New hope for houseboats in the port of Copenhagen

Many people dream of living in a houseboat, and now there is light ahead for those who want to make this dream come true in Copenhagen.

Houseboats are defined as floating units moored in a harbour and used for private residential or commercial purposes. To qualify as a houseboat, the use must be of a permanent nature. Houseboats are a unique way of living because of their proximity to the water.

In recent years, the Municipality of Copenhagen and the City & Port have taken many initiatives to make it possible for more people to fulfil their dream of living on a houseboat, but so far this has only resulted in a few real houseboat places in the harbour. It is up to the owners of the land and the quay to rent out the berths to houseboats, and some of the berths have been sold off to private companies in recent years. Many private landowners do not wish to have houseboats berthed.

In addition, it is difficult for existing houseboat owners to navigate the different sets of rules that apply in this area. Houseboats are subject to legislation applicable on the territorial sea, including the 'Technical regulation on houseboats and stability, buoyancy etc. of floating structures'. Houseboats may also be covered by the Building Act, in which case a building permit may be required to use a houseboat as a dwelling. In addition, special insurance is usually required for mooring in the harbour. Often the rent of the berth is regulated by a private law agreement and with a relatively short notice period.

All this means that buying a houseboat is something of a minefield.

Now it seems that something is finally happening in this area. On 13 December 2021, it was decided that the City of Copenhagen's Technical and Environmental Committee will discuss ways to get more houseboats in the Port of Copenhagen and ensure the legalisation of existing houseboats. The basis for this is a proposal put forward by the Left at the Technical and Environment Committee meeting on 8 June 2020. It is proposed that the Technical and Environmental Administration can enter into cooperation with City & Port to discuss how to jointly promote more houseboats in Copenhagen:

Opportunities to secure more houseboats in the Port of Copenhagen | Københavns Kommune website (kk.dk)

It will be interesting to see what the municipality and City & Port come up with. Hopefully there is light ahead for current houseboat owners and those who dream of living on the water.

We assist in matters concerning the purchase and sale of houseboats, and we also advise on the rules in this area.

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