LONDONERS BUY WARSHIPS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 13, 2 April 1947, Page 3

LONDONERS BUY WARSHIPS

BEATING THE HOUSING SHORTAGE Desperate Londoners—driven by the housing shortage to buy surplus light warships and to convert them into homes on the Thames River—now face tightening Government regulations for their “floating homes.” London authorities are concerned at the lack of ventilation and sanitation in some of the converted landing craft and torpedo boats. As a result, legislation regulating living conditions in houseboats is to be introduced soon. One recommendation is that houseboat standards shall conform to those ashore. Another problem the authorities want to solve concerns the safety of these floating homes when the river is in flood. A recent flooding caused scores of the small craft to break their moorings. Many were dashed against bridges and some foundered after collisions.

Acquisition of a surplus warship is a costly solution to the housing shortage, but thousands of persons are willing to shoulder the financial burden.

Last August the Admiralty had 5000 boats of various sizes for sale. They had 38,000 applications though the prices ranged from £SOO to £IOOO without engines. Converted landing craft—furnished with (everything except sheets and curtains—are on sale at a cost of £875. There is a great demand for these “homes”—the demand far exceeding the supply. A typical model contains two bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen is titled with a refrigerator and stainless steel fittings.