NBTA publishes local authority guide for resident boaters

Published: Monday, 18 March 2019

THE National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) has today published the Best Practice Guide for local authority Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessments under Section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

The Best Practice Guide aims to advise Local Housing Authorities of how to conduct a good assessment of the needs of Bargee Travellers members and boat dwellers, for example whether temporary and permanent mooring space is required, and how to avoid common practical mistakes and misconceptions about living on boats and about the people for whom boats are homes.

Campaigning since 2009

Section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 brought boat dwellers into the ambit of local authority accommodation needs assessments in England for the first time. The NBTA had been campaigning for this change since 2009.

The Best Practice Guide is being distributed to Local Housing Authorities and to relevant organisations such as navigation authorities and Government departments, amongst others.

Written collectively

The Guide was written collectively by the NBTA and has been peer reviewed by Community Law Partnership; Marc Willers QC of Garden Court Chambers and Dave Cowan, Professor of Law and Policy, University of Bristol.

The Best Practice Guide for Boat Dweller Accommodation Needs Assessments under Section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 is published here:

http://www.bargee-traveller.org.uk/best-practice-guide/