No, we do not rent our boats, but we can help if you would like to stay on a narrowboat for an extended time! In retrospect, our first let was an amateurish affair - a friendly informal agreement which may have made sense to those who agreed it but wouldn't have satisfied a closer inspection! However, from those small beginnings, Escape the Rat Race now has appropriate procedures to provide a professional service properly fulfilling the needs of those who wish to liveaboard a boat long term. The present concept may look similar but it is legally as different as a kick about in the park is when compared with fully professional league football.

There is a returnable security deposit of £1750 (set against arrears, missing items damage etc). In addition, the first of the occupation fees will also be due before you begin. But then, with the paperwork signed, it is time to start cruising as a part owner of the vessel. Your Escape begins...

Difficult to answer in theory – we provide specific quotes for specific boats at specific times – it depends on availability, the boat and time of year... rates start from £1100 a month, depending on the length of term and the season. The best thing is to enquire with a start and finish date and any flexibility you may have.

The deposit of £1750 after a formal offer made by email. We answer enquiries about boat availability regularly, it is the deposit that secures a boat.

Straightforward really. A copy of a passport or driving licence, two (original) utility bills and 2 references.

On occasion, we do use a credit check service provided by a letting agency. But for those who this doesn't suit, perhaps returning from overseas, we can work with you so that we can all be satisfied.

Once these have all been checked, the agreements are signed. With deposit paid the boat is booked... it will be prepared and waiting for you on the day arranged.

No. There are firms that do offer to finance a boat loan – talk to them – they are specialists in financing, we are specialists in providing boats for living on.

We specialise in providing a high quality and legal service, and are the leading providers of long-term boats for a reason. After nearly 20 years I hope we know what we are doing – though there is always something to learn!

While there are alternative routes that may cost less I would suggest asking two questions.

Firstly, could you ring up Canal and River Trust and discuss the arrangement with them? After all it is their canal that you will be on…If not why not? One answer may be that boats being rented or hired by individuals are almost certainly illegal, uninsured, and not properly licensed.

Secondly, What service can be provided when you have a breakdown?

Our Engineer visits monthly as a matter of course – but no you don't have to ‘check in’ with us! We want you to Escape, though we do expect you to look after your boat - it is both valuable and a treasure to those who own it!

There are some simple checks that you will need to do - some of these are daily, some weekly, some monthly, but they aren't onerous - they need to be done to keep the boat in good working order - but don't worry about what this involves as all this will be fully explained at the handover. These checks are similar to those on a car…

There is constant advice and support available from Alex, or John our Chief Engineer. If something is needed he will either come personally or we will arrange for an engineer to visit. We will also arrange (with you) for regular maintenance. However, the whole aim is that you Escape and are left free to do so.

We also provide a manual which covers all we say to you so if you forget you can check

Yes, if it is a cat or a dog. Other pets please ask.

We believe the canal is a nice place for the above pets, however, your security deposit covers any damage whether caused by human or pet and in these modern days of health, hygiene and allergies, we have to take a completely different approach to cleaning the boat when you leave. We charge a fee of £250 for professional cleaning and fumigation at the end.

It somewhat depends on the boat and the size of the inverter on board. The headline is that getting 240 volts from a 12-volt circuit is a luxury. The modern inverters do work well, but they don't like ‘controlled short circuits’ which means that things that generate heat, an air fryer, a toaster etc don't work – however laptops and phone charging is very straightforward as is a TV.

The person on board refills the tank at specific points along the towpath. This is provided free.

Our boat insurance offers limited personal item insurance (which will be explained). This can be extended – alternatively use someone like Protect my Bubble

General rubbish is best disposed of in small amounts at neighbourhood waste bins but CRT do provide regular large rubbish bins for boaters which can be used as you move. Similarly, CRT provide toilet disposal points.

Most people use a family member or a friend they can trust. For deliveries Amazon bins and the like. Sometimes by arrangement a small business near the canal will help.

Where boats are licensed to continuously cruise the Canal Network, the general rule is that remaining in the same neighbourhood for more than 14 days is not permitted. The necessary movement from one neighbourhood to another can be done in one step or by short gradual steps. Essentially, if 14 days ago the boat was in neighbourhood A, then by day 15 it should be in neighbourhood B or further afield. Thereafter, the next movement must be at least to neighbourhood C, and not back to neighbourhood A (with obvious exceptions such as reaching the end of a terminal waterway or reversing the direction of travel in the course of a genuine cruise). What constitutes a ‘neighbourhood’ will vary from area to area – on a rural waterway a village or hamlet may be a neighbourhood and on an urban waterway a suburb or district within a town or city may be a neighbourhood. A sensible and pragmatic judgement needs to be made.

There are some moorings where council tax is due but continuous cruisers do not have to pay council tax.

Because of the nature of the long stays on these boats and cruising habits of the owner who is in occupation on a boat it is hard to say! Normally there is a mutual plan developed - sometimes the new person is happy to collect the boat from where the previous person leaves it.

Escape the Rat Race seeks to serve and will try to arrange delivery to the place the new owner needs it. Ideally this is free but sometimes we do charge anything up to £1000 for this, but don't let this put you off, enquire and we will see what we can do between us...

For route planning we recommend https://canalplan.uk/