Home, FAQ
1) Does the house move around a lot?
2) What about tides and currents?
3) How is ownership in a floathome registered?
6) What about utility services?
1) Does the house move around a lot?
Very little. At its current moorage site in Ladner Reach, east of Westham Island, the river is quite calm. The relative tranquility of the area is what makes it such a good location for floating home communities, of which there are several. On occasions when the wind does blow there is some motion, mostly side-to-side as the floathome tugs at its moorings. Similarly, when vessels pass there can be some motion caused by the vessel's wake. Most river traffic, however, respects 'no wake' speed limits. During severely windy conditions when the wind blows from the west for prolonged periods of time the river can become choppy and the floathome will experience the action of the waves. Window blinds rattle a little in their frames, but it is never significant enough to dislodge objects from shelves. Such storms occur in the winter, perhaps three to fours times a year. For the vast majority of the time, however, there is little or no discernible motion. For most people, motion caused by river traffic and the occasional windstorm is an enjoyable part of the overall experience of living in a floating home.
2) What about tides and currents?
Situated as it is near the mouth of the Fraser River, the floathome is subject to tidal changes and to the currents associated with those changes, as well as to currents associated with the downstream flow of the river. The Canadian Hydrographic Service publishes information relative to tides, currents and water levels. Information concerning the Canadian Hydrographic Service, including tide and current prediction tables can be found here: http://www.lau.chs-shc.gc.ca/english/Canada.shtml.
3) How is ownership in a floathome registered?
The floathome is registered at the Ship's Registry which is administered by Transport Canada, an agency of the Government of Canada. A Form 5 Certificate of Registry documents ownership of the traditional 64 shares in the vessel. The Official Number under which the floathome is registered is 819443. Ownership is officially transferred when a buyer purchases all or a portion of the shares and registers an Endorsement of Change of Ownership which appears on the Certificate of Registry. Information concerning the Ship's Registry, including a search feature, can be found here: http://www.tc.gc.ca/ShipRegistry/.
The floathome is considered, for property tax purposes, to be an improvement to the land to which it is moored. As with people who live in homes on land, people who live in floathomes are part of the community, and they enjoy the use of the community's services including parks, sidewalks, libraries, etc. A token value is assessed for land and an assessment is made relative to the value of the building. Property assessments, administered by the British Columbia Assessment Authority, occur every two years. Property taxes are payable annually to the Corporation of Delta. Information concerning BC Assessment can be found here: http://www.bcassessment.ca/. Information concerning the Corporation of Delta can be found here: http://www.corp.delta.bc.ca/.
The floathome is currently moored in a small marina owned and run by the owner of the headland property, a private individual. The marina has space for two 30 - 40ft boats and the floathome. Two uncovered parking spaces are provided with the moorage. Moorage is paid on a month-to-month basis to the owner of the property.
6) What about utility services?
a) Electricity - Electrical service is provided via a 100A tech cable that runs from a meter on the headland, down the ramp, along the wharf and through the floathome's hull side where it is hard-wired into the floathome's primary electrical panel. The local electric utility company, BC Hydro, reads the meter every two months and delivers an invoice to the owner of the property. The owner calculates the usage among the floathome and the other boats at the marina and provides a payment notice to each. Information concerning BC Hydro can be found here: http://www.bchydro.com/.
b) Water, Garbage and Recycling Collection - Domestic water service is provided via a 1/2'' hose that runs from a source at the headland, down the ramp, along the wharf and through the floathome's hull side where it is attached to the floathome's domestic water system. There is a shutoff valve at the source on the headland, and there is another shutoff valve at the point of entry into the floathome's hull side. The local water utility company is the Corporation of Delta. Water service is billed annually on a utility notice that includes curbside garbage collection and recycling services. Information concerning the Corporation of Delta can be found here: http://www.corp.delta.bc.ca/.
c) Telephone - Telephone services is provided via a telephone cable that runs from a service box on the headland, down the ramp, along the wharf and through the floathome's hull side where it is connected to a distribution box located in the floathome's hold area. Telephone service is provided by the owner's choice of service provider. Most providers offer ADSL internet services. The current owner's telephone and ADSL internet service provider is Telus Communications. Information concerning Telus Communications can be found here: http://www.telus.com.
d) Cable Television - Cable television service is provided via a television cable that runs from a service box on the headland, down the ramp, along the wharf and through the floathome's hull side where it is connected to a distribution box located on the floathome's house side. The local cable television service company is Delta Cable Communications which can also provide cable internet services. Satellite television services are also available. Information concerning Delta Cable Communications can be found here: http://www.deltacable.com/.
A comprehensive policy of insurance including property and liability coverage with a special floathome endorsement is carried by Lloyd's of London with insurance brokerage services provided by HUB International TOS Ltd. Information concerning HUB International TOS Ltd. can be found here: http://www.hubinternational.com/.
The Fraser River Port Authority, an agency of the Government of Canada, is responsible for environmental stewardship of the portion of the river in which the floathome is located. It is illegal to permit untreated waste water to enter the waters of the Fraser River. Many floathomes on the river were built prior to regulations coming into effect that prohibit the dumping of waste water into the river. The owners of these floathomes are now faced with a significant challenge as they must ultimately comply with the regulations. Anyone considering purchasing a floating home on the Fraser River should investigate and consider carefully the issue of waste water treatment. Unlike the majority of the floathomes on the river, the floathome presented in these pages was fitted in January, 2005 with a built-in Go-Green waste water treatment system that received the approval of the Fraser River Port Authority. It is a built-in system consisting of six 250 gallon tanks and related equipment that effectively treats residential waste water including black water (toilet waste) and grey water (waste from sinks, bathtubs, showers, dishwaters and laundry machines). To the best of the writer's knowledge the floathome presented in these pages is the only floathome on the river featuring a built-in waste water treatment system that has been approved by the Fraser River Port Authority. This is a significant factor for anyone considering purchasing a floating home. Information concerning the Fraser River Port Authority can be found here: http://www.fraserportauthority.com/. Information concerning Go-Green can be found here: