Many people have dreamt of a new lifestyle living on the water, and if youre looking for your own haven, a houseboat could be the answer. If you are considering a move onto the waters, you need to ensure that you obtain adequate houseboat insurance. Although it is not a legal requirement to have insurance cover, some moorings to specify that houseboat owners do hold a policy to cover their boat. It is important that a boating insurance specialist underwrites a package to meet your exact needs as you will need a homeowners policy and boaters policy rolled into the one insurance policy. Not having satisfactory houseboat insurance could prove to be extremely costly if you are not prepared for every eventuality.

Not only will you be out of pocket, houseboat insurance is also designed to protect other boat owners if an accident was to occur when you are on the water, and you would be personally responsible to pay out any compensation. It is highly unlikely that you would not consider purchasing buildings or contents insurance for your home on land, so why have a different attitude towards your houseboat? Your home on the water is still subject to the same risks, for example, vandalism, fire, theft and many more.

It is important that you are fully aware of all the terms and conditions of your houseboat insurance as your policy needs to cover you when on UK waterways and any connecting waters. If you are uncertain about what your insurance policy does cover, ask for advice from your advisor or provider.

In addition to houseboat insurance, it is always strongly recommended that you obtain cover for your contents too. Insurance for your boat is similar to buildings insurance for your home on land, so your personal belongings would not be covered in the event of an incident.

Your houseboat insurance policy needs to be as comprehensive as you can afford, and by speaking to a specialist you should be able to obtain cover tailored to your needs, rather than an off the shelf policy from the internet.