float8 have searched the European market for the highest quality manufacturers of floating homes and floating commercial space. With managerial background in traditional property development and a vast variety of nautical hobbies, the float8 team combines in excess of 100 years experience of building on land and playing and living on water. Our team of experts and specialist consultants are geared up for the needs of individual consumers right up to designing entire floating villages. Most of all we are people, people who love working with water and customers/partners to overcoming unusual challenges.
Typically, there are three types of ‘floating’ foundation; (1)floating concrete pontoon (2)glass reinforced plastic hull or (3) two/three polyurethane foam floats.
Planning consent remains site specific, float8 advises you consult your local authority planning department for more information. However, if the floating home is designed to stay in one location permanently, planning consent is usually required. If the floating home has the ability to self-propel (with a motor), planning consent is not usually required.
This is dependent on the ability to self-propel the floating home. If the floating home can be manoeuvred by its own accord (motor) then it is classed as a boat, whereas if the floating home requires external means to transport (lorry and crane or tugboat) then it is classed as a home.
If you haven’t already secured a mooring, float8 and their partners have connections with a number of UK marina, canal and harbour authorities throughout the UK. Please contact the team with your preference on location for more information.
float8 are committed to working towards a carbon zero future by 2030. Many of our products already come equipped with a host of eco-technologies, including a modular build process, solar panels, black and grey water recycling systems and heat pumps. See ‘sustainability’ page on our website for more information.
Much of the country’s most expensive real estate is located overlooking the water, why? The public have made a recent migration to waterfront living, because of the associated wellbeing and mental health benefits of being near the water, all the same reasons why living on the water can benefit your lifestyle and make you feel more at home with nature.
float8 are happy to work to everyone’s budget and requirements and will help provide the best solution suited to each party’s needs. With that in mind there are no minimum order numbers.
Currently floating homes are Stamp Duty Land Tax exempt. This may change as the concept of living and working on water become more mainstream in the UK.
Under new UK customs rules, floating homes/house boats will be subject to VAT.
float8 are currently operating in a cash only market. However, there are a small number of maritime lenders that may offer short term finance. Mainstream lending on floating homes is available elsewhere in Europe, float8 are exploring lending options in the UK and hope to soon be able to offer their products to the mass market.
Given most float8 products are modular built, any internal layout changes will need to be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Living on water requires a delicate balancing act on the floating pontoon/foundation, with that in mind it is unlikely that any float8 products can be extended for future use.
In the unlikely event your mooring expires the marina/harbour are unwilling to offer you an extension, float 8 cannot take any responsibility for sourcing an alternative mooring location.
There are real life examples in the UK where floating homes have already appreciated in value. A trend that is likely to continue with supply being outstripped by demand as the lifestyle of living on the water grows in popularity. Low second hand floating home availability will also tip the scale in favour of appreciating values.
float8 have a floating show home permanently moored in Canary Wharf, London. Please contact the team to arrange a viewing or for more information.
This is dependent on the floating home; we know the more house like units require planning consent. However, this consent doesn’t offer ownership of the land, so a permanent residential mooring is required along with a suitable lease. Although floating homes are currently exempt from building control, it is also wise to consult local authority for their input on building control sign off.
Depending on the anchoring system (piles, mooring rope or anchor arms) and location various other parties may need to be consulted i.e. environment agency and/or conservation officer.
With the smaller marina models, you’ll need the consent of the marina authority/lake owner for their site specific rules.
This is site specific; some sites will have their own mains utilities whereas others will require the floating home to be self-sufficient. Sites where mains utilities are available are connected as follows:
Electric
Smaller units can be powered using a 3 pin (16 amp) connection, like any other boat on a mooring. Larger units may require an 80amp mains power connection, connected in the same way as a house would do on land.
Gas
Similarly, with gas, depending on usage of gas. If for cooking only then LPG gas will be sufficient. If using gas to heat the house, then a mains connection is required.
Water
Smaller units use a 25mm water hose, whereas larger units require the usual mains blue water pipe connection to maintain the pressure, like a house on land.
Foul Water
The most common technology used is a holding tank, where foul water is held and subsequently pumped into the mains sewer/septic tank/cesspit/ bio-digester (all likely to require planning).
These costs are site specific and subject to a formal site survey. But broadly speaking the smaller units cost anything from £10k up to the larger units at circa £25k. Cost covers, haulage, crane hire and installation.
Costs are likely to be reduced if multiple orders are made for a specific site, based on an economy of scales. Equally, the smaller units placed withing a marina setting may not require a crane if there is a boat hoist on site. The type of anchoring system will also have a bearing on the overall installation cost, pile foundations are far more expensive than the arm anchors or rope.