House on the river?

[Job Done]

Hi all,

Not exactly new to the forum as have been reading for a couple of years though this is my first post. Currently have a Sealine moored at Bray and have owned and used boats on the Thames for about 15 years now having moored at Penton Hook and Gibbs in the past so have always loved the river experience.

Question is not specifically boat related more about living beside the river and hoped there might be some contributors on here who either have previously or currently live in riverside properties as I always wanted to 'live the dream' and own a house on the river with my boat moored at the bottom of the garden. I am not completely naive and have some understanding of the issues of flooding and inflated prices of such homes but have now viewed a couple of properties in Weybridge area I am keen on and, at a stretch, possibly could afford so wanted to hear forum members view on pros and cons, dos and dont's as well as any advice on insurance, estate agents etc most welcome.

 

[byron]

If you can find a riverside property that ticks all your boxes then go fill your boots but bear in mind that once having lived 'waterside' you have taken a drug that is as hard to give up as smoking.
Of course there are drawbacks, not that any immediately spring to mind other than frontage maintenance costs. In my case much more than normal because (a) I have so much of it and (b) it is so heavily used by yacht clubs (wear & tear).

 

[sarabande]

assess the risk of the river flooding (I know it's a very rare event ) and see how the mooring would cope.

 

[Actionmat]

Unless they've had a change of staff, beware of waterside properties in Thames Ditton. We wasted many hours thanks to vague or plain wrong descriptions, no idea of depth, over inflated mooring sizes etc

Visited a place advertised as having a 40ft mooring to find a 2" deep stream at the bottom of the garden and a footbridge with 4ft of clearance where it joined the Thames! The agent informed us that the reason it was so low (near Bell Weir) is that we'd come at low tide!!

 

[Dave_Seager]

I live in a riverside house in Weybridge although we are off the Thames on the River Wey. We have been here about 20 years and were in Walton-on-Thames for 10 years before that so we know the area pretty well. Send me a PM if you have any specific questions that I might be able to help you with.

 

[byron]

Visited a place advertised as having a 40ft mooring to find a 2" deep stream at the bottom of the garden and a footbridge with 4ft of clearance where it joined the Thames! The agent informed us that the reason it was so low (near Bell Weir) is that we'd come at low tide!!

Estate Agents you gotta love them. Everyone knows it's the Severn Bore that affects depths that far up the river.

 

[Gavi]

We bought a house on an island 8 years ago. Best thing we ever did, even though we are still flooded out and won't be back in for months. Make sure your moorings are well made, big enough for future whims (cruiser and day boat perhaps?) and deep. Risers are essential. Check that the house is built high and you have a pub nearby

 

[Aquafan]

As Byron says once you've lived on the River you're hooked. Just make sure the flooding risk is as small as possible, the mooring has sufficient depth. Insurance shouldn't be an issue unless the property been flooded.

 

[Job Done]

Thanks for all the contributions guys. I guess the biggest single problem I am still having is insurance. Despite what the agents tell me I can't find a single mainstream (sic) insurer who will take on flood risk for a house by the Thames on the EA deep blue flood risk map. Currently speaking to a couple of specialists while I still try to find the dream place...