As a dual US and UK citizen, Maisy Dewey has always dreamed of living in London.
His mother is American and his father was born and raised in London. Dewey’s parents lived between London and the US before settling in New Jersey, where he grew up. He and his sister would regularly fly to the British capital during school breaks and summer holidays to visit their grandmother, who still lives there.
In 2022, the 25-year-old and her fiance, Harrison Kent, has lived in Philadelphia for two years.
“We wanted to be closer to his family, but I always told him, ‘whenever you want to go to London, I’m coming down,'” the graphic designer told CNBC Make It. “He only did it once before.”
Around the time of this conversation, Kent began researching schools to get a master’s in furniture design. In November 2022, he was accepted into his dream master’s program, Kingston University’s Master of Product & Furniture Design, in London, and the couple decided to cross the pond.
“It’s one of those things that we know if we don’t do it now, we’re never going to be able to do it,” Dewey said. “It’s a privilege to have multiple passports and I don’t want to end my 20s and never live in the UK fully.”
Dewey and Kent live in Philadelphia with their dog, Kipper, when they decide to move to London.
Maisie Dewey
Preparations for the transatlantic move began soon after.
The two began having yard sales every weekend before the move in August 2023 and sold almost all of their belongings, bringing in about $3,000 to help fund the move.
“It’s great that we know ahead of time because we have a lot of time to do it right,” Dewey said.
But finding the perfect London home while still living in Philadelphia proved more difficult than expected. He sent me a question before going to sleep, and on waking had been informed that the spots had been taken.
Dewey admits that living on a boat has made him more of a homebody these days.
Maisie Dewey
With the move imminent, Dewey and Kent decide to rent short-term and continue to look for a more permanent place outside of London.
After months of searching, the couple thought they had found the perfect home. But before going on tour, the listing agent told me it was taken.
The agent then said he had another place on the waterfront to show. When they told people the waterfront property was likely out of their budget, they clarified that it was at water, no at that. Soon, he was walking towards the houseboat where he was moored.
Dewey and Kent were the first people to live on the boat after it was renovated.
Maisie Dewey
Although they were skeptical about living on a boat, especially as owners of a 2-year-old Dalmatian, Kipper, Dewey and Kent kept their hearts open.
“Immediately we both realized that it is better than we expected. It has recently been redone, so we are going to be the first people to live in it,” said Dewey. “(It was) a stroke of total luck.”
The 65-foot widebeam boat has a living room, two bedrooms, full bathroom and kitchen.
The house has two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living room.
Maisie Dewey
The couple signed a two-year lease in November 2023 at a rate of approximately $2,200 per month. Upfront costs include a security deposit of more than $2,500, according to documents seen by CNBC Make It.
“We feel like we’re living in a children’s picture book,” Dewey said. “It adds such a fun element to life. I’ve been like a big homebody and I feel like living on a boat has really done me in.”
Life on a boat also comes with unique responsibilities, including having to refill the water tank daily with tap water provided by the dock. It’s a trade-off they’re happy to accept in exchange for living somewhere with as much outdoor space as indoor space.
“After work, I’ll bring a little beach chair on top of the boat and just sit on top of the boat and read,” he said. “Sometimes we’ll have dinner upstairs.”
Dewey uses the second bedroom as his home office.
Maisie Dewey
Another perk of living on a houseboat is the sense of community and camaraderie between residents of other boats in the area.
“I think the friendliest people in all of London live on our docks,” he said. “We always talk to our neighbors and everyone always looks for it.”
Although the couple lived in a house in Philadelphia before moving to London, Dewey said the ship was more spacious and safer than any other place he had seen before.
“I always have a part of the apartment that I’ve rented somewhere that’s not right,” he said. “This, it feels like home to me, Harry and Kipper.”
The houseboat also has a full bathroom.
Maisie Dewey
The couple had been living on board houseboat for over six months. He didn’t see himself leaving.
“I will definitely try and stay here as long as possible,” he said. “We’ll leave the boat kicking and screaming if we have to!”
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