay attention to functionality.
• Floating house – can/should it stay at its current berth after the purchase? If not, how can it be transported to the new berth? Many floating houses no longer have an engine!
• What condition is the hull in? Best of all: get a survey from a specialist.
• Check the living areas using the same criteria as for a house on land.

Floating home

A floating home is, as the name suggests, a house built on a floating pontoon that usually lies permanently moored at a berth on the water. Floating homes are now considered a trendy, alternative form of living space. That is why large cities with rivers and canals running through them are starting to group floating homes into genuine residential districts on the water.