1 bed houseboat to rent

Islington, London N1

Property Reference: 2857828.

Have you ever considered life as a liveaboard boater?

Fancy exploring London's canals, moving through and staying for periods in central spots such as King's Cross (Granary Square), Islington near Angel, Broadway Market and Victoria Park?

Escape the Rat Race has been supporting long-term boat living for nearly 20 years. This is an EtRR boat.

This ex-lifeboat represents a new concept for Escape the Rat Race and is offered at a significantly reduced price compared to our larger vessels. The aim is to provide a more accessible entry point, acting as a stepping stone into a managed and safe life on the waterways.

The boat in this advert, priced at £1,400 per month, is around a third of the size of our larger vessels and is currently being fitted out.

Viewings are available now.

You can see in this add a video of one of our other EtRR boats to get a feel for the style and finish. Please note, this boat is much smaller and still being fitted out. If you are on mobile, drop us a message and we will send the video. On desktop, you should see a video tab above the images.

The boat

Ex Lifeboat pod vesse;
Approx. 2.5m x 7m (more comparable to a camper van spacewise)

Designed for compact living for singles or couples and includes:

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  Double bedroom with double bed
  
  
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  Kitchen and dining area
  
  
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  Separate living space
  
  
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  Coal-burning stove
  
  
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  Bathroom with hot and cold water and toilet
  
  
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  Outdoor seating area
  
  
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  Mains electricity
  
  
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  Smart storage throughout
  
  
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  Enhanced security, including reinforced stern doors and substantial locks
  
  

Location

The boat cruises around London, mainly within Zones 1,2 and 3.

As part of its licence, it must move every two weeks and cover a minimum range across the year, so it will occasionally be further afield.

We follow a semi-flexible cruising schedule, allowing you to have a good sense of where you will be at different times.

Terms

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  Minimum 6-month contract, with option to extend
  
  
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  References and credit check required
  
  
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  Managed and contracted through Escape the Rat Race
  
  

This is the legitimate way to live on a fully insured and licensed continuously cruising boat on Canal & River Trust waters.

FAQs

Is this for the whole boat?
Yes.

Do you offer shared options?
Yes, please see our other adverts or message us.

Interested in a narrowboat instead?
Message us and let us know, we can help.

Can you offer less than 6 months?
No. There is significant time involved in onboarding, training, safety and support. The average stay is around 9 months.

Do you offer short stays (1 to 10 days)?
No. You would need a hotel boat for this.

Are the boats safe?
Yes. Safety is our highest priority. All boats are regularly checked, fully certified, and fitted with appropriate alarms. We carry out routine inspections and maintenance, typically at least once per month.

What's included

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  Unlimited diesel
  
  
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  Unlimited gas
  
  
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  0.5 tonne of coal per winter
  
  
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  Licence
  
  
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  Insurance
  
  
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  Access to boat services, including rubbish disposal, towpath moorings, elsan and water points
  
  

Is renting through EtRR legitimate?

Yes. We have been operating for nearly 20 years and work closely with the Canal & River Trust to ensure our model remains compliant and aligned with their evolving requirements. This was most recently reviewed in June 2025.

Note

You may see similar adverts in multiple locations. This reflects the boat's cruising pattern across London, not different boats.

Summary & Exclusions:
- Rent Amount: £1,400.00 per month (£323.08 per week)
- Deposit / Bond: £1,615.38
- 1 Bedrooms
- 1 Bathrooms
- Property comes furnished
- Available to move in from 17 June 2026
- Minimum tenancy term is 6 months
- Maximum number of tenants is 2
- Students welcome to enquire
- No Pets, sorry
- Smokers considered
- Not Suitable for Families / Children
- Bills Included
- No Parking Available
- No Garden Access
- Property has fireplace
- EPC Rating: EPC Not Required (Property is not a building)

If calling, please quote reference: 2857828

Fees:
You will not be charged any admin fees.

** Contact today to book a viewing and have the landlord show you round! **
Request Details form responded to 24/7, with phone bookings available 9am-9pm, 7 days a week.

OpenRent endeavours to make all property particulars as accurate and reliable as possible, however if you require any further clarification or information please contact us. When applying for a tenancy using the Rent Now process, you will be required to pay one month's rent and any deposit before moving in. This will be paid to OpenRent and released to the landlord once you have moved in. With OpenRent there are no administration fees to pay.

Property Reference two million eight hundred and fifty-seven thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight